INUNDATION (HER STORY)

2017

Tissue paper, gouache, graphite, ink, thread, flood salvaged and restored chair, 2018

Inundation (Her Story) is a sculptural concertina artist book in the form of a petticoat, showing the extent of the (previously) record-breaking 1954/1974 flooding of the Wilson River from Eltham where I grew up, to Lismore. The pages of the book are bound to a restored edwardian chair, salvaged from a pile of flood rubbish, just prior to being smashed by a bulldozer cleaning the streets of Lismore following the 2017 flood.

This work honours the determination and resourcefulness of women have pressed on with the important events of their lives regardless of major floods. Many stories have been told of those flocking to see the Queen visiting Lismore in 1954, only to ford flood waters in their Sunday best to get home. No flood was going to postpone my sister's wedding that at the last minute had to move to a different church, with minister and guests travelling by boat. And flood wasn't going to stop my mother going to a local ball to dance with my father when they were courting. Dad then escorted my mother home in the middle of the night after the ball, crossing a flooded bridge on foot, Mum with her ball gown hitched up above the waters. They are still together 70 years later.