Twin Towers 2001 – 2026

Ruth Hartley Storytelling, Art by Ruth Hartley, Conflict, Installations, Power, Race, Politics,Leave a Comment

Agreement and progress It was a pleasantly warm morning in September, and the studio annual general meeting had just finished. The artists were all happily gathering around coffee and cakes. We had all agreed that progress had been made and everything was going well. An artist said, “ Have you seen this news?” The pitch of her voice made us […]

Trial by Knife and Fork

Ruth Hartley Storytelling, Books by Ruth Hartley1 Comment

This is a small parable about the time I left Wonderland. It is explained after the story’s end. Alice is invited to the White Rabbit’s dinner though not to a Tea Party. “You MUST come!” says Tweedle-Die. “You WILL come!” interrupts Tweedle-Jolly, “Last chance to eat together since, after and before!” The Board gleams and glistens. Stiff white lace tablecloth […]

Privilege and White Privilege

Ruth HartleyIdentity, Power, Race, Poilitics,, Privilege2 Comments

Privilege Privilege as a distinction between people or classes or societies is never going to disappear. It can be based on skin colour, and also, or as well as, on religion, money, or education, all of which can give one power. We don’t choose at birth to be privileged or to less privileged, it is what, who and where we […]

Remembering my friend, Guy Scott

Ruth HartleyDr Guy Lindsay Scott, Zambia Vice President.2 Comments

Dr Guy Scott, former Vice-President of the Republic of Zambia, died on Wednesday 15th July 2026, at the age of 82. The President of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema  has honoured Dr Scott by 5 days of national mourning and a State Funeral on Monday 20th July, 2026. Friendship Guy Scott was a long-standing friend of mine and of my first husband, […]

Domestic Labour, Women’s Work, Servants and Exploitation

Ruth Hartley Storytelling, Intimacy and Power, Power, Race, Poilitics,, Power, Race, Politics,Leave a Comment

Unpaid Work A quick search gave me this answer, so I quote – “Domestic labour refers to the unpaid work done within households, encompassing tasks like housework, childcare, and other forms of care work.” The key is that it is unpaid work and 56 years after I joined the 1970 Women’s Movement it is still mostly women’s work. I quote […]