Some good news

 I haven't managed to get to the studio or do anything for quite a while now, so the only thing I have to blog about is some good news received from the State Library of Queensland.

Back in 2017, the Library acquired one of my books  what about? why doesn't? what can? what does?for their collection.

I recently fielded an enquiry about whether I had any of the edition left as they were interested in purchasing an additional copy.

The book attempts to answer four questions I often see asked about domestic abuse and family violence:

What about male victims?

Why doesn't she leave?

What can I do?

What does gender have to do with it?

The Library has a White Gloves Room, where the Australian Library of Art often hosts White Gloves events. These events offer visitors the opportunity to engage with artists' books in their collection, to learn more about them and to experience handling them. 

In this instance, the Library wanted to purchase another copy of my book, so that they could make it available for these programs; especially for the handling. This way the original remains in the collection and can be brought out to be handled by individual patrons; but the second version would be able to be handled by many more people. 

I was honoured that the book was selected for this program.

The imagery for what about male victims?  - shows the vast majority of victims are female. All victims should be supported and believed; however, the systems we live and operate in are skewed such that women are far more often the victims of domestic abuse.

why doesn't she leave? imagery shows how hard it is to leave, how trapped and caught within a maze and web women often are. How hard it is to find a safe way out.

what can i do?  is represented by imagery suggesting you can stand beside her and surround her with  a circle of support.

what does gender have to do with it? women and men are not treated equally. Historically women were considered the property of males; they could not own property themselves and so on and so on. This encourages some men to think they can do things to women because they 'own' them. What we are seeking is a gender neutral way of being in the world where men and women are valued and treated equally.

And the book leads us to action. In big ways, and in small ways. To take to the streets, or to condemn a sexist joke or comment. To sign a petition, or to listen to a friend and help them stay safe.

It is nice to think this wee book (10cm x 10cm) with such a lot of work and effort and care and thought in it, will go on to speak to students and visitors for a time yet...