Street Fairy
Posted on March 16, 2021 by Steph
The Street Fairy's story
Today I sit in my studio compelled to respond the the news of the murder of Sarah Everard by a Metropolitan Police Officer. A tragedy that has brought back into the foreground the ‘normality of feeling unsafe’ as women walk in public spaces.
All my adult life I have been experienced harassed by men, whether it be a bottom slap, pinch or been preyed upon by one or a group of men. Luckily I have not been physically abused, not all women have the same story to tell.
In the aftermath of this alarming news, how where women going to find safety if it’s needed. It felt like women had hit a wall of terror with no escape door and no authoritive safety without fear.
I had to do something. I remembered I had once made a little fairy from similar off-cuts from my studio floor. She was a metaphor for the transferal of negative energy, into positive affirmations. An image of self being free from the constraints of negative thought and situations.
As I stared into the chards of glass on my studio floor 2 new fairy’s emerged. The new series have a different energy about them. They share their space with a flower, a daffodil, which for me symbolises remembrance, my father a positive male role model in my life. The flower could be seen as a gift or offering of support. Yellow is a symbolic colour that signifies new growth, a new start and a new positivity. Spring shows us this every year, time for change.
Fairies are historically mischievous or sinister characters from literature, but many see them as filled with fortune and ‘magical’ powers. “I believe in fairies”. So with so much ugliness and pain in the world, why not believe that 'the magical' might be the only character that has the capability to change things.
I walked home from my studio that evening just as the light was dipping. I was aware of feeling more vulnerable than I had for a long time.
I felt overwhelmingly unsure of how the men in my community have reacted to the explosion of media and news about the vulnerability of women, it made me feel more vulnerable than ever before.
With fairies in hand I walked homewards.
I looked around and observed, I did not feel comfortable, protected or safe. As the light kept dropping, I was walking through the so called ‘rougher’ areas of my city.
I photographed these 7cm mosaic fairy’s in places that resinated with personal feelings of intimidation, memories of incidents or just responding to how I felt right now. Finding imagery on the streets that provoked a reaction in me. There seemed to be conversations about this subject matter everywhere I looked -‘ emergency’, brother’, stop’, ‘grab your sausage’ (an advert tag line for builders adhesive)
Then I saw street art imagery by Enemie of a hooded man with wings and a halo. A powerful image but i could figure out what its meaning was to me? Is he saying the he is a good man, an angel, even my angel? Why did they not show their face?
“Reclaiming space & changing the energy in places where women have felt unsafe or were violated. A lovely way to Reclaim the Street” Emma Fitzmaurice
But the more I walked the more angry I became for feeling unsafe and subsequently frustrated at the question.. What can I do?!! I stopped, I was by the river, I saw 3 men drinking, sat on a bench. I walked around their peripheral vision and took portraits of a fairy triggered by my unease.. I began to walk away and suddenly came to a halt. I had to involve men in this but how? So I approached them.
I asked if I could talk with them a moment. I explained that I had been making these little mosaics as a response to Sarah's death. I showed them to them. They agreed about how unacceptable the situation is for women today, the abuse, the murder by the hand of some men. They agreed that it was important for women to reclaim a sense of safety in the streets, especially in the wake of Sarah.
How are women or any group of individuals to feel safe anymore and how do we bring about change? We chatted about this for a minute, all sharing with me a mutual disgust and sadness for the situation. It made me loose my ability to communicate as the emotions got the better of me, they said “don’t worry, its ok” or words to that effect., the situation felt powerfully overwhelming, but positive and safe.
I handed them the mosaics and as they gently held them in their hands we discussed what could be done. I asked if i could photograph them with the fairies and before we knew it they where pledging to help educate men. Create conversations about the topics of the last week and the general vulnerability that so many women experience. They would look out for women who needed help and show themselves as a safe space. Although that thought was filled with uncertainty.
As I continued my walk, I wanted to stay in this safe emotional place, there was a positive light.
But as I continued my 45min walk home I passed many men I didn’t speak to or engage in conversation. Which frustrated me at the time because I was afraid of being confronted by “oh.. no thank you, I’m not interested” comments. What would they mean? What would I say? Would I create a vulnerable situation for my self, I was not prepared for. I was making it up as I went along here... i kept observing my surroundings but said nothing.
“She's making little street fairies and placing them where she has felt vulnerable, altering those spaces energy. You can get some from her, do the same.” Clare Potter
But all of it made me think. So why am I doing this? What's to gain?
By the time I got home the darkness had set in and the fairy’s brought about many questions. I did not have the answers too.
As viduls took place around the country I sat at my computer and posted my first section to this story.
Some men I have spoken to, say ‘I don’t know any men to talk to about this, my friends are not abusive men’. But to me that is missing the point.
I wondered if these fairy’s could be used to continue the conversation.
An example of men trying to make change for women in society. In 1907 a black pansy was used to represent the Men's League for Women's Suffrage and was part of the Women's Suffrage movement in the United Kingdom. An amazing organisation but an organisation that was underground to most members. As men were mocked or banished from social engagements if they were known as being members. As a sub note and something i've always wondered - Is this where men got the derogatory term or nick name ‘panies’ from, because they supported women?
Update...
Since posting this blog on 16th March, that's 7 days ago. I have had an incredible response. And I don't mean that in a good way. It is heartbreaking to hear the stories that have been shared with me, all manner of abuse and violation, that has happened in 'our' public spaces.
I have had 30 plus requests to be sent a now named ‘#streetfairy’ Not just women from Newport, from Yorkshire to Berkshire, Cardiff to London, Warwickshire, Herefordshire, Avon, Monmouthshire and America.
Men wanting them for their wives and daughters.
All wishing me well on my makings and campaign.
I make art for a living, I am a community artist. So I am making these Street Fairies as my way to be pro-active to try and stop the violence towards women, men and the non-binary community. If these Street Fairies can encourage conversation and do something positive then that would make me believe, change is possible.
What women did next was their story, they took ownership of the Street Fairy and turned it into -
"I think it will go some way to healing hurt, as well as raising awareness".
"I’d love one for the outside of the pub"
"I think it might help me change the way I feel in that particular space"
"it might make it easier to go to that space again"
'I think it's doing something to ease the pain already"
"I think its making it hurt again"
"Please can I have one, Steph. I know where I will place it. I’d like to make a donation to you so you can continue to make and distribute these little beings of hope and strength.
But not all have seen the positive in these Street Fairies.
One response was...
"I made my pledge a very long time ago, and live it every day. I've also made another pledge a long time ago, to myself. To practice a zero tolerance towards radical feminism. It's chauvinism dressed in heels." a nameless male
Needless to say the comment was challenged.
Is this radical feminism or just a promotion for equality?
"I love how this thread shows the stark difference between people who are warm and kind with strong spines inside and those who are hard, defensive and spineless."
You might see a Street Fairy out on the streets, some may appear abandonded, they are to be found and re placed where you see fit.
Let me know if you find one.
Email info@stephanierobertsart.com #streetfairy
#artabandonment #saraheverard #streetfairy #changetheenergy #reclaimthestreets #timeforchange #stopviolenceagainstwomen #itsnotok #endtoxicmasculinity #mentalk #mosaic #fairies #daffodils #spring #newgrowth