Inspiration for this painting
Why are there no women at the Last Supper?
The Last Supper is a story anyone receiving a standard education in the UK and any other Christian or nominally Christian country grew up with.
Jesus knows the time is coming when he will be brought before people in power in his country. He sits his friends down to a meal and tells them how things are going to change and that they are going to have to be ready. There is a lot more to it but I don’t know how much of it I can accept any more. It is part of myself though, of course.
Now, Jesus had a lot of female friends. Where are they? Perhaps eating in another room, away from the men.
This painting was exhibited in the Lady Chapel of Ely Cathedral. It was placed on the floor of the altar area, a little above the main floor. The three sections stood on special feet. In front of it was a plastic rug and two comfy cushions. This is why the leftmost lady is inviting you to sit down and join in the conversation. All are equal.
Why do we need to meet up?
Our world is facing terrible times and an uncertain future. Women are not perfect at all but most of the world’s problems are caused by greedy and violent men.
So I’d like to institute a series of meetings of young, energetic women (I won’t qualify, nor will many of my friends. I blew my chance already). I’d love these to happen in every town in the world. In Ely they would meet in the Lady Chapel (of course). The main symbol will be our beautiful and wounded world. Looking at Africa because the “West” is not the centre of anything on a globe! These meetings will be called The First Supper. They are certainly not specifically Christian or even Theist at all. God is love, God is everywhere. God may not even be God at all.
These meetings would have to be inclusive. Do let me know who should be there, who should be seen as inspiration for a better future. More importantly, let each other know what you want for your life.
It has to be a future of love, for yourselves, for each other and for your world.
Ten of the young women in this painting are all either models from photos generously shared by photographers, or they are my friends and family friends.
The other two appear as themselves and I hope they won’t object: Rumana, a doctor and a Sewing Bee quarter-finalist, who makes lovely clothes, and Ashley Diamond, an American transgender woman and prisoners’ advocate.
Further reading
I invite you to read the blog post Some fabulous women, for more information on who these women are and why they inspire me.