Friday, August 22, 2014

White Ribbon Day

Here is my latest book in my collaboration with Susan.  The books we made to a 'recipe' we selected from Julie Chen and Barbara Tentenbaum's' Ideation Cards.  The book had to have the following features:

Text: None
Image: Abstract
Structure: Multiple openings
Paper: Multiple colours
Layout: Asymmetrical
Technique: High Tech
Colour: Muted/Pastel

Adjectives: Miniature, Photographic, Personal, Issue-based, Simple

It is called White Ribbon Day.

It tells a story of Australian women who are killed by their partners or former partners.
Each year in this country around 72 women die this way.
More than one a week.
Since January, 12 women have died this way in Queensland alone.

This was my issue.

White Ribbon Day is Australia's campaign to stop violence against women. I chose a white ribbon to wrap my book.


I won't show every page, but you get a sense of the work from these images I think.






At a gathering in our town in May to stop violence against women, a memorial of shoes was laid out. Each pair represented a woman who had been killed, and had a tag with details like her age, where she lived and who she cared for. This image stuck with me.

My book uses abstract, miniatures prints of shoes to represent women who have died. Through the small openings on each page, you find an image.



Markers on each page count the women.


The female symbol is embossed and de-bossed throughout.



I chose soft grey and creamy white and had to include black even though it isn't really muted.

It tells a story without words, but it helps to know the back story.

14 comments:

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    1. Thanks Cat - tougher than usual, but this story has been eating away at me...

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  2. Thank you. This is a new and wonderful commemoration for me - as far as I know White Ribbon Day isn't found in the UK. Maybe we should introduce it ...

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    1. Thanks Charlton...I'm not sure how international White Ribbon Day is, but I am gradually getting more involved with it. It's a difficult issue, and I hope I've treated it with respect in tho shook.

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  3. Love the little glimpses through the windows Fiona. A strong story told in a striking manner.

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    1. Thanks Susan - the windows work well for this I think! Yes, a tough story to tell, my mind still goes round and round....

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  4. F- a powerful work on a very important yet tough matter. B

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    1. Thanks B- so true. When thinking about an issue I might work with, this was such a standout concern for me. In little ways we might raise awareness...

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  5. a lovely and powerful memorial … in a way this is remembering and grieving but in a good way, pro-ative and positive.

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    1. Thanks Gemma - I'm glad you see it as a positive memorial...we need to know in order to remember I think.

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  6. Een mooie en integere vertaling van realistische gebeurtenissen.

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    1. "A beautiful and honest translation of realistic events."

      Thank you Marleen, sadly these are true and real events, but I am pleased you think I have honoured them.

      Dank je Marleen, helaas zijn dit ware en echte gebeurtenissen, maar ik ben blij dat je denkt dat ik heb ze vereerd.

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  7. Fiona , I find those statistics quite shocking but sadly suspect Australia and Queensland is not the only place this happens. Your book is the perfect example of how an artist can be moved by a situation and draw attention to it. You've handled the matter sensitively whilst still getting the full effect to hit home. The transposition from black to white and the embossing work so well. Another success I think!

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    1. Thanks Lesley, I'm sure as well that the story is told elsewhere...I'm glad you think I've told it well and that the book works as a whole. Go well.

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I appreciate your thoughts and comments; thanks for taking the time.