MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT
"I do not wish women to have power over men but over themselves.”
Mary Wollstonecraft was an English writer and philosopher and an early advocate of women's rights. Through her novels, educational works, political writings, and unconventional lifestyle, she attacked the prevailing patriarchy that suppressed equal opportunity for women in work and education.
Mary was born in Spitalfields, London, in April 1759, the second of seven children. As a female in the eighteenth century, she was allowed little formal education. But as a restless free-thinker from an early age, she balked against the social norms and educated herself, created her own professional path, and lived her own life – forging an independent career as a writer.
“My dreams were all my own; I accounted for them to nobody; they were my refuge when annoyed – my dearest pleasure when free.”
Mary’s acclaimed work A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, published in 1792, is now considered an essential work of feminism. Arguing that the educational system of her day trained women to be incapable, she proposed an equitable educational system which would enable women to be capable and valuable professionals.
Later that same year, Wollstonecraft traveled to Paris to observe firsthand the French Revolution. There she began a relationship with American diplomat Gilbert Imlay and, although they didn’t marry, had a daughter with him two years later. In 1796, she became pregnant again, this time with new her partner William Godwin. Both had criticized marriage as a vehicle of exploitation, but they married early the following year.
All of her published work came in the ten-year period before her death—due to complications following the birth of her daughter Mary—in September 1797. In the years after her death, Wollstonecraft was often derided, partly due to her unconventional lifestyle and partly due to her controversial ideas. But a growing movement saw her as a role model and embraced the ideas that started to influence nineteenth century writers.
In several of her novels, Jane Austen makes positive allusions to Wollstonecraft's ideas, and writers such as George Eliot, Virginia Woolf, Emma Goldman, and Wollstonecraft’s daughter Mary Shelley embraced Wollstonecraft's feminist philosophy.
Similarly, Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, leading lights in American rights for women, created the Seneca Falls Convention after reading Wollstonecraft’s works, paving the way for women’s suffrage in the US.
Today, she is regarded as one of the founding feminist voices, a pioneer of women’s rights, and one of the most important writers of the eighteenth century.
“We hear her voice and trace her influence even now among the living.” –Virginia Woolf
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Video courtesy of Viral History |
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WHAT IS WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH?
Women’s History Month is a celebration of women’s contributions to history, culture and society and has been observed annually in the month of March in the United States since 1987. Women’s History Month 2021 will take place from Monday, March 1-Wednesday, March 31, 2021.
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Beginning March 13
Portrait Drawing & Painting
With Livia Mosanu
Three Saturdays from 10am-noon
Learn to paint realistic portraits from photo references. These references will be provided in digital format (both photo and Old Master Copy) to use for the duration of the course as you paint in the comfort of your home studio. Alternatively, you may use your own photo reference, as approved by the instructor. We will start the class by drawing and carefully observing proportions, the anatomy of the face and skull.
Time will be spent drawing and learning the structure of each individual feature (ears, nose, eyes, mouth). We will then transfer this drawing to a board or canvas and paint it using oil paint with traditional oil painting techniques.
$80 – Member, $90 – Non-Member
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Beginning March 13
Painting Ocean Waves
With Livia Mosanu
Three Saturdays from 1–3pm
Have you ever wondered how someone produces such realistic ocean waves in their paintings? In this class, you will learn how to capture lifelike ocean waves using oil paints. Photo references will be provided, or you can bring your own. This is the perfect opportunity to practice oil painting techniques such as glazes and impasto while learning how to paint water and foam. We will start the class by talking about the “anatomy” of a wave.
We will analyze its structure and gain an understanding of it in 3D. We will then sketch the composition with an emphasis on light, shadows, reflections, and refractions.
$80 – Member, $90 – Non-Member
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A conversation with Livia Mosanu |
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Saturday, March 27 at 7pm
From The Beatles to Stevie Wonder
With Guitarist Gregg Sullivan
Don’t miss this chance to hear versatile guitarist and veteran sideman Gregg Sullivan performing this solo concert of music by great artists including The Beatles, Chet Atkins, Tommy Emmanuel, Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, Jerry Reed, and many more!
He has toured throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe playing at legendary venues including The Hollywood Bowl, Birdland and B.B. King's in NYC, The Fillmore in San Francisco, and The Toronto Jazz Festival.
The performance is free, but donations are encouraged and will benefit the musicians and the Cultural Center's ongoing programming that promotes live music in our community.
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Wednesday, March 10
from 6-7:30pm
Gardening 101 Lecture
With Priscilla Husband
It may still be cold outside, but getting ready for spring warms the heart and the hands … and lays the groundwork (literally) for a great garden. This presentation by master gardener Priscilla Husband is the latest in a series of condensed and comprehensive conversations on all aspects of landscape gardening. Topics will include planting, pruning, design, and maintenance: everything the aspiring gardener needs to hit the ground running.
$25 – Member,
$30 – Non-Member
Socially distanced, mask required for on-site participants.
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Wednesday, March 17
from 6-7:30pm
Perennial Gardens Lecture
With Priscilla Husband
Let’s get ready for our 2021 gardens! This presentation will show you how to realize the “perennial” concept of flower gardening, introduce basic structural understanding for creating a seasonal flower garden, and share a comprehensive approach to designing and maintaining a spring-to-fall garden, including lists of seasonal flowers for the Cape. Please bring a notebook and pen to take notes.
$25 – Member,
$30 – Non-Member
Socially distanced, mask required for on-site participants.
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Wednesday, March 24
from 6-7:30pm
Boomer Gardens Lecture
With Priscilla Husband
Gardens for an Aging Generation. Has your enthusiasm for gardening been discouraged by physical limitations? As we age, our gardens become harder to maintain. Let’s find a way to enjoy our gardens again with a new perspective and reality. We’ll talk about downsizing our garden properties for the future, plus tips and ideas for simpler gardens for our health and enjoyment. Please bring a notebook and pen to take notes.
$25 – Member,
$30 – Non-Member
Socially distanced, mask required for on-site participants.
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The Cultural Center has a wonderful gift shop that highlights the work of Cape and Islands artisans and artists: jewelry, small paintings, tiles, books, pottery, Nantucket baskets, glasswork, clothing, and more.
Quality is exceptional, but the prices are reasonable. Everything we sell is made by local artisans.
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Stormy Evening at Highland Light
by William R. Davis
14" x 16" framed
valued at $5,800
Tickets are $20 each, or three for $50.
The Cultural Center is honored to partner with William R. Davis to raffle this incredible work of art. All proceeds will support the Center's education programs, both onsite and online. The drawing will be held on May 29, 2021. Ticket holders do not have to be present to win. Call or drop by the Center today to get your tickets. Thank you and good luck!
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Every Friday from 8:30–9:30am
Yoga for Wise Warriors!
With Lees Yunits
Bringing to mind that yoga is a process that everyone is capable of, Lees teaches yoga to beginners and advanced, to the stressed and to the curious, to retirees, young mothers and fathers, artists, businesswomen and men. Everyone benefits from stretching, breathing and meditating. Joy is the byproduct.
Beginners will be taught basics; more experienced will deepen their knowledge, and all will learn varied ways to enhance their knowing. Lees’s background includes many assorted styles of yoga, including hatha, viniyoga, yin and kundalini. Just as important are the invaluable techniques of breath work. Always there will be some form of meditation, as well, whether simple stillness, or transcendental, counting, mantra singing, or guided. The whole of a yoga session depends on joining body work, breath work, and meditation. Not to mention some humor here and there! Whether fast, or slow, all of Lees’s yoga classes intend to move you forward on your Journey to Joy.
$15.00 – drop-in, $75.00 – 6 weeks
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We invite you to join us and visit our new exhibitions for March 2021.
Socially distanced – mask required
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Take a deeper dive into CAPE COD SOLITUDE with artist Rachel Jones |
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Take a deeper dive into OCEAN COMPOSITIONS with artist Livia Mosanu |
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