There has been a recent spate of movies about imaginary friends. In the winter, I watched Imaginary, a horror flick about a sinister imaginary friend. By spring, IF had introduced us to a group of invisible characters, and now summer has arrived with The Imaginary on Netflix. The Imaginary is nothing like either of the …
Lost for Words? Research Shows Art Therapy Brings Benefits for Mental Health
Creating art for healing purposes dates back tens of thousands of years, to the practices of First Nations people around the world. Art therapy uses creative processes, primarily visual art such as painting, drawing or sculpture, with a view to improving physical health and emotional wellbeing. When people face significant physical or mental ill-health, it …
Why Female Artists Continue to be Underrepresented in The Art World
We challenge you to name, off the top of your head, a few women artists exhibited in museums. If male names come more readily to mind, it’s not by chance: women, in art as in many other spheres associated with a form of power, influence or prestige, are far less recognised, exhibited and studied than …
Why It’s ‘Necessary’ For Young Latinas to See Their Stories Reflected in Movies and Television
From “Real Women Have Curves” to “One Day at a Time,” Latina women have been in front of the fight for representation in coming-of-age films There’s an iconic scene toward the end of the 2002 movie “Real Women Have Curves” that cemented the film’s status as a powerful moment for Latina representation. Fed up with …
Anxiety Can Often Be a Drag on Creativity, Upending the Trope of The Tortured Artist
In the U.S., anxiety disorders affect about one-third of the population. So it’s no surprise that a good number of artists and writers also suffer from anxiety and depression. But whereas some critics see Vincent Van Gogh’s striking paintings and Sylvia Plath’s confessional poetry as the direct result of their psychosis and depression, I tend …
15 Empowering Books for Girls Honoring Women’s Equality Day
In 1971, U.S. House Representative Bella Abzug presented a bill designating August 26 as Women’s Equality Day. The day was chosen to commemorate the certification of the 19th Amendment on August 26, 1920, to the United States Constitution and women winning the right to vote. It is important to note that many women of color …
Empowering Fandoms for Change With Sabrina Cartan on the Girls That Create Podcast
Fandom is a powerful force in today’s world, connecting people, creating communities, and influencing public discourse. With the rise of online platforms, it has become easier than ever to form fanbases around media, celebrities, and more. But how does fandom interact with social justice and civic causes? This week on Girls That Create, host Erin …
Mightly X Rebel Girls Partnership: Inspiring Clothing for Kids!
It’s always a thrill when two companies you LOVE decide to team up. Mightly is a clothing brand that celebrates individuality and self-expression. Their commitment to producing high-quality garments that make a bold statement aligns perfectly with Rebel Girls‘ mission of empowering girls through storytelling and positive role models. Together they have created a line …
What It Means To Be Asian American in Ballet — And What Barriers Stand In The Way
Dancers and choreographers talk about yellowface in “The Nutcracker” and how a fear of pigeonholing hinders them in expanding the art. At 21 years old, Mira Nadon became the first Asian-American principal at New York City Ballet upon her promotion in February. This means that she’s the first woman of Asian descent to reach the …
AI is Exciting – and an Ethical Minefield
If you’re like me, you’ve spent a lot of time over the past few months trying to figure out what this AI thing is all about. Large-language models, generative AI, algorithmic bias – it’s a lot for the less tech-savvy of us to sort out, trying to make sense of the myriad headlines about artificial …