All women and Zumbi on Wednesday and the Day of Black Consciousness
Wednesday has crept up on me; so today I will celebrate my daughter who sent me some nice pictures from Brazil at the weekend after having enjoyed a National Holiday. She had been a exhibition and seen some wood cuts and shared them with me.
She told me also that today she would be having yet another day’s holiday today for the Day of Black Consciousness in Brazil. Since the early 1970s, for a week around the 20th November, the anniversary of Zumbi dos Palmares’ death in 1695, time has been allowed celebrate Black culture in Brazilian society. The Day of Black Consciousness is a day to remember the black resistance to slavery in general and the first transportation of Africans to Brazil in 1594.
Zumbi (1655-1695) also know as Zumbi dos Palmares was the last leader of the Quilombo dos Palmares, a fugitive settlement in the state now known as Alagoas, Brazil.
The quilombos or settlements were founded by fugitives or African refugees. Quilombo dos Palmares was a self-sustaining republic of maroons (meaning runaways) escaped from the Portuguese settlements in Brazil. It was a region about the size of Portugal, in the hinterland of Bahia. Palmares had a population around 30,000. It was constantly under attack by Portuguese colonists. The warriors of Palmares were expert in capoeira; a martial arts form that was brought to Brazil by African slaves in the 16th century.
Zumbi was born free in Palmares, believed to be descended from the Imbangala warriors of Angola. When is was 6 years old he was captured by marauding Portuguese and given to Father António Melo a missionary. After he was baptised, Francisco, Zumbi was taught the religious orders, learned Latin and Portuguese and helped daily in the church.
However, Zumbi continue to yearn for his homeland until he was fifteen when he escaped and returned. Where he became known for his strength and determination in battle. By the time he was 20 he was a ‘respected military strategist’
Zumbi continued to wage war against the Portuguese for the freedom of worship, religion and practice of African culture. Zumbi was captured and beheaded on the spot November 20, 1695. His head was taken to Recife where it was displayed, as a deterrent to those slaves who believed Zumbi to be immortal and those who considered taking his place. Some quilombo dwellers continued to reside in the region for another hundred years.
So while I don’t celebrate today one particular woman today I remember all women; who didn’t not perhaps raise arms to the enemy of humanity in all its forms, but have worked tirelessly on the home front always and not not often celebrated.
Weekly Photo Challenge …. Layers
Forbury Square, Reading is as Urban Grit says a little out of the way from the beaten track. Away from the shopping malls, cinema and other eateries. Here is a select group of restaurants, hotels and office blocks; layers of the old and modern architecture. If you read my blog regularly you will realise it is a favourite haunt of mine. Mainly because it has all of the above; but with an added delight; a good coffee shop. However, there is one other attraction that is particularly lovely on a rainy day; the limestone walk way is just so nice. I understand it is Upper Purbeck Glauconitic Lacustrine limestone and the twirls seen are fossils.
So this layer mined just down on the south coast in Devon a layer from the Jurassic times forms a perfect path for us in Berkshire in the 21st century!
Monday and a new start
Don’t ask! I would like to say it is a secret but I don’t know either. But it does mark the beginning; not the beginning of the end; that that has happened. This is the beginning of the beginning. This is an open space. Believe me, and the emperor and his new cloths, this is a an open space! I am hoping it will not always be empty. I have a cunning plan to fill it.
The time has come to stopping blaming and pointing the finger at reasons why I should not succeed in filling this space!!
For too long I have blamed, grizzled, wallowed in my empty nest, self-pity, grief and been fearful of the future alone. Believing that my only attribute was being a mother!! Over the last few years I have proved that I am able to do other things and reasonably well!
So now as I raise a glass of champagne to my youngest child who is now in a position to choose her future and I will chose mine … and I will fill this space with something; you watch.
Silent Sunday
Saturday and the empty nest
This week has been different; with lots going on. First, I am not enjoying my usual good health and I am a little anxious about my ability to have enough items for a forthcoming show. Also we heard that my daughter’s application for a work visa in Brazil has been ‘bestowed’ or accepted.
Even when ‘suffering’ from poor health I can usually muddle through and often find some joy in finding fitness again. However, my preparations for a little Christmas Art show, hampered by my lack of self worth is not helped by low immune. So while I am at one moment happy and content that everything is going smoothly a small disaster can rock me into the depths of despair!
All this and my daughter’s long awaited good fortune could result in a celebration and/or tears.
My daughter has been living in Brazil for two and half years . Her application for a work permit has been fraught with difficulties from day one. We are of course delighted with the result it will mean that now she will be able to work legally and make a living. She has during this time studied, worked and contributed to the Brazilian economy; but there was always a niggling doubt that she would be refused the right to work or not allowed back into the country should she leave. As she is planning a trip home at Christmas we really did want her to be legal.
So why does this have a negative impact on my already dreary week?
‘M’ is my youngest and beloved child; I wish her happiness and I know this good news brings joy to both sides of the ocean.
But for me in an already vulnerable state feels like the umbilical cord now has been severed. I feel like the separation over two years ago that left a wound has reopened.
I am hoping the healing mechanisms put in place when ‘M’ went to University and to Brazil will kick in again and the joy I found then will bring comfort and dry the tears.
Friday’s Library Snapshot …
This week I have learned about monograms; perhaps more about one or two in particular.
A monogram is a motif of overlapping or the combining of two or more letters to from a unique and recognisable symbols.
Monograms have been used as signatures by artists and craftsmen even those in the book making trade.
This ‘little piece of art’ to the eye of an cataloguer is easily recognised; if not, she has ways and means to find out the identity of a book binder or designer.
This week we came across a tiny little ‘shape’ with a distinct ‘T’ ; we made some wild guesses but nothing proven. Then we found another little book that would answer this question and many more!
We were were able to confirm Japhet in search of a father by Captain Marryat illustrated by Henry Brock still with its original blue cloth boards, gilt decorations to spine and front cover, gilt edgings and patterned endpapers and the monogram AAT was published by Albert Angus Turbayne.
Furthermore Suppressed plates by G.S. Layard, this with publisher’s original decorated green cloth, its gilt decoration on front board and spine, had a different monogram although with the same AAT. Albert Angus Turbayne was this time the cover designer.
Alphabe Thursday Z is Zebra
Last letter of the alphabet and I clutch at straws! I am not without resources as you know; there is no good reason why ‘Z’ eludes me as she does. So I resort to my passion; a good old ABC book, written by Helen Gillian Oxenbury (born 1938) and published in 1971. My children would have had this book and others by her and delighted in them; as I did they were such a change from those I had grown up with during the 1950s.
Helen was among the most popular and critically acclaimed illustrators of her time.
Her many books for children include the Kate Greenaway Medal-winning Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll; Smarties Book Prize-winning Farmer Duck by Martin Waddell; We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen;Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes, written by Mem Fox, as well as her classic board books for babies.
Wednesday Women …
While the the avant garde movement was going on in Russia. Europe and the United States so too in Glasgow, Scotland was there an art movement going on. (1895-1920)
There were several female artists who were central to its development; Margaret and Frances Macdonald, Jessie Newbery, Ann Macbeth and Jessie M King. Each of this group attended Glasgow School of Art.
During that the Glasgow Boys, a group of painters, were becoming known in the Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau, Art Deco and the Modern Movement and well documented then and since. The role of women within these movements was largely neglected.
This oversight has been addressed in the Glasgow Girls ; women in art and design 1880-1920 edited by Jude Burkhauser.
Weekly Photo Challenge … Habits
Oh dear! Again I begin wondering ‘What indeed does the prompt mean?’ I am incline to read a few posts, already submitted so that I can be sure that I don’t need to tell the world my best kept secrets. 🙂 I am hoping the world would prefer to hear about my good habits only. But, even then I am flummoxed. What is a habit; having established we are talking about good ones? When do routines, those required to provide us with sustenance and life, become a habit; good or bad?
A drink with meal three times a day is vital. As a child I remember a cup of tea, poured from old enamel pot into a chipped mug, or a saucerless cup and sharing an apostle spoon. Not a habit, it just happened.
Now my taste has become more sophisticated. I enjoy different, types of tea, blends,and even different colours. You will see my cups are no longer in disrepair but there is no over all style, colour coordination or poshness.
However along the line; the simple accompaniment to a meal, that would have been too dry without a drink, has become something different. The habit has changed from somewhat indifference to something good. In fact the food for me has become the accompaniment to the tea!
Monday ….
For the first time ever, since beginning to post daily, I feel unable to post today. Why is this so difficult? I am sad about this. I would like to spend more time at home; but I cannot afford to give up work yet. Also and more important I enjoy my work! I like doing the things I do, the people I work with and the aims and objective of the institute I work for. We do a good service and want to remain apart of it as long as possible. Also, my work and my interests are interlinked and to separate them at this time would not be pleasing or practical.
Nonetheless, occasionally I yearn for for a day or two to spend doing the things that get neglected while I am working. I have even considered being ‘sick.’ But while noting all of the aforementioned reasons why I should not there are added concerns. Such as lying to friends when they are doing the tasks I should be doing. So, it is far more likely that I and most others will go to work while unwell rather than take an illicit day off!! Or using a so called holiday for doing chores.
So here I am really ill, nursing a temperature, pain, lethargy and a potential hospital appointment I am sad and hope to resume normal service soon.
Coat Hanger Doll's House 