Counterfeiting the office of husband: workshop with Ailie Rutherford

This clay workshop and discussion with artist Ailie Rutherford forms part of her ongoing response to Domestic Bliss, and her wider research into the persecution of women and queer bodies during Scotland’s witch trials.

The work is informed by historical accounts of raids on queer women’s homes in the 16th and 17th centuries, objects seized as “evidence” of witchcraft – masculine-coded tools, cross-dressing, use of “prosthetic phalluses” and other “embodiments of masculinity”. The accusations included “counterfeiting the office of husband”. Seen as a challenge to male economic and sexual authority and threatening social order, such acts were deemed as deception and frequently folded into accusations of deviance or witchcraft.

This research sits within Ailie’s wider artistic practice over the past decade, focused on feminist economics, in particular the intersections of labour, care and health - tracing whose work and lives are made visible or invisible. Her research applies a queer lens to work of Silvia Federici, who framed the witch trials as part of a longer economic and political project tied to the advent of capitalism which saw the destruction of autonomous women’s collectives, dismantling women-led systems of care and resource-sharing.

Alongside historical references, the work is shaped by Ailie’s research into figures such as Maud Galt, a 17th-century Scottish woman accused of witchcraft amid allegations connected to her relationships with other women, and evidence presented at her trial “ane piece of clay formed be hir to the liknes of a mans priwie member”. Ailie’s likely ancestor born Isabel Rutherford, was one of the last people executed under the Witchcraft Act in Scotland. Known locally to be a healer, they were accused of consorting with the devil and of changing their name to Viceroy: a male name, a king’s title and name of a butterfly, a shape-shifter.

Through working with clay, participants are invited to collectively reimagine and re-render forms associated with these histories - transforming objects once used to incriminate. The session will be hands-on, discussion-led and rooted in queer joy as a radical response to gendered violence.

This workshop offers space to reflect on repression and erasure, but also on survival, pleasure, creativity and the persistence of queer lives; then and now.

Notes:

Please note the clay forms you create will be collected by Ailie as part of this project, although there is the opportunity to make your own edition to take home. All work created by you will be credited to you as part of the project if you would like to give your details for crediting by GoMA.

CONTENT WARNING

This workshop will involve group discussion - themes of violence, misogyny and homophobia may come up. If you feel uncomfortable or need to step out of the workshop at any point a quiet space will be made available

The workshop is open to women and other marginalised genders aged 18+

The workshop will be documented but there will be an option to opt-out of photography

This workshop is the 3rd in a series of 3 workshops:
Hold Your Tongue
Scream in Domestic Bliss
Counterfeiting the office of husband

You are welcome to book into one of the workshops or to attend all three

Image: Courtesy and copyright Ailie Rutherford

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