"It's Ok" on show in "Always Changing. Always Welcoming" Ben Uri Gallery Open Air Gallery
A powerful new open-air art exhibition, curated by the Ben Uri Gallery and Museum has launched at the O2 Centre in West Hampstead, transforming the hoarding around the former Homebase site into a vibrant public gallery. Featuring works by refugee and immigrant artists who lived and worked in north London, the exhibition celebrates their major contribution to constantly evolving British visual culture and invites visitors to reflect on the diverse histories, identities and experiences that have shaped the area.
"Biblical Women Ageing Disgracefully" Mom Egg Review
“Biblical Women Ageing Disgracefully,” paintings by Sarah Lightman, is showing in the UK at Chester Visual Arts in July. Lightman explains that these are “…paintings…of familiar figures, once painted by ‘masters’ of Western art, and trapped in scenes from my own life: Bathsheba is tired of the dishes; Eve’s lost in the pile of laundry; Mary struggles with parenting and experiences an unexpected perimenopausal bleed on holiday. In this exhibition of carefully observed watercolour paintings, I plait religion, humour, and satire to spotlight women’s lives, struggles, and ageing bodies.”
Also includes full version of Dawn Llewellyn’s Catalogue Essay
Biblical Women Ageing Disgracefully- Solo Exhibition with Chester Visual Arts
A selection of paintings from Biblical Domestic series and Menstrual Hystery series by Sarah Lightman.
In these images, Biblical and Historical women escape Master Paintings, only to become trapped in the artist’s household chores and ageing body.
OPENING HOURS (please note I can’t put all these details on my events page timings. Please email with any queries, through my contact page)
Opening hours
Thursday 10 July 12-2pm (please note new time)
Saturday 12th July 10.30-5pm
Sunday 13th July 11-2pm
Saturday 19th July 10.30-5pm
Sunday 20th July 11-2pm
"Biblical Women Ageing Disgracefully" in The Conversation
"Biblical Women Ageing Disgracefully"
Artist Sarah Lightman reimagines characters battling midlife, motherhood and menopause.
What happens when the women immortalised in old master paintings step out of their gilded frames and into the chaos of modern domestic life? That’s the question artist Sarah Lightman tackles, with wit, irreverence and insight, in her exhibition Biblical Women Ageing Disgracefully, now on at Chester Visual Arts, Grovesnor Shopping Centre.
Associate professor of Religion and Gender, Theology and Religious Studies, University of Chester
Lecturer in Christian Studies, Religions & Theology, University of Manchester
Biblical Women Ageing Disgracefully: Artist Sarah Lightman (‘In Conversation’ with Dr Dawn Llewellyn)
Join award winning artist Sarah Lightman as she discusses her witty series ‘Biblical Women Ageing Disgracefully’. Sarah playfully takes familiar figures, once painted by ‘masters’ of western art, and traps them in scenes from her life: Bathsheba is tired of the dishes; Eve's lost in the pile; Mary bleeds on holiday. In this session, Sarah shares her inspiration and her use of religion, humour, and satire to spotlight women’s lives, struggles, and aging bodies
Comixs Workshop
Comics, comix, cartoons, graphic novels, diary drawings, zines; all these forms of graphic narratives give spaces to a story, your story or any story you want to tell during this 60 minute Workshop. You will be led through drawing exercises with the opportunity to work from observation and the space around you.
This workshop will be faciliated by artist, writer, editor, speaker and curator Dr Sarah Lightman.
10 Minute Talks - An Expert Explains
Dr Dawn Llewellyn on Intersectionality. Dawn is Associate Professor of Religion and Gender in Theology and Religious Studies.
Caroline Tee on Politics. Caroline is Professor of the Anthropology of Islam, specialising in religion, society and the state in modern Turkey.
Lisa Oakley on Domestic Abuse terminology. Lisa is a Professor of Safeguarding and Knowledge.
Dr Sarah Lightman on representing Biblical women in religion using graphic narratives
Chaired by Hannah Bacon Professor of Feminist Theology
This event is a collaboration with the University of Chester
Biblical Women Ageing Disgracefully - Solo Exhibition
A selection of paintings from Biblical Domestic series and Menstrual Hystery series by Sarah Lightman.
In these images, Biblical and Historical women escape Master Paintings, only to become trapped in the artist’s household chores and ageing body.
Graphic Narratives: The Art of Motherhood
How have comics artists reflected on and represented the challenges, beauty and humour of the lifelong parenting journey? Have they chosen to challenge cultural expectations and art historical traditions, and if so, how? During this course we will read comics and visual narratives on pregnancy, IVF, child loss, birth, breastfeeding, postpartum experiences, adoption, schooling, siblings and more. With presentations and discussions from the tutor that will also include references to fine art and literature, as well as sessions with a live model, the course will give students the opportunity to create either short pieces or a sustained graphic narrative on this rich and deeply personal topic. All levels welcome.
From Dysfunctional Families to Dirty Knickers: A Herstory of Jewish Women's Comics
In celebration of International Women's Day, join Eisner award-winning British writer and graphic novelist Sarah Lightman as she dives into the careers of Jewish women comic artists.In the comic book world of superheroes and villains, history has often overlooked the significant contributions made to this medium by women. Meet artists whose work explores family, motherhood, miscarriages, identity, queerness and more! Presented in partnership with Koffler Arts, generously sponsored by UJA’s Kultura Collective.
Meet the Grandmothers of Autobiographical Comics: The Art of Aline Kominsky-Crumb and Sharon Rudahl.
Keynote Lecture at “Three Day International Conference on Graphic Novels and and Comics Studies as World Literature Phenomena”
Drawing Graphic Narratives
Comics, comix, cartoons, graphic novels, diary drawings, zines; all these forms of graphic narratives give spaces to a story, your story or any story you want to tell during this course. There will be presentations on the works of leading practitioners, an introduction to various ways of reading visual narratives, as well as drawing exercises with the opportunity to work from observation and the space around you. Central to this course is one-to-one tuition to support the development of students’ own drawing and writing style, subject matter and visual language. Homework will be optional and a suggested reading list will be given out early on in the course. For those interested, students will have the option to organise an end product of a group zine with the tutor’s guidance. Open to all levels.
From Bibles to Bloody Knickers: A Herstory of Jewish Women's Comics
Jewish women having been breaking boundaries as they record their experiences of Jewish culture, grapple with self-expression and document their own bodies. Sarah Lightman will present “Die Bubbeh” (1975) by Sharon Rudahl, “Baby Talk: A Tale of 4 Miscarriages” (1994) by Diane Noomin, “Sheretz” (2003) by Miriam Libicki, as well as her own graphic novel, The Book of Sarah (2019). In this talk she will reflect on how these artists play with and disregard the conventions of the world of comics, and deploy extraordinary approaches towards visual narrative, through shape, space and font.
Evening Graphic Narratives
Comics, comix, cartoons, graphic novels, diary drawings, zines; all these forms of graphic narratives give spaces to a story, your story or any story you want to tell during this course. There will be presentations on the works of leading practitioners, an introduction to various ways of reading visual narratives, as well as drawing exercises with the opportunity to work from observation and the space around you. Central to this course is one-to-one tuition to support the development of students’ own drawing and writing style, subject matter and visual language. Homework will be optional and a suggested reading list will be given out early on in the course. Open to all levels.
Drawing Graphic Narratives
Comics, comix, cartoons, graphic novels, diary drawings, zines; all these forms of graphic narratives give spaces to a story, your story or any story you want to tell during this course. There will be presentations on the works of leading practitioners, an introduction to various ways of reading visual narratives, as well as drawing exercises with the opportunity to work from observation and the space around you. Central to this course is one-to-one tuition to support the development of students’ own drawing and writing style, subject matter and visual language. Homework will be optional and a suggested reading list will be given out early on in the course. For those interested, students will have the option to organise an end product of a group zine with the tutors guidance. Open to all levels.
Dressing Eve: Re-drawing Biblical Women through Comics for Leo Baeck Institute, London, Lecture Series
Jewish women have been at the forefront of feminist autobiographical comics since the 1970's as they challenged sexism in popular culture. But how have they revised misogynistic images and stories closer to home? I will illustrate how Sharon Rudahl in her bildungsroman "The Star Sapphire", Miriam Katin in her Holocaust memoir, We Are on Our Own, and my own graphic novel, The Book of Sarah, transform biblical narratives and images to reflect their own, lived, experiences.
Maternal Journal Podcast: Finding your voice through art.
Artist, writer, editor, lecturer, speaker and curator Sarah Lightman discusses her graphic memoir, The Book of Sarah, which looks at her childhood, cultural history and explores her mothering experiences through text and images. She gives an introduction to graphic narrative work and cartooning, particularly the powerful history by Jewish women.
Evening Graphic Narratives
Comics, comix, cartoons, graphic novels, diary drawings, zines; all these forms of graphic narratives give spaces to a story, your story or any story you want to tell during this course. There will be presentations on the works of leading practitioners, an introduction to various ways of reading visual narratives, as well as drawing exercises with the opportunity to work from observation and the space around you. Central to this course is one-to-one tuition to support the development of students’ own drawing and writing style, subject matter and visual language. Homework will be optional and a suggested reading list will be given out early on in the course. Open to all levels.
Drawing Graphic Narratives
Comics, comix, cartoons, graphic novels, diary drawings, zines; all these forms of graphic narratives give spaces to a story, your story or any story you want to tell during this course. There will be presentations on the works of leading practitioners, an introduction to various ways of reading visual narratives, as well as drawing exercises with the opportunity to work from observation and the space around you. Central to this course is one-to-one tuition to support the development of students’ own drawing and writing style, subject matter and visual language. Homework will be optional and a suggested reading list will be given out early on in the course. For those interested, students will have the option to organise an end product of a group zine with the tutors guidance. Open to all levels.
New Book Networks Podcast
Mira Sucharov, Efraim Sicher, Jenny Caplan and Rebecca Katz discuss their contributions to "Jewish Women in Comics: Bodies and Borders" . Hosted by Nathan Abrams.
Lilith Magazine Live! Caregiving and Creativity
Join Lilith and four Jewish feminist artists and writers, Elliot Kukla, Sarah Lightman, Alicia Ostriker & Marcella Campbell White, to discuss how they navigate their responsibilities to themselves, their loved ones, and their art.
EVENING GRAPHIC NARRATIVES
Comics, comix, cartoons, graphic novels, diary drawings, zines; all these forms of graphic narratives give spaces to a story, your story or any story you want to tell during this course. There will be presentations on the works of leading practitioners, an introduction to various ways of reading visual narratives, as well as drawing exercises with the opportunity to work from observation and the space around you. Central to this course is one-to-one tuition to support the development of students’ own drawing and writing style, subject matter and visual language. Homework will be optional and a suggested reading list will be given out early on in the course. For those interested, students will have the option to organise an end product of a group zine with the tutor's guidance. Open to all levels.
DRAWING GRAPHIC NARRATIVES (ONLINE)
Comics, comix, cartoons, graphic novels, diary drawings, zines; all these forms of graphic narratives give spaces to a story, your story or any story you want to tell during this course. There will be presentations on the works of leading practitioners, an introduction to various ways of reading visual narratives, as well as drawing exercises with the opportunity to work from observation and the space around you. Central to this course is one-to-one tuition to support the development of students’ own drawing and writing style, subject matter and visual language. Homework will be optional and a suggested reading list will be given out early on in the course. For those interested, students will have the option to organise an end product of a group zine with the tutor's guidance. Open to all levels.
"Jewish Women's Comics: Bodies and Bibles", Davar
Charlotte Salomon, Aline Kominsky Crumb, Sharon Rudahl, and Miriam Libicki, just some of the names of the maverick Jewish women who have transformed the world of autobiographical graphic narratives. These women and many, many more, have challenged the traditional rubricks of comics making, and found authentic drawing styles and voices on their pages. They uncover family stories, and their own evolving journeys of self, often as they unpack and examine their Jewish lives and identities. In this talk I will introduce the artists and artworks that have inspired me as I produced The Book of Sarah, my autobiographical graphic novel that was distilled from thousands of diary drawings begun in my parents’ garden shed back in 1996. My book is structured like an alternative bible as I chart my movement away from the religious lifestyle I followed as a teenager and find a feminist Jewish identity that now suits me better. Tracing my experiences of family, motherhood, and mental health, I also critique the patriarchal cannon of art history that once held me enrapt at art school, and bring forth the sidelined, silenced women of great master paintings.