We were lucky to be allocated generous hanging space at the NZ Quilt Symposium Oct 1-6, and were kept busy talking with visitors. Many had visited Western Australia, or intend to now! The intense colours, the techniques, the real-life landscape photographs and the Aboriginal connections drew positive responses.
Three of our WA Inspired Group (Hilary, Stephanie and Pat) are heading off to NZ to present our latest quilt set ‘Expanse, Western Australian Landscapes with Aboriginal History’. We are looking forward to the fun.
Coastal Track by Stephanie Knudsen: This quilt is inspired by an overhead drone photo taken by my nephew Richard Young who lives in Broome, Western Australia. It depicts the vivid colours of the water, the rocks and cliff face and a muddy track winding through the vegetation along the coast.
Cable Camels by Stephanie Knudsen: Riding camels on Cable Beach in Broome is such a Western Australian icon, enjoyed by overseas visitors as well as locals.
A Night Outback by Stella King: “I love the boab trees that are common in the Kimberley region. They remind me of the part of Africa that I grew up in. This work is inspired by the amazing photography of Benjamin James Kapinski and Mark Wassell as well as many awesome photographs of the Milky Way that can be found on the internet. ‘Emu in the Sky’ is depicted, formed by black spaces in the Milky Way, with the Southern Cross in front of its head. It is a common subject of Aboriginal narratives”.
Venus Appears over Kandimalal (Wolfe Creek Crater) by Roberta Chantler: ‘While living under canvas in the Kimberley, I was fully aware of the surrounding environment. Camped at Kandimalal (Wolfe Creek Crater), I watched each afternoon for the appearance of the Evening Star (Venus) shortly after sunset, marvelling at the splendour of the Universe, my place within it, knowing hundreds of generations star gazing before me have had the same experience’.
Indian Ocean by Pat Forster, photo at Jake’s Beach, Kalbarri
Ningaloo Reef by Pat Forster, photo – swimming with whale sharks at Ningaloo
Here is a sample of the Inland subset of our new quilt set ‘Expanse, Western Australian Landscapes with Aboriginal History’. First up is ‘Eyre Highway Rest Stop’ by Elizabeth Humphreys.
Second is ‘Heart of the Pilbara’ by Hilary Arber.
You might also like to see the quilts some of us have been working on for the Mount Magnet Astro Rocks Fest https://mountmagnetquiltproject.wordpress.com/
We are about to launch our new quilt set ‘Expanse, Western Australian Landscapes with Aboriginal History’. Each member of our group has made two quilts which form two subsets – Coast and Inland. Below is a taster of the quilts in the ‘Coast’ subset. We have taken photographs to provide context for the quilts. The Aboriginal History will soon be available in a downloadable booklet. Click on the images to see the detail – it can take a couple of seconds for the photos to appear in focus.
Torgadirrup (The Gap), Albany by Meg Cowey. The impressive granite cliffs seem like an indestructible fortress. Yet one narrow section lost the battle with the ocean tides to create the channel known as The Gap. The view of waves pouring in and out is awe-inspiring and compelling.
Southern Ocean Cliffs by Elizabeth Humphreys. The Eyre Highway passes close to the cliffs of the Great Australian Bight which came into existence when Gondwana broke apart and separated from Antarctica around 50 million years ago. Occupation by the Mirning Aboriginal language group before European settlement in the area is believed to date back 40,000 years.
Our 16 quilt set ‘Noongar Country, Wetland Glimpses’ has been purchased by the National Museum. The Museum arranged the transport–we assume something else went in the truck as well! Please go to the Wetlands tab to see the quilts.
Click on any image to see the quilt detail and read the poem matched with the quilt. The poems are from ‘Swamp’ by Nandi Chinna, available from Fremantle Press. The quilt titles, statements and Aboriginal connections are available in this downloadable booklet Wetlands Quilt Set Booklet
Our Wetlands quilt set is on display at Rockingham Central Library until May 24, library hours, and then it will be sold. There will be a presentation about it this Thursday, May 16, 6 pm – 8 pm at the library with refreshments after the slideshow / talk. The quilts are complemented by poems matched with each quilt which will amuse and pause you to ponder, and a display on conservation of the endangered swamp tortoise. The library is on Dixon Rd, Rockingham, in the grounds of the Murdoch University Campus.
Come to enjoy quilts with poetry. An example that compares ‘what was’ with ‘what is now’, and an example to make you smile follow. Click on an image to read the poem.
Exhibit details. Rockingham Central Library, Dixon Road on Murdoch University Campus, Rockingham
April 29 – May 24, library hours
Opening 10am May 2, rsvp rclcontact@rockingham.wa.gov.au
Presentation 6pm May 16, rsvp rclcontact@rockingham.wa.gov.au
