Judith

 A while ago now I was approached by Amanda Earl (Canadian visual poet) to see if I would be willing to participate and be listed in an anthology she was preparing and editing around Women making visual poetry.

She was focussing on 36 women from 21 countries but had come across so many wonderful women that she wanted to try and include them all somehow.  Of course I was momentarily disappointed that I wasn't one of the 36! But keen nonetheless to participate in some way and keep the work of recognising women's work alive.

Amanda had seen my work A Subversive Stitch and loved it; and I took part in a Q&A interview type thing and this extended interview, along with several others, is available for download here.

In the interview I wrote about Women's Words - the hand stitched stories from the women at McAuley House in Melbourne. Stories from women who were leaving shelter after being accommodated safely.

On return home last week the Post Office Box presented me with my own copy of Judith - Women Making Visual Poetry. Oh my goodness, I think this book will become a classic companion and a treasure trove to dip into often. To learn, and to be inspired.

The foreword is by Johanna Drucker and there are detailed interviews and lots of photographs with the featured women.

Towards the end of the book there are even more essays.

I love reading about process and context for the art that I make and these thoughtful approaches and investigations are well worth spending time with.

As I flicked through the book, a couple of spreads sang to me, but on flicking back so many more did too!

Kate Siklsosi

Ines Seidel

Amnda Earl.

Erica Baum

And here is the lengthy list of 1181 women making visual poetry that Amanda sourced from around the world - a lifetime of googling awaits!!!

I know this book will take a long time to digest, but I am looking forward to slowly absorbing its magic.