by Cynthia Wands

I gave myself the assignment of finding positive images/stories for women artists in 2013.

This was of some interest to me:

2013 Iconic Images of Women

But it wasn’t really what I had in mind. And then I found this:

100 Years of How Women & Men Dress Up

But I wanted something more – data driven. And I didn’t find what I was looking for.

I wanted a spreadsheet/world map/renaissance painting of how far women have come this past year – how much more visible and accountable women’s voices are in the arts. Yeah. I didn’t find that.

But on a more personal level, I can say that I have felt more influence from women in theatre and writing.  Maybe it’s because I’m hungry for that and I am looking with more of an appetite for those stories.

One of the women I most admire and follow is Judi Dench.  I’ve seen what an influence she is to the actors and theatre community in England – and I giggled when I heard that there is a bumper sticker seen in London that reads:  “What Would Judi Do?”

And then I found this image: Judie Dench and Maggie Smith, friends for years, fellow artists and brilliant actors.  I like the power of women being connected to women.