What does gender equality mean to people in Bendigo, and further afield?

Artists from Finland, the United Kingdom, the U.S.A and Canada are among those who have answered her call for print art submissions, which will form part of an exhibition in Bendigo next month. 

THE idea for the Women’s Kick-ass Print Project came to Ms Graham after a dream. 

“Wouldn’t it be great if I could do a print exhibition with women from all over the world?” she thought.

“It would be really, you know, kick-ass.” 

The Spring Gully resident chose gender equality as the project’s theme, after noticing a disconnect between how the term was generally used and the specific meaning it conveyed to those working in the sector.

“If this is what gender equality means to me, and why, I wonder what it means elsewhere?” Ms Graham queried.

Since sharing her idea on Facebook last month, she has received more than 20 submissions from amateur and professional artists in Australia and abroad.

Works have come from as far as Finland, the United Kingdom, the U.S.A, and Canada.

Ms Graham hopes to receive more before the works are exhibited at Dudley House, in Bendigo’s arts precinct, on September 6. 

“What I’m finding is that gender equality means really different things for different people,” she said. 

For one entrant, gender equality was symbolised by some dishes. 

“It’s around her mother becoming quite distressed when she was ill because she couldn’t do the dishes – her husband was doing the dishes, and so she felt that her role was being taken away,” Ms Graham said. 

For another, the concept was conveyed by a pair of hands. 

Whether they’re men’s hands, or women’s hands, or whether the gender has any relevance to the meaning those hands convey, the artists leaves the viewer to decide.

“I find that this project has been a beautiful way to validate what gender equality means to them and to be able  to share that story – firstly, through an image, secondly through their written response, and thirdly, through connecting,” Ms Graham said.

The Kick-ass Print Project has three components. The first is the exhibition, which runs until September 19.

Prints will also be bound into a book to be presented to Bendigo library. Thirdly, each of the artists will receive a copy of another person’s print. 

“I’d love to do this as an annual event,” Ms Graham said.

“I would like to expand it to have more of an outreach locally.”

She has run a series of workshops for people who were interested in contributing to the project. 

The last one is likely to be arranged for the end of the week. 

The Women’s Kick-ass Print Project officially launches at 3pm on September 9.

Bendigo-based Gender Equality Projects Victoria is among a number of sponsors supporting the free event.