"A hair's breadth" - what's between and beyond?
Venue: The Blacksmith and The Toffee Maker
Dates: Until May 16th
More information: https://www.facebook.com/ahairsbreadth?ref=ts&fref=ts
Curated by Sarah Westlake
Hair cut by Klara
"One month, one chair, one barber. We talked to every client who sat down
every Saturday in January 2013, and now we're having an exhibition to
show you what happened."
There's something special in the relationship a woman shares with her hairdresser (/barber). The intimate space of relative anonymity, trust shaped by opening up vulnerability, and the shared aim of a beautiful haircut - which in itself is a raw act of honesty - a reflection and projection of the inner self.
A Hair's Breadth explores this relationship with an extra dimension, that of women who choose to have their hair cut by a Barber, to overcome gender stereotypes and the feminisation/masculinisation of hair, and community of connections that bind us all. One simple vision opens up all that is between the hair's breadths that separates us.
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| Lisa by Polly Hancock |
"As
soon as I cut it I start getting called sir again. If your look is quite
defined it makes people stare at you. But it doesn’t make me feel self
conscious. That happens much more if i'm just blending in with the rest of
society, without my style defined."
The idea for the show came to Sarah as she sat waiting for a Klara Barbaretta cut in January. A combination of what happens when women have the space to talk in a vulnerable position both cathartic and therapeutic, and all the connections that bind us as people through connectors - barbers it seems are the scissors as well as the glue that join us all together.
The exhibition itself was co-ordinated, collected, delivered, and presented with a community spirit that exceeded the expectation of Sarah Westlake, the creator and curator of 'A Hair's Breadth'. Alongside the exception experience and openness of the self selecting women who agreed to be interviewed in the Barber's chair whilst under the scissors/razor, Sarah needed to call on volunteers to make it happen. Filmmakers, photographers and members of the lesbian community stepped forward to assist and gave up their time and creativity as well as shared ownership of the rights of the art generated. Creativity was stimulated by creating an open brief, a loose framework to which the contributors could bring their own interpretations and lenses of what was captured in the Chair.
Through delivering the exhibition, a network of friends and useful contacts has been established, organic bonding has cemented new relationships and opened the door to the potential of many more. This became a theme throughout the process - as well as talking about what connects us all, the exhibition itself is an opportunity to grow the connections.
As such, at the opening of the exhibition at The Blacksmith and The Toffee Maker (Clerkenwell) Sarah offered facilitated networking and the chance to share skills forward through a noticeboard, and visualise all the connections between us.
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A genuinely creative way to bring the viewers into the exhibit,
and not an alternative version of Our Chart - Sarah has never watched the 'L Word' |
The photos and stories selected from the wealth of researched material are vibrant and reflective of Barbarette's chair. The words tell an honest, familiar yet unique tale of female masculinity and engage the viewer through simplicity.
Following the success of the exhibition, the creators are looking for further ways to tell more stories, and find more connections between us. Watch this space!
By Katie
