Fitzroy and Co. Artwork commission 2023

Artist Statement: This work draws from the layered symbolism, absorbent qualities and familiar nature of textiles, to create a harmonious, abstract snapshot of the local community.

As everyday objects, textiles form the background of our life, witnessing every moment, forming to our shapes, absorbing stains, sweat, tears and sentiments. Whether it be the clothing on our backs, blankets that keep us warm, or the carpet beneath out feet, textiles, are a constant presence in our life and are collectors of moments, absorbed from the people to interact with them.

Each piece of fabric within this work has been collected from charity shops located in the local Fitzroy/Brunswick Area. These materials are both mundane, yet mysterious. Bedding, pillowcases, and other household textiles, compiled together, form an assemblage of a community, of unknown people, places and memories held within the material. While their origins are unknown, viewers are united by the familiarity of these everyday materials, drawing on their own interactions with the personal textile objects in their lives.

Flowing lines are sewn and then cut, revealing each layer, a mapping of memory. These lines, in hues of blue, swirling like water, pays homage to the Merri Creek, a significant body of water connecting the suburbs of Melbourne, nurturing our ecosystems and the everchanging communities that surround it.