Yeah, me too
Recalling their collaboration, both Sheila and Persimmon speak to the role of community in making the project a reality, with friends contributing money and moral support. This culminated in a pre-show presentation of the sculptures at a party in Sheila’s living room, where the two women were encouraged to go public with their art. A group sculpture of five smiling women portrayed Sheila, Persimmon and three friends.
The 1984 show was a revelation and an affirmation, breaking long-held silences about women who had been psychiatrized, and particularly those who had ended up in the mental health maze because they were lesbians. One entry in the Comments Book read: “I too have been in locked wards. I too am no longer paralyzed with fear, doubt, insecurity. I too am a strong, proud dyke woman.”
I can’t even count the number of people who had been locked up, many of whom had never told anyone. It was a place to say “yeah, me too.” I think it was really moving for people, I know it was really moving for me. – Sheila