Up coming events

Living Ancestors: A tribute in portraits and stories to the world's oldest woman and other Caribbean centenarian women

1 April - 31 July 2009
The display

This display of portraits of women over the age of 100 from the island of Dominica, including the world’s oldest woman Ma Pampo who was 126 years old when she was drawn. Accompanying the portraits are stories recorded by the artist, as she and the women elders got to know one another during the drawing process.

The display builds a bridge for the viewer between the ten women portrayed, and their mothers and grandmothers, who were enslaved and whose stories were never recorded. Living Ancestors is an acknowledgement and celebration of an enduring female lineage of resilience and resistance.

Artist and feminist activist Gabrielle Le Roux creates travelling exhibitions of portraits and stories which raise awareness about social issues and pay tribute to people whose social contribution goes unrecognised because of their gender, race, class or sexual orientation.

More about the display in our press release
Events

To accompany the display we have a series of events.
Caribbean Food Tasting

Tue 7 Apr, Sat 18 Apr & Thu 28 May, 12.30-1.30pm & 2.30-2.30pm
Caribbean food tasting with Dominican Patsy Scott.
FREE but book in advance, 5+. Book your place by calling 020 7001 9844.
Dance the quadrille

Thu 16 Apr, Fri 29 May & Thu 30 Jul, 12.30-1.30pm & 2.30-3.30pm
Enjoy a performance of the quadrille, a traditional Caribbean dance which is the result of the fusion of African and European folk dance. Then learn the steps and have a go yourself.
FREE but book in advance, 6+. Book your place by calling 020 7001 9844.
Stories from Dominica

Fri 17 Apr, Wed 27 May & Wed 29 Jul, 12.30-1pm, 2.30-3pm & 3.30-4pm
Enjoy songs and traditional stories from Dominica with Patsy Scott.
FREE, 6+
Gallery tour by artist Gabrielle Le Roux

Fri 22 May, Tue 2 & Fri 19 June, Wed 8 & 29 Jul, 1.10- 2pm
A talk in the gallery by artist and feminist activist Gabrielle Le Roux who will discuss the process of meeting and drawing the centenarians and sharing stories and anecdotes in English and Caribbean Creole.
FREE
Changing Faces

Tues 26 May, Sat 30 May & Sat 27 June, 12.30-1.30pm & 2.30-3.30pm
Pick up your artist’s pallet and create your own self-portrait inspired by images from the Living Ancestors exhibition.
FREE but book in advance, 5+

Book your place by calling 020 7001 9844.


Portrait of the world’s oldest woman, Ma Pampo, 126 years old