-
Owner:
National Museum of Australia -
Location:
Perth, Western Australia -
Maker:
Hilary Arber -
Pattern:
Community -
Pattern:
Contemporary -
Pattern:
Embroidered -
Dimensions:
Height: 60
Width: 40
History
A Great Egret with watchful eyes and stealthy steps is a common sight on the Swan Coastal Plain with their habitat recorded at the time of early settlement. As for all birds, the Noongar name has not been retained for common use. Identified by its long yellow bill, black legs and distinctive kinked neck it feeds on insects, crustaceans, frogs and fish in water. During breeding, long filamentous feathers cascade down its back.
This quilt is part of a 16 piece ‘Noongar Country, Wetland Glimpses’ quilt set made by WA Inspired Art Quilters, a West Australian Quilters’ Association group. The 40cm x 60cm quilts depict aspects of wetlands on the Swan Coastal Plain - swamps, estuaries and rivers, and native plants and animals. Text describes what is depicted on the quilts in terms of relevance to traditional Noongar culture. Noongar people were first custodians of the Swan Coastal Plain.
The quilt set was created in the spirit of reconciliation with the Noongar community, and for educative purposes. Accordingly, the following were carried out.
Noongar consultation in 2018 included
- appraisal by the Shire of Cockburn Aboriginal Reference Group, Perth, June 19
- viewing by Noongar elders at the Western Australian Museum, Albany, July 9, arranged by the Museum
- viewing by Noongar elder women of the City of Perth, August, arranged by the City of Perth
Exhibitions
Initially, the quilt set was exhibited, and talks given about them, at the following venues:
- Western Australian Museum, Albany, July 8 - 29, 2018
- City of Perth Library, August 21 - November 19, 2018
- WA Wetland Management Conference, Cockburn Wetlands Centre, February 1, 2019
- Australasian Quilt Convention, Melbourne, April 11 -14, 2019
Description
Materials and techniques: Layered cotton, silk and silk paper with appliquéd Lutradur, satin, felt and cotton fabrics. Embellished with hemp, cotton and polyester braids and ribbon, hand and machine embroidery and beading. Acrylic paint and Inktense pencils. Machine quilted during construction.
600 x 400 mm
Acknowledgements
Extensive research underpins the quilt set including from Noongar oral histories, academic works by indigenous and non-indigenous scholars, Native Title submissions, and early settlers' diaries. Quotations relevant to each quilt are available in a digital booklet.
