Conversation with Lynette Charters
Originally published on The JOLT News on October 1, 2025.
Last week, I discussed freedom of speech in our community, and artists throughout our county contributed their thoughts to the conversation. Part 2 featured the piece, “Missing Tarana Burke,” from “The Matilda Effect Series” by Lynette Charters in addition to her statements.
With this conversation lingering in my heart, I keep thinking about what a privilege it is to use our freedom of speech to accurately describe history and give credit where it is due. This privilege is an honor and is crucial work in fighting for the kind of democracy we desire. Charters is doing that work, and it is an honor to celebrate her this week.
Freelance artist, gallery creator for Harlequin Productions, fellow writer for OLY ARTS, and volunteer at the Olympia Food Co-Op, Charters is a friend to many and embodies what it means to be hands-on in our community. Each role that Charters takes on is nuanced, meaningful and embraces advocacy through art.
Painting series
Charters describes "The Missing Women/Parents Series” as a way of playfully pointing out how women, all womb owning and childbearing people, are missing from the history books and courses taught in schools.
“This series also includes anyone that stays at home and looks after kids because it’s an underappreciated, uncompensated job, and it’s kind of invisible to the public eye," Charters said.
A world without women would be entirely dismal, and we must do what we can to uplift and celebrate these people in our lives. Society’s general support and stance on women ebbs and flows depending on what is happening in that moment, which is why the work of Charters and other artists is vital to maintaining the conversation on women’s rights.
As “The Missing Women/Parents Series” identifies the gaps, issues and problems in our society. “The Matilda Effect Series” aims to be part of the solution and speak to women’s history. Named after suffragist Matilda Joslyn Gage, the phrase “Matilda Effect” was coined by historian Margaret Rossiter as a way of describing women receiving less credit than deserved for their achievements, and the ultimate reality of women’s accomplishments being written out of the history books.
Every woman featured in “The Matilda Effect Series” is painted onto a household item that reflects how that woman influenced history; think Julia Child painted onto a cutting board or Mary Florence Potts painted onto an ironing board.
Painting women onto these common places points out how women and female identifying people are “only applauded for their supporting roles and are not really applauded for anything else," Charters said.
She added, “We do an awful lot more than we are applauded for, and I want to make people aware of what we do (and of the trailblazing things we have done and remain capable of).”
Advice
Her works are inspirational and empowering, and they make you want to join in and contribute in your own way. Speaking with friends throughout the community, I have observed that some people want to be creative but get insecure and afraid of “failing.” Originally, Charters gave me advice to pass on to younger artists, but I believe we all would benefit from her advice:
“Start off using materials that you enjoy. Take time to discover what materials you like. If you like paper, use paper. Fabric, use fabric. My son likes to create digital art because he doesn’t like to get his hands messy, so find something that you can embrace, that you are comfortable with, and that gives you energy.”
“Consider what it is about your life that you want to focus on, or what it is you want to work through? Is this something that other people can relate to? What do you want to see in your own world?”
“Ultimately, just start somewhere. No one starts off being a ‘great artist’ right away. Just start working and celebrate your failures because they will teach you something and you’ll be able to do something better later on.”
“After you’ve done a body of work, choose what works together, speak to who you are, and that you are the most proud of.”
Whether you decide to showcase your body of work to the public, or keep it as a sacred treasure for yourself, all of it matters and is making this world a brighter place. Embracing creativity will help us remain resilient during these tumultuous times and allow us to redefine and remind everybody who we really are.
Her next show will be at The Skybridge Gallery, UW Tower, 4333 Brooklyn Ave NE, Seattle, starting on Oct. 10 and running for three months. It will be open Monday thru Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Click here for more information.
https://thejoltnews.com/stories/a-conversation-with-lynette-charters,26611