Horny History: Frances Phoenix
It’s real history, as told by some horny dude in my inbox and me.
Happy Pride Month.
This is a story about an Australian feminist lesbian whose name I can’t quite remember. Thankfully, David was there to tell me about her.
(As a reminder I do not know these men. They are messaging a satirical Facebook profile of me as a conservative.)
“Since men are not now and seldom have been educated in the complex language of needlework symbology, any message transmitted in a textile medium was almost completely safe from falling into the wrong hands. We therefore find stunningly honest and forthright statements in needlework, delivered to us across space and cultural barriers on every subject from politics to sex.”
feminist Rachel Maines
Unfortunately much of Frances’ work, and her collection of other women’s doilies, were destroyed in a fire. Besides needlework, Frances enjoyed mixed media posters. She worked in a collective or artists that signed their posters “Matilda Graphics.” In a unique rejection of the art world, these women pooled their skills and shared commissions.
Here are some more examples of Frances’ work:
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fcbe305a7-09fc-4f07-83c0-c01b14e3ffc5_400x627.jpeg)
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F880acc64-4ebb-4769-a09a-3480592b09e6_409x635.jpeg)
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d87bcfb-e74e-4a33-8ce7-0b8e7024899b_410x618.jpeg)
As with most of my pieces, one topic idea turns into more. Frances organized a two week women’s only vigil protest against nuclear weapons at Pine Gap, an American-Australian surveillance base. I feel like I must dedicate a story to that event, and all the women there next, but also soon a story on the struggles of textile workers. Subscribe now so you don’t miss the rest of the story.
I was unable to get a digital link to a lot of her work, but you can see a few snippets of what her magazine, “Lip” was about here.
Sources:
Fancywork: The Archaeology of Lives Rachel Maines
Everyday Revolutions Elizabeth Emery
Know My Name: Australian Women Artists
Archives of the Australian Second Wave: History and Feminism after the Archival Turn Petra Mossman
Frances Phoenix National Women’s Library
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As always, I would appreciate you heart reacting this post for me. More engagement means more people might see my work. ♥️
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Omg he didn’t know the labia
Happy Pride