Exploring the journey of elder women from intersectional communities
International Women’s Day Project April – June 2017
For International Women’s Day (IWD) 2017 Connect Health and Community, WHISE, Bentleigh Secondary College and Moongala collaborated to commission the artwork, ‘Finding A Way’.
The concept and philosophy for the project was developed and the textile artwork produced by Janis Morgan which she named, “Finding A Way”. Finding A Way represents the independent journeys of women’s lives within the same community and culture. Woman can live parallel lives within communities and cultures, weaving in and out of local places and spaces, intersecting by chance or choice, sometimes sharing life experiences and sometimes reflecting on those who cross their path. Life throws at us abundant opportunities and countless obstacles, moments of joy and unrealistic challenges, there are bundles of pain but bubbles of pleasure, all occurring throughout the various phases of our lives. It is the culmination of these life experiences that evolve into wisdom of expression to be shared.
The artwork Finding A Way contains the collective wisdom of 52 women at the IWD luncheon, with each ribbon intersecting and connecting at various points on the loom. These words of wisdom reflect back to the broader community the collective voices of the 52 who participated. A prominent single thread represents the pathway through the 3 phases of life; youth, maturation and eldership, weaving up and through life’s challenges whilst celebrating moments of love, wonder and joy.
