I Had To Go And Have A Look...

Yari Country 1989

xxRoad Crossed

xx
Uluru

The thing is... I'm an Aussie and I love the desert and have great empathy for this land and the people that live(d) here before me and mine... but I've never been particularly, especially moved by our indigenous art. Before now. But I've been sitting in court, listening and looking at the amateurish, greedily executed forgeries made to rip-off the great Aussie artist Rover Thomas, the Rothco of Oz (so called by someone very very famous), who's work I saw for real today at the Ian Potter (Fed Square) gallery just so I would know the difference.

The images have snuggled in under my skin and I love them. LUFF. Today I got it for the first time and for that, I thank those forgers. They stole them but because they did I was introduced.

I mean, it's obvious the forgeries are just that, but how anyone in the know could ever have mistaken them is beyond me. Maybe they were more interested in their cut of the action to look too closely (although I must add that it was a guy from Sotherby's that finally called the cops).

Thomas's work has a texture that makes my little heart go pitter-patter. The paints are made with natural earth pigments, mixed with natural (tree?) resins and are rich and warm and luscious. The other's are student quality, scumbled, acrylic, crap!! With pretend dust on the back... oops, conte, not dust!

So all I can say is... Go Rover!

P.S. The Uluru image is very similar to a dream I had of a Wagga design.

More Sketches

And remember these pretty girls.

Well, I think they're pretty, but I can see what I mean.

The Original Rabbit's Cubby

I'll photograph the rest of Ruby's story soon. My favourite stitch, Ceylon Stitch. It's like Vandyke Stitch.

The belt is what I have come to call Fluffy Stitch.

Ruby used to write and write and write. Stories about lovliness and blood and sick and babies. I would scribble an interpretation on another bit of paper and send letters to her grandparents.

Claire's Man

I made the legs longer. Poetic Licence you see.

Ceylon Stitch pants man.

Written By Robert (Age 4 1/2) On Behalf Of His Sister Claire (Age 2)

Although, it's remarkably, exactly what Rob would say if he had nothing to say...

"Mum..."

"Hmmm..."

"It's a nice day..."

"Hmmm..."

"Mum..."

"Yes luvvy?"

"There's a BIG Truck!"

"Hmmm."

"It's a nice day Mum."

"Hmmm..."

Newspaper Article

Published here for the first time. Ruby again.

Happy Story About Something Or Other

Picture by Ruby Melia.

Applique and embroidery by me.