Libertalia & ‘Liberty Guardian’ ArtActivistBarbie

Sat 3 Aug – Fri 6 Sep 2019

Click here for Library opening times

Free, no booking required

On the anniversary of Peterloo, we want you to think of the world of ‘Libertalia’ a place where all are free and equal, as a ‘way of being’. Something the people of Peterloo wanted so much for Manchester. ‘Libertalia’ was a legendary city, supposedly founded by Madagascan pirates in the 17th century. Here the pirates acted as “vigilant guardians of the people’s rights and liberties” against wage labour and capitalism. 100 years later the people of Peterloo became the just same guardians for Manchester, their actions heralding a new era towards social justice.

This exhibition will weave together tales of ‘liberty guardian’ ArtActivistBarbie, an art activist who disrupts art galleries and museums by staging protests and making comments on gender injustices and inequalities. See her work on Twitter @BarbieReports. You will also be able to tell your own tales in an installation of vintage dolls houses which will invite you to have your own voice about gender, space and domesticity – come and be a ‘liberty guardian’ too, and make a miniature placard to stage your own mini-protest!  As part of the exhibition ArtActivistBarbie will be holding an “International Flashmob Day” which will be live-streamed in the library on Saturday 3rd August, and there will also be two free workshop events.

Further details can be found here.

Curated by Sarah Williamson (University of Huddersfield), and Alexis Johnson, who are part of an international collective of artists, educators and academics formed in 2017 to protest the gender gap.

Photo: Sarah Williamson