NELLIE MCLUNG: THE RELUCTANT WARRIOR

Women were called upon to define their public roles as women, sisters and mothers so as to improve society, and particularly to alleviate the suffering of women and children.  Women were not allowed to vote, own property or sit on the Senate. Without this power, how could any of the outdated laws be changed?

Together with several women, McClung was a founding member of the Political Equality League and a tireless speaker for its speaker’s bureau.  She crossed the province of Manitoba many times, using her wit and humor to drive home at every theatre and community hall her message of justice for women.  McClung remained allied with the cause of women’s rights all her live and in 1929, she was one of the “famous five” or the “valiant five” who battled in the courts and at parliament to have women declared “persons” under the law.

As I was creating this painting, I was having trouble with the body and I happened to be flipping through my portfolio of old work.  I had saved a painting of some tulips that I had painted the previous Easter. I had not liked the end results because the tulips had turned out to be hard and not as delicate as I would have liked. I started to cut up the painting and glue them to the body of Nellie McClung. What happened next was amazing. The tulips, although you could not tell their original source became her muscles. This became a strong analogy to me. Even the delicate and fragile, when called upon, can turn in to the powerful and can move the unmovable with incredible strength.  As women, ever the event that brings us into its fold is bloody and violent in appearance, reminiscent of war or battle.  It is a different kind o strength, which many of us have not understood.  Nellie McClung understood that without the vote it would be impossible to exercise the power in a way that would make real lasting change that would benefit everyone.