Seeking comfort in edges: Pamela Colman Smith
with Poppy Wonnacott
Tickets: https://ticketpass.org/event/ESSYYP/the-convivial-x-poppy-wonnacott
In November 1909, artist Pamela Colman Smith finished her commission for Arthur Waite: a deck of cards that became known as the ‘Rider Waite Tarot’. Despite her artwork being countlessly reproduced all over the world, her name was not added to the deck. As Virginia Woolf stated, "For most of history, anonymous was a woman.” Women of the past are mysteries, their stories shared in terms of roles: wives, mothers, or daughters.
But what about the other roles? What about the stories that don’t get told? Pamela’s story is shrouded in mystery. She lived on the edge of society, the edge of different literary, theatrical and artistic groups and gave it all up to move to the edge of Cornwall. Her identity couldn’t be neatly defined: was she a mystic? Was she mixed heritage? Did she have synesthesia? Was she queer? Did she need to be definable to fit in? Do we need to define her? Do we ourselves need to be definable to understand others, to fit in?
As a multi-passionate artist, writer, and storyteller who enthralled audiences, Pamela took on all the paid work she could find to make ends meet like many creatives today. She worked hard for exposure and money, but both alluded her in her lifetime: she remained an outsider. In our world, where information is available to us at all times, where connection is being pushed online, many of us now turn to the tarot, seeking divination and answers through the symbolism in the images Pamela created, creating our future through the stories in her artwork. Are we seeking comfort in our own edges?
Join us as we delve into the life of the artist behind the most famous tarot deck as we explore what it is to live on the edge before creating your own Tarot card, to help hold you through the edges of Winter.
Speaker
Poppy is a writer, creative facilitator, life and health coach based in Cornwall. She has given talks on Pamela Colman Smith and Jean Rhys at Bude Literary Festival, rececing funding from the ‘Q’ Fund which encourages creativity in Cornish literature, for her research on Ms Rhys.
Poppy has written stories for o-region’s project, ‘From the Horse’s Mouth’, has performed spoken word at festivals, and wrote and performed in the immersive 'You Are Here' production in Bude, Cornwall, via Sprout Spoken, funded by the Arts Council.
What to expect
6pm - arrive
6.30pm - talk begins
7.40pm - dinner (vegan) is served
8.10 - 9pm - tarot making/discussion
9-9.30pm - soft close, socialising
This event is BYOB - please bring along a drink to have yourself and/or to share! There is a SPAR shop just a few meters up the road. There will be a selection of soft drinks available at a low cost.
Tickets
All tickets include a hot vegan meal. Please refer to the following suggestions when booking your tickets:
No spare income - pay what you can! £0+
Low spare income - £5
Medium spare income - £10
High spare income - £15
Supporter ticket - £20+
Tickets: https://ticketpass.org/event/ESSYYP/the-convivial-x-poppy-wonnacott