At the Cinema again

We seem to go through patches of going to the cinema and we went again on Saturday to see Argo , which was a marvellous film based on the true story which surrounded the Americans kept as hostages in Iran between 1979 and '81 - only not all of them were. Six had escaped and taken shelter with the Canadian ambassador and a whole plan was put together to get them out of Iran. Cannot recommend this film highly enough. http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/argo_2012/

I was delighted to receive an email from the Tate Modern following up on my application to be part of an installation called Grey Haired Action. I heard about it on Woman's Hour and sent in an email so I could participate. I have copied the part of the email that explains the project a bit - lots of jargon but basically interesting I think.

Grey Hair Action is a temporary installation/performance that re-imagines the past in terms of contemporary political movements as hundreds of older women converge on the Turbine Hall at Tate Modern.
In this project, older UK women are positioned within the context of local and national histories of key activist movements of the 1950’s, 60’s, 70’s and 80’s.  Actions such as the Greenham Common encampment, the Ford Machinists Strike, the formation of the Housewives Register, and the Grunwick Dispute attempted to transform the contemporary landscape and the relationship between government, corporations, and people. The issues confronted during the last half of the 20^th century are with us today, but we face the future with new knowledge nurtured by those who brought important issues forward and shaped public opinion with their words, actions, and bodies.
Grey Hair Action brings together current themes in social and political discourse: aging, activism, social media and the role of personal commitment in the public agenda. As this project articulates activist histories of British women, many of whom are now in, or entering, the territory of old age and facing a new set of challenges, it offers a hopeful metaphor of inclusion and social relevance.
During a strand of workshops produced by the Tate Learning Department, a diverse group of 1000 older women will contemplate the role of women in past, current and future activisms and the role of art is public life. The women will ask each other: What do you believe in? What are you willing to take action on? What are women’s words worth? What is a woman’s role in public life? How could you make the world a better place?
On Saturday, February 2, 2013 the project will culminate in a temporary installation/performance, as participants rally to consider differences, strategize, and advocate. In doing so they symbolise new ways of seeing the aging experience and the role of women in social transformation.