historical horrors

Ancient cradles of civilization worshipped powerful female deities and revered women who practiced the holiest of rituals. Trained in the sacred arts, these priestesses became known as wise women and wisdom keepers in their communities. They may have been some of the earliest manifestations of what we now recognize as the witch. 

The Magic Circle by John William Waterhouse

So why the flip-flop from beloved healer, trusted guide, divine femme to witch, bruja, evil doer? Who decided to brand these women as witches? How did the benevolent image of a wise woman transform into the malevolent figure of the witch bandied about in fear today? 

fresh voices in the art of stage design

The Wimbledon College of Arts is a member of the University of Arts London collective, which includes prestigious design schools like Central St. Martins and the London College of Fashion. Wimbledon College of Arts specialises in set and costume design for theatre and production, and its Graduate Showcase is on at venues around the city.

Doyeon Kim's design for Foucault's Heterotopia
at Kings Cross Station

history lessons

The NYC Department of Education now celebrates Columbus Day as Italian Heritage Day or Indigenous Peoples Day. The US national holiday is still called “Columbus Day” as it takes an act of Congress to change the federal and state law. 

Drummers during Indigenous Peoples Day - © Elaine Thompson, AP 

The Federal Government still closes for Columbus Day which was first recognized in 1937 when President Franklin D. Roosevelt made it a federal holiday. Lobbying by Italian-American community groups led to its creation. The growing immigrant group preferred recognition as American citizens to being vilified as the latest bunch of outsiders to land here.

Why the US celebrates Columbus

Baroque by the River: architecture around the Thames

London is famous for the history of its architecture, but the River Thames in particular is a treasure trove of buildings with stories. Walking around the river is wonder | wander | women's favourite way of connecting with this ancient and beautiful city.