Call for artist features (all genres) who identify as female — Les Femmes Folles

Les Femmes Folles (LFF) is an organization and online journal that focuses on supporting artists of all genres who identify as female. It was founded and is curated by Sally Deskins. “Since April 2011 the LFF Blog has featured over 700 women in theatre, music, visual art, writing, performance art and feminist activism from around the world in various levels of their careers. LFF has also curated and hosted seven visual exhibits, over a dozen panels, readings and performances; and has published four anthologies of poetry, visual art and interview excerpts which are available at blurb.com.”

The features are wonderful exposure and customized to fit each artist/writer. I was pleased to be featured in 2016 and look forward seeing my interview/feature included in two books coming out in 2017: Les Femmes Folles: The Women 2016 and Shake The Tree: A Poetry Anthology, Volume Three forthcoming by Brightly Press. LFF included two of my poems in my feature, “Waiting Around” and “Eurydice’s Cardinal.” Click here to read the feature and interview.

I wondered how and why this online journal and press came to be, so I asked LFF founder and curator Sally Deskins a few questions to find out. See my interview with Deskins and information on how to request an artist feature below.

HOPKINSON: Tell me a little bit about Les Femmes Folles (LFF). How/why was LFF originally started?

DESKINS: Back in 2011, artist Wanda Ewing curated a show along with a reading I was producing of women artists that were amazing but I hadn’t heard of, when I looked for them, and then more info on other artists who were women, I couldn’t find much, so I started the online journal and series of events to provide a tiny platform for the voices and perspectives of women in all forms, styles and levels of art.

HOPKINSON: What type of artists/work do you want to include in your interview series/journal?

DESKINS: All artists who self-define as women and create, perform, curate, write… anything creative they are willing to share, I want to help get their perspective out in the world because there needs to be more out there!

HOPKINSON: What are some of your favorite lit mags/journals?

DESKINS: Luna Luna, Up the Staircase and Quail Bell are ones that I read a lot. Wild Women Rising is fantastic, it should be coming back soon. Literary Mama and The Mom Egg are great because I’m also a mom which impacts me and my work incredibly. So to Speak I love, and I just heard of this one: What Fresh Witch is This, a feminist art and lit journal. I also love Vagina Zine out of Austin, and the blog by the National Museum for Women in the Arts is great. I also love Hyperallergic and Feminist Wire. There are tons more I’m not naming I’m sure!

HOPKINSON: Where can folks send interview requests?

DESKINS: To me! sallydeskins@yahoo.com

DESKINS: Email me sallydeskins@yahoo.com.

Many, many thanks to Les Femmes Folles for all they are doing for women writers, artists, musicians, and performers. I so enjoyed the interview process with their curator Sally Deskins. Keep an eye on this organization–they are accomplishing great things!

Follow them on tumblr or Facebook to make sure you don’t miss more interviews coming in their interview series. Past interviews include the gorgeous work of artists Christine Palamidessi, Gao Rong, Roberta Masciarelli, and others.

DEADLINE: Always open (annual collections published yearly)

QUALIFICATIONS: artist/writer/musician/performer of any style, genre or level, that identifies as female

SUBMISSION FEE: None

PAYMENT: None

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