Every woman has to change her appearance and demeanour depending on who is in front of her. What happens when/if we drop the mask? Is there a real impact on those around us or not? When we are vulnerable and real with ourselves and others, what happens? Can we be real and vulnerable?
This video was an installation project for “Disorderly Conduct”, an International Women’s Day exhibit on Gabriola Island, 2025.
It was a deep honour to exhibit alongside other amazing Gabriola Women Warrior artists for this show.
Catherine Hallam
Debbie Marshall
Additionally, I am proud to say that my work existed in two places on this globe for IWD 2025. In addition to “Disorderly Conduct”, I was invited to perform Shield Maiden in London on March 8th for IWD.
For this video, I use three of my characters that I have embodied on stages; Ingrid the Warrior, Honey La Rue the hostess, Kandi Kayne the party girl. The viewer sees a sped-up version of me “getting into character” or “every woman”. What is edited down to four minutes took over two hours. I could feel my face change as I became each character. I could feel my mouth and eyes move into place. That perfect tilt of the head, or not. I could feel my resistance, my surrender.
I love Chaka Kahn’s version of her song “I’m Every Woman”. This disco anthem from the 70’s is a short, powerful treatise on how strong and variable the female spirit is. This was the perfect back drop to my transformation between identities. Certainly, it felt important to have Kahn’s words on the screen so the viewer had to pay attention to her message.
The vulnerability you see at the end was not planned. It was an honest reflection of the labour and effort that goes into stepping into different characters.
By the way, I do not have this shit figured out.
But I am actively learning how to show up authentically in my power, in my compassion and in my sexuality. I am a work in process. I am every woman.
Thank you to Ilza Bebris and Sheila Norgate for inviting me to take part in “Disorderly Conduct”. It was an honour.
