Wisdom of the Elder

The longer version takes up more than a page, ranging across self-harm and mutilation, PTSD, school and sleeping issues, and ‘socially inappropriate behaviour’. Considering whether child abuse caused her cancer, she answers no, but says it would equally be wrong to conclude the two aren’t potentially connected.

She adds, ‘One of the most common outcomes of trauma is avoidance, and medical settings are triggering. As a result, people in the direst need of professional help may avoid seeking it – presuming, of course, that risky behaviour hasn’t derailed their lives to the extent that such help is even affordable.’

She notes that an unexpected discovery about surviving ‘Carcinomaville’ is that ‘while you might not be dead, you might never again be well. In my case, the collateral damage caused by treatment was substantial. Some of it will be permanent.’

The residuals include a ravaged immune system, extensive bodily warts, chronic neuralgia, lymphoedema and of course the psychological impacts, not helped by her autism and ADHD.

This is a wild ride through contemporary sexuality, journalism and academia, gender discrimination and sexual abuse, parenthood and significant illness. While no doubt a useful catharsis for the author this memoir, sub-titled ‘Living with abuse, undiagnosed autism, and Covid-grade crazy’, also shines a valuable spotlight on a too-often-hidden issue of great social importance.

Boosting Defences

by Helen MacRitchie, Oxfordshire UK and Sydney NSW.

Merino wool, yarn, beads, embroidery thread, wet felting, knotting, natural dyeing, free machine embroidery. Exhibited in Connection Point: Contemporary established fibre textile artists of ACT and NSW, Canberra Museum+Gallery. It is no coincidence that Helen MacRitchie’s extraordinary creation closely resembles a human cell, although which one would be difficult to gauge. Her artist’s statement gives the game away: ‘Merino wool roving and yarn have been dyed green naturally with elder leaves and felted to depict a human cell. Boundary defences are wrapped and barbed to protect cellular contents and a nuclear nest.’

The artist goes on to explain that ‘The medieval Doctrine of Signatures [c 16th century, claiming that herbs resembling various parts of the body can be used by herbalists to treat ailments of those body parts] believed that the Elder tree treated many ailments because its fruit resembled the affected body parts.

‘This strange reasoning aside, pulmonary and cardiovascular systems do benefit from the antioxidants in elderberries helping to maintain our immune system.’

The assemblage, certainly of value to the viewer’s eye, was part of an accomplished group of works in the recent exhibition, Connection Point - Contemporary established fibre textile artists of ACT and NSW, in the national capital’s downtown Canberra Museum+Gallery.

The show highlighted fibre textile art, ranging from wall hangings to clothing, chosen from CMAG’s own collection, alongside works from ACT and NSW textile artists. Twenty artists from each territory/state were represented.