“I first saw this exhibition in the Greenham Common Control Tower and immediately fell in love with Wendy’s photographs. I just love the intimacy and honesty. I hope they will give those who don’t know much about Greenham, a little glimpse into this incredible time and place where our Es & Flo met.” Jennifer Lunn
I’m very excited to announce that my COMMON PEOPLE exhibition will be coming to London next month. Showing at Kiln Theatre from 5th to 24th June to coincide with the London performances of Es & Flo – a new play written by Jennifer Lunn and inspired by the Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp.
My COMMON PEOPLE photography exhibition will be showing at the Wales Millennium Centre Cardiff from next Friday 28th April until Saturday 13th May.
The Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp was just over three years old when I took this picture. I was a photography student working on my final year project, and arrived and stayed at the camp for a few short weeks during a particularly harsh winter. The conditions the women were living in were tough. The ground was frozen, the milk froze, we slept in makeshift tents under piles of donated blankets, experienced daily evictions by police and bailiffs, and I witnessed at first hand the enormity of a nuclear Cruise Missile convey. Meanwhile these resilient women continued with their protest. Fueled by camaraderie and endless cups of tea, the pictures show how domestic life focused around the campfire.
The exhibition run will coincide with performances of Es & Flo, a new play by award winning playwright Jennifer Lunn, about two women who meet at Greenham Common. My sincere thanks to Jennifer for her kind invitation to show COMMON PEOPLE, and to Gemma Hicks, Sophie Williams and the team at the Wales Millenium Centre for their warm welcome and generosity. The exhibition is FREE to view. If you are in the area why not come take a look
Background info:
The 1980s were a time of great social disquiet in Britain. Miners were striking against the closure of Coal pits, and the Cold War with Russia had played into people’s fears, precipitating an international growth in nuclear weapons. There was public outcry when in 1981 the British government gave permission for US nuclear missiles to be installed at RAF Greenham. In response, a group of [mainly] women led a peaceful protest by walking all the way from Cardiff to the Common. The 120 mile march took them ten days, and on arrival many decided to stay. They were joined by others, and the Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp was born.
If you want to learn more about the Greenham Women’s Peace movement do take a look at the work by activist group Greenham Women Everywhere.
I am extremely honored to have this project selected by the judges – Jennie Ricketts trustee at Autograph Gallery and the Martin Parr Foundation, and Isabelle Von Ribbentrop the Executive Director of the Prix Pictet.
The Greenham Women’s Peace Camp was the largest female-led protest since suffrage, and led to the international ban of Cruise missiles. But this extraordinary event has largely been written out of history. Last year the activist group Greenham Women Everywhere recreated the protest march from Cardiff to Newbury [that started the Peace Camp] to once again highlight the achievements of these remarkable women.
It was an honor to walk alongside and document this new protest march from Cardiff to Greenham Common. Below is a series of 15 selected works, from this extensive project, that have been shortlisted for the 37th Association of Photographers(AOP)Awards.
Walking for 110 miles over nine days, the pain of polluted roads and thunderous traffic was accompanied by camaraderie and song.
Original Greenham Women shared inspiring, and sometimes terrifying stories, of their time spent at the peace camp, with a new generation of impassioned activists.
Their aim, to highlight the urgent crises of the climate emergency, nuclear weapons escalation, daily violence against women, extreme hunger, and social inequality, could not be more timely.
Having my work chosen for this category, in a genre I am not generally known for, really means a lot to me. I hope that my photography will help highlight the important work initiated by Greenham Women Everywhere.
Another chance to see selected photography from my Greenham Common portfolio, opening today at The Base Greenham. All images were taken at the Greenham Women’s Peace Camp in January / February 1985.
I am excited to be exhibiting alongside Jemima Brown‘s wonderful Peace Camp figures. Also at the gallery will be David Hockney‘s Hockney & Hollywood.
A new exhibition of my COMMON PEOPLE photography (including previously unseen images) opens at The Base this autumn. I am delighted to be showing my work alongside Jemima Brown‘s Peace Camp, and David Hockney‘s Hockney & Hollywood.
In 1981 a group of 36 women walked from Cardiff, Wales, to Newbury, Berkshire. It took them ten days to walk the 110 miles, some pushing children in pushchairs, sleeping in tents and church halls on the way. Their peaceful protest was against the siting of American nuclear missiles on British common land. On arrival they set up camp outside RAF Greenham Common. This was the beginning of the legendary Greenham Women’s Peace Camp.
Despite this being the largest female-led protest since suffrage, this extraordinary event has largely been written out of history. So to mark it’s 40th anniversary, and to get people talking again about the achievements of these remarkable women, the group Greenham Women Everywhere (GWE) are re-creating the march; following as close as possible to the original route and staying overnight in the same areas.
I photographed the Greenham Women’s Peace Camp in 1985 when I was a photography student, and now GWE have invited me to join them on their new march. I will be documenting the walkers, the rallies, the camping, the singing and the many cups of tea. From when the march leaves Cardiff, and throughout the following ten days until arrival at Greenham Common.
It will be a huge honor to be part of this pilgrimage. I hope that my photography will help highlight the importance of peaceful protest, and the remarkable achievements made by the original Greenham Women.
For more information about Greenham Women Everywhere and details of the march please click here
If you would like to buy me or my assistant a cup of tea to fuel us on our journey I have set up an account with ko-fihere.
If you are interested in becoming a sponsor to help me bring this project to fruition, I would love to hear from you. The easiest way is to DM me through my Instagram channel, or message me through my website www.wendycarrig.co.uk
Many thanks as always for your support and for reading my blog.
“The timing couldn’t be more crucial as we face the multiple, cascading crises of the climate emergency, nuclear weapons escalation, daily violence against women, extreme hunger, social inequality – and so much more. We need to stand on the shoulders of our foremothers and carry their campaigns for peace and justice forward, while securing the Greenham Women’s unique place in activist history.”
I am delighted to be exhibiting a portfolio of my Greenham Common photography at The Pie Factory Margate as part of POW Festival 2021
POW! is a charity celebrating and exploring issues around feminism, women and girls, and their annual festival is designed to coincide with International Women’s Day celebrations.
To accompany the opening of Actions of Art and Solidarity at the Kunstnernes Hus Norway this week, the curatorial team at the Office for Contemporary Art, Norway invited participating artists to contribute ideas for a protestplaylist.
WENDY CARRIG 