BERN EMMERICHS
BERN EMMERICHS
BETWEEN THE DEVIL ‘N THE DEEP BLUE SEA
I
2021
SCOTT LIVESEY GALLERIES
B E Y O N D G R AV E S E N D 1 8 7 8 2020 painted ceramic and mixed media (fired) 30 x 90 cm
T h e L o c h a r d d i s a s t e r. Where 54 of the passengers and crew perished, only two survivors - 18 year old Eva Carmichael and the y o u n g s e a m a n a p p r e n t i c e , To m Pe a r c e . T h e c a p t a i n ’s l a s t w o r d s t o E v a ( w h o c o u l d n o t s w i m ) a r e n o t e d o n t h e l e f t - h a n d s i d e . We s e e h e r h o l d i n g on for dear life to a floating chicken coup, while chickens fly to safety and comfort.
FEVER SHIPS MELBOURNE 2020 painted ceramic and mixed media (fired) 30 x 90 cm
The John Barry was an ex-convict ship - with only 1 bath tub and 2 privies for the 323 people on board! It departed from Dundee, Scotland on the 24 March 1837 and arrived in Williamstown on the 28 April 1839, having first been in Sydney to quarantined there, where 12 people died. Jane Mathews being the carrier of typhus perhaps! The first night they slept in the open air at Williamstown. W i l l i a m L o n s d a l e ( t h e Po l i c e M a g i s t r a t e a t Po r t Ph i l l i p ) t h e n p u t t h e m i n a n ‘ i n c o n v e n i e n t a n d m i s e r a b l e hut’. Tw o d i e d a n d w e r e b u r i e d a t Po i n t G e l l i b r a n d .
E VA’ S A N S W E R E D P R AY E R S 2020 painted ceramic and mixed media (fired) 30 x 90 cm
T h i s i s a v i s i o n m a y b e f r o m E v e ’s c a v e a f t e r To m h a d r e s c u e d h e r. I c a n o n l y i m a g i n e h e r w a k i n g u p a f t e r To m h a d l e f t t o g e t h e l p a n d b e i n g a l l a l o n e - w e t a n d f r e e z i n g a n d l o s i n g h e r e n t i r e f a m i l y i n t h e tragedy (the praying she must have done - being an Irish Catholic). E v e C a r m i c h a e l s ’ m o t h e r w a s a P l a n t a g e n e t , a d e s c e n d a n t o f Ki n g H e n r y V I I . T h e f a m i l y w e r e t r a v e l l i n g f i r s t c l a s s . I n t h e p a i n t i n g i s t h e M i n t o n Pe a c o c k a n d t h e p i a n o , t h e r e a r e n u m e r o u s f o r k s a n d s p o o n s ( m a n y a r e i n t h e M a r i t i m e M u s e u m a t F l a g s t a f f , Wa r r n a m b o o l ) . She must have been ‘so’ hungry and exhausted!
H I D D E N H I S TO RY 2019-21 painted ceramic and mixed media (fired) 90 x 90 cm - overall, diptych
This triptych, l created over the past 2 years. Re t r a c i n g m y o w n f a m i l y ’s G i p p s l a n d h i s t o r y, m y I r i s h a n c e s t o r s , w h o a r r i v e d i n Po r t Albert in 1841. They settled in Alberton and then later in Stratford - running two pubs... l o c a t e d n e a r A n g u s M c M i l l a n ’s s q u a t t e r ’s r u n a n d s t a t i o n a t B u s h y Pa r k . I t w a s n o t u n t i l t h e l a t e 7 0 ’s w h e n h i s t o r i a n Pe t e r G a r d i n e r highlighted the severity of the frontier conflict in Gippsland, naming Mc Millan as a key figure in the loss of several t h o u s a n d s o f G u n a i Ku r n a i l i v e s . M c M i l l a n ’s H i g h l a n d B r i g a d e w e r e sworn to secrecy - attributed to a reaction to the Myall Creek massacre - which led to decades of silence about the extent of the violence. Envisaged as a romantic landscape as the picturesque beauty of Gippsland is, with its rolling hills and mystical enormous trees, wildlife, flora and fauna. D i g a l i t t l e d e e p e r, a n d t h e r e a r e many scars hidden in the landscape. Spears were no match for guns and horses. In April 1846, Squatter Henry Howard Meyrick wrote a letter home to his family noting the traumas and devastation. B o o k s r e f e r e n c e d : Pe t e r G a r d i n e r, Ke n n e t h C o x , G e o r g e D u n d e r d a l e , D o n Wa t s o n , M a r y H o w i t t Wa l k e r, Pa t r i c k M o r g a n a n d C a l F l y n ’s ‘ T h i c k e r T h a n Wa t e r ’ . C a l i s a B r i t i s h j o u r n a l i s t w h o ’s great-great-great Uncle was Angus Mc Millan.
T H E I N T R E P I D A N D B R AV E H E A RT E D K A U R N A W O M A N 2020 painted ceramic (fired) 90 x 30 cm
T h e l i f e ’s j o u r n e y o f K a l l o o n g o o , a K a u r n a w o m a n f r o m R a p i d B a y, S . A . , w h o w a s s t o l e n b y s e a l e r s , m o s t l i k e l y w h e n she was just a child. Ta k e n t o K a n g a r o o I s l a n d b y h e r a b d u c t o r s ( B i l l J o h n s o n a n d James Allen) where she was kept in a state of slavery renaming her Charlotte. Ye a r s l a t e r s h e w a s s e i z e d u p o n a n d f o r c e d o n b o a r d a schooner by Johnson and taken to Bass Strait, where she was sold to William Dutton, who had killed the very first w h a l e i n Po r t l a n d B a y, a s w e l l a s h a r p o o n i n g t h e v e r y l a s t . In July 1829, he built the very first house there. Circa 1830, her first child was born, named Sophia. William later took her away with him, as he had abandoned Charlotte. Charlotte also had a son, called Johnny Franklin, born a r o u n d 1 8 3 2 o n a r o c k n e a r t h e J u l i e Pe r c y I s l a n d s . L a t e r C h a r l o t t e a n d h e r s o n w e r e t a k e n t o G . A . Ro b i n s o n ’s settlement, Wybalenna on Flinders Island. Here George Ro b i n s o n r e n a m e d h e r S a r a h . S h e l e a r n t t h e a l p h a b e t a s well as basket and needlecraft, and had several dogs. I n 1 8 3 9 , S a r a h t r a v e l l e d w i t h G . A . Ro b i n s o n t o t h e Po r t Ph i l l i p D i s t r i c t a l o n g w i t h h i s s e l e c t g r o u p o f Ta s m a n i a n A b o r i g i n a l g u i d e s , i n c l u d i n g Tr u g a n i n i . Tr u g a n i n i a n d S a r a h b e c a m e c l o s e f r i e n d s . I n 1 8 4 0 , t h e y w e r e b o t h l i v i n g w i t h t w o s h e p h e r d s a t Po i n t N e p e a n . L a t e r Tr u g a n i n i , a n d t h e o t h e r Ta s m a n i a n s w e r e sent back to Flinders Island after the killing of two whalers. But Kalloongoo and Johnny Franklin, her son, r e m a i n e d a t Po r t Ph i l l i p .
i m a g e ( L H S ) : B e n j a m i n D u t e r ra u (London 1767 - Hobart 1851), ‘ M r Ro b i n s o n ’s f i r s t i n t e r v i e w w i t h Ti m m y ’ , 1 8 4 0 , o i l o n c a n v a s , 113 x 142 cm. Collection: National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
BLOW THE MAN WOMAN DOWN 2020 painted ceramic and mixed media (fired) 30 x 90 cm
The title is about ‘mishaps at sea’! V i c t o r i a ’s s h i p w r e c k c o a s t , c o v e r i n g 1 3 0 k m s o f c o a s t l i n e b e t w e e n C a p e O t w a y a n d Po r t F a i r y. T h e t r a i l s h o w s s i t e s w h e r e w e a t h e r, h u m a n e r r o r o r i n s o m e c a s e s f o u l p l a y c a u s e d t h e s e v e s s e l s t o b e wrecked. A l o n g V i c t o r i a ’s e n t i r e c o a s t l i n e t h e r e a r e a p p r o x i m a t e l y. 6 3 8 k n o w n s h i p w r e c k s w i t h o n l y 2 4 0 o f t h e m discovered. Love tokens, prayers and pounding hearts can be heard, felt and imagined when you visit such powerful and often treacherous sites.
REMNANTS RELICS N REMAINS 2020 painted ceramic (fired) 30 x 90 cm
2 7 t h F e b r u a r y 1 8 3 9 . . . T h e d a y t h e c u t t e r, ‘ Va n s i t t a r t ’ , a r r i v e d a t H o b s o n ’s B a y i n t h e Po r t Ph i l l i p District. O n b o a r d , G e o r g e Ro b i n s o n a n d h i s 1 5 a b o r i g i n a l g u i d e s - i n c l u d i n g Wo o r e d y, Pe e v a y, Tr u g a n i n i a n d K a l l o o n g o o ( a k a C h a r l o t t e ) . T h i s p a i n t i n g w a s t r i g g e r e d f r o m t h e K a u r n a Wo m a n painting I created. In this work, I have depicted early Melbourne, along with ‘frozen Charlotte’ dolls, which date back to early days of European settlement. Many have been found in archaeological digs. Having always been fascinated with dolls, these tiny 25-100mm porcelain artifacts, are depicted here out numbering the Indigenous population... The two wooden ‘frozen Charlottes’ found are held in the Melbourne Museum. D i v i d e d , d e f e a t e d a n d b r o k e n , n o t u n l i k e Tr u g a n i n i a n d K a l l o o n g o o ( a k a C h a r l o t t e / S a r a h ) .
S c r i m s h a w. . . . . I s i m p l
Floating on a backdro
The date, Friday 2nd oars, boarded the un
GOLDEN HEIST 2020
The armed men boun them to the masts. “ The Chief Officer Dra
painted ceramic and mixed media (fired)
Boxes of gold were h
30 x 90 cm
They drank champagn t h e o t h e r a t S i n Ki l d a
ly love scrimshaw!
o p o f Po r t Ph i l l i p B a y i s t h e c u r i o u s t a l e o f a d a r i n g a c t o f p i r a c y.
d A p r i l 1 8 5 2 a t 2 a m i n W i l l i a m s t o w n , a p a r t y o f m a s k e d a n d a r m e d m e n , h a v i n g r o w e d f r o m S i n Ki l d a w i t h m u f f l e d nguarded ‘Nelson’, which had a large quantity of gold on board, bound for London.
nd the hands and feet to seven of the crew along with two women passengers with ripped tablecloths and tied “ We ’ v e c o m e f o r t h e g o l d , a n d t h e b l o o d y g o l d w e ’ l l h a v e ! A n d , m a k e i t q u i c k , o r i ’ l l b l o w a h o l e i n y o u ! ” aper refused, but was then threatened with a cutlass.
handed over to two awaiting in row boats, 23 in total... 8,183 0z... £25,000 pounds.
ne, offered drinks all round, took all guns, cutlass and muskets. One rowboat was abandoned in Williamstown and a . S o m e w e r e l a t e r a r r e s t e d . S t o r y g o e s t h a t a w e l l k n o w n a n d r e s p e c t e d c o l o n i s t h a d o r g a n i s e d t h e r o b b e r y.
I n 1 8 7 7 , M a r t i n We i b e r g , a c a r stamped gold sovereigns, that The theft went unnoticed for
By the time he was suspected, built a small cottage.
Later he confessed to dectect hidden.
T h e f o l l o w i n g d a y We i b e r g m a recaptured and served 5 years
GOLDEN BOY ALIAS OLSEN
Upon release, he purchased a
2020
The story goes that they saile weather was wild and suppose
painted ceramic and mixed media (fired) 30 x 90 cm
Did he collect the remaining g In 1904, a farmer near Inverlo missing. The present day value
r p e n t e r o n t h e S S Av o c a , s n e e k i l y d u p l i c a t e d k e y s f r o m t h e s t r o n g r o o m a n d l a t e r r e m o v e d 5 , 0 0 0 s p e c i a l l y t were bound for Sri Lanka. He refilled the boxes with nuts and bolts and cleverly resealed them. some time.
, h e h a d m a r r i e d , h a d o n e c h i l d a n d e x p e c t i n g t h e s e c o n d . H e ’ d p u r c h a s e d 1 2 0 a c r e s a t Ta r w i n , i n G i p p s l a n d a n d
t i v e s , w h o h a d t r a c k e d h i m d o w n , a n d a f t e r s e a r c h i n g h i s p r o p e r t y, f o u n d o n l y 3 1 0 s o v e r e i g n s , a l l v e r y c l e v e r l y
anaged to punch one of the dectectives, escaped, and was on the run for 5 months.Eventually found - only to be s o f h a r d l a b o u r. y a c h t a n d a s m a l l b o a t w i t h h i s b r o t h e r.
d t o T h e G l e n n i e s , s o m e i s l a n d s n e a r Wa l k e r v i l l e . M a r t i n , l e a v i n g h i s b r o t h e r o n a n i s l a n d , s a i l e d t o s h o r e . . . t h e edly Martin drowned, although his body was ever found, only the upturned boat.
g o l d s o v e r e i g n s a n d s a i l t o E u r o p e ? T h e r e w e r e s e v e r a l r u m o u r s y e a r s l a t e r. och found 75 sovereigns while chopping an old tree. Only 1,775 sovereigns were retrieved, that leaves 3,225 still e is well over 2 million!
This hulk really deserves its own entire exh Constructed entirely of Indian teak (known
She had a stormy and chequered career ove
H i g h l i g h t s o f h e r c a r e e r. . . O c t o b e r 2 4 1 8 5 6 w e r e t r i e d f o r m u r d e r, 7 w e r e h u n g a n d t h e
NOTHING SUCCEEDS LIKE SUCCESS 2020-21 painted ceramic (fired) 30 x 120 cm - overall, diptych
F o r g e r, h o r s e t h i e f , e s c a p e e , a n d p r i s o n p o e No longer required as a prison, she became
She was sunk, refloated, refitted, and trave
H i g h l i g h t o f t h e S a n F r a n c i s c o Wo r l d F a i r i n On 4th July 1946, ‘The Success’ was ablaze
h i b i t i o n ! I t w a s s e r i o u s l y b i g g e r t h a n B e n - H u r, i n t e r m s l i k e i t s n a m e s a k e T H E S U C C E S S ! for its resistance to decay) at Moulmain, est. 1790, Burmah, in British India. She was launched in 1840.
er her 106 years - merchant ship, migrant ship, store ship, prison hulk and a museum ship!
- p r i s o n e r s h o u s e d o n ‘ T h e S u c c e s s ’ m u r d e r e d J o h n Pr i c e , t h e S u p e r i n t e n d e n t o f Pe n a l E s t a b l i s h m e n t s . 1 5 m e n e others were returned to the ‘The Success’.
e t o f A u s t r a l i a , O w e n S u f f o l k , w a s h o u s e d o n h e r. e a s t o r e s h i p i n Po r t Ph i l l i p B a y a t t h e m o u t h o f t h e Ya r r a R i v e r f o r 3 6 y e a r s .
elled as a convict exhibition ship around the ports of the world.
n 1915, she featured in a short film with Mabel and Fatty Arbuckle. t o t h e w a t e r l i n e , s e t a l i g h t b y u n k n o w n v a n d a l s . S h e r e m a i n s i n 1 6 f e e t o f w a t e r i n Po r t C l i n t o n H a r b o u r, O h i o .
MELBOURNE’S FIRST MEDICO
2020 painted ceramic and mixed media (fired) 120 x 30 cm - overall, diptych
I n r e s e a r c h i n g M e l b o u r n e ’s f i r s t q u a r a n t i n e h i s t o r y i n 1 8 4 0 w i t h T h e G l e n H u n t l e y, I c a m e a c r o s s t h e w o n d e r f u l l y c o m p i l e d h i s t o r y o f D r B a r r y C o t t e r, t h e f i r s t m e d i c o i n M e l b o u r n e , c o m p i l e d b y a d e s c e n d a n t , M o i r a M c A l i s t e r. A fascinating and informative read... totally inspirational! This was one of my early paintings of this series, completed in March 2020, when Melbourne had its first recorded death of an Australian with Covid-19, a 78 year old man, who had been o n t h e Ru b y Pr i n c e s s c r u i s e s h i p . At the time my beloved mother Margaret was in a nursing home. A very emotionally tough time for my family and I. T h e u p p e r l a n d s c a p e i n t h e p a i n t i n g r e f e r s t o D r. B a r r y C o t t e r ’s f i r s t a p p o i n t m e n t a s t h e a s s i s t a n t s u r g e o n i n C a m p b e l l To w n i n Va n D i e m e n ’s L a n d . T h e l o w e r l a n d s c a p e s d e p i c t Po i n t O r m o n d a n d m y i n s p i r a t i o n a l v e r s i o n o f E l e a n o r M c G i n n ’s , ‘ M e l b o u r n e F r o m South Bank’. M y s i n c e r e t h a n k s t o M o i r a M c A l i s t e r, f o r i n s p i r i n g t h i s painting for me!
O N C E S T R AY L I T T L E WA I F S F L O AT I N G A B O U T 2020 painted ceramic (fired) 30 x 90 cm - overall, diptych
This was the first of my series of Melbourne Hulk paintings. I simply love painting ships, especially prison hulks! And to imagine that Melbourne had 5 moored on the waters of Williamstown and Corio Bay Geelong - all to cope with overflowing prisons after the influx of ‘ g o l d p r o s p e c t o r s ’ i n t h e 1 8 5 0 ’s . This painting was inspired from the glorious subtle painting by David Michael Harrington Little, in the State Library of Victoria. My focus on ‘The Deborah’ was when she was used for juvenile offenders between June 1864 and December 1873.
F L O AT I N G A N D FA L L I N G F O U L O F T H E L AW 2020 painted ceramic (fired) 30 x 120 cm - overall, diptych
The ‘Sacramento’ Hulk The male prisoners on board the ‘Sacramento’, moored at Corio Bay Geelong, were taken on land to break rocks. Later the hulk housed women prisoners between 1859 and 1869 - mooring off Williamstown. Also on board were children from the ages of 5 to 12, who had committed no crime. I n 1 8 7 3 N e d Ke l l y, t h e i n f a m o u s b u s h r a n g e r s p e n t s e v e r a l m o n t h s o n b o a r d t h e ‘ S a c r a m e n t o ’ .
LITTLE SOVEREIGN OF THE SEAS 2020 painted ceramic (fired) 60 x 30 cm
T h e s t o r y o f t h e a m a z i n g l i t t l e l u g g e r, ‘The Mystery’, who sailed into Melbourne on the 14th March in 1855. On board, 7 heroic and brave Cornish men, all blood or marriage related, decided one night while at The Star Inn in Newyln, to try their luck at gold prospecting in Australia - no doubt after a few ales! 1 1 6 d a y s l a t e r, t h e l i t t l e f i s h i n g b o a t , h a v i n g s t o p p e d a t C a p e To w n f o r 7 d a y s picking up postage, arrived in Melbourne. It is the smallest craft on record that ever made such a journey! ‘The Mystery’ was later sold for only £150 pounds and was eventually wrecked i n Ke p p e l B a y, Q L D o n 1 9 t h M a r c h , 1 8 6 9 . William and Richard Badcock, both worked on the prison hulks moored at Williamstown as warder boatsmens. A small 5 x 3 inch gilt edged book, t i t l e d ‘ C h r i s t Pr e c i o u s ’ w a s o n b o a r d w i t h them. O n 2 0 t h O c t o b e r 2 0 0 8 , Pe t e r G r o s s , h i s s o n a n d h i s b r o t h e r, r e t r a c e d t h e v o y a g e !
This painting was inspired a Wo r k s h o p ’ - t r e a s u r e s o f M e
Born 1851 as Caroline Baum, having great organizational
She owned two splendid hou cottages and another nearby
POKING N THRUSTING ON LON
Her estate was sworn for pr She was the first woman to
2020
There is a tale involving Ma y e a r s . . . M e l b o u r n e ’s o l d e s t
painted ceramic and mixed media (fired) 30 x 60 cm
She was the sweetheart of t Australia in 1867. Absinthe
after stumbling across the walk through to the archaelogical dig display at no.50 Lonsdale Street, ‘The Urban e l b o u r n e ’s p a s t !
, Pr u s s i a , b u t b e t t e r k n o w n a s M a d a m e B r u s s e l s , w a s a n e a r l y M e l b o u r n e b r o t h e l p r o p r i e t o r a n d b u s i n e s s w o m a n and entrepreneurial skills.
u s e s i n L o n s d a l e S t r e e t , t h a t c o s t h e r £ 1 , 3 0 0 p o u n d s , a n d t h o s e t w o h o u s e s w e r e h e r o w n p r o p e r t y, p l u s t w o y h o u s e l e t o u r f o r p r o s t i t u t i o n . S h e l i v e d i n G n a r w i n H o u s e o n B e a c o n s f i e l d Pa r a d e , S i n Ki l d a . obate at £4,828 pounds. h a v e a p r i v a t e p h o n e , a p p a r e n t l y a g i f t f r o m Pa r l i a m e n t ! H e r n i p p l e s w e r e l a r g e , l i k e b r u s s e l s p r o u t s ! dame Brussels and a ‘missing’ parliamentary 1.5 metre solid silver and gold mace, still unfound after 120 running reward... $50,000!
t h e D u k e o f E d i n b u r g h , Pr i n c e A l f r e d , a n a v a l c a p t a i n w h o w a s t h e f i r s t m e m b e r o f t h e Ro y a l f a m i l y t o v i s i t bottles, French Champagne and oyster shells galore... fun!
T H E I N E F FA B L E H U L K , T H E P R E S I D E N T 2021 painted ceramic (fired) 30 x 90 cm
The prison hulk, The President, moored at Williamstown. *John James (one of the gang famous for the gold heist from ‘The Nelson’, in Williamstown, April, 1852). O n t h e 1 8 t h D e c e m b e r 1 8 5 2 , J a m e s w a s h o u s e d o n t h e ‘ Pr e s i d e n t ’ - h e w a s s t i l l w e a r i n g h i s ‘ b a l l a n d chain’ on 30th December 1856! Granted a free pardon 2nd June 1858. T h e p r i s o n h u l k w a s f o r e x t r e m e c a s e s w i t h n o h o p e o f r e f o r m a t i o n . Pr i s o n e r s w e r e n o t a l l o w e d t o communicate, strict silence, in leg irons and forced to go to bed at 6pm. They were not allowed to receive letters, and each prisoner who could read were given a bible and a prayer book. They would be shot if they made any sudden moves! C a t a n i G a r d e n s i s d e p i c t e d i n t h e t o p r i g h t c o r n e r. U n d e r n e a t h t h e h u l k i s t h e d r o w n e d S a m e u l B a r r o w, w h o w a s a p p o i n t e d S u p e r i n t e n d e n t o f Pe n a l Establishments. Much confusion and speculation surrounded the nature of his death at a nautical send-off for Governor L a t r o b e , o n 5 t h M a y 1 8 5 4 . Wa s i t a c c i d e n t a l , s u i c i d e o r w o r s e ? H i s b o a t t h a t c a p s i z e d w a s c a l l e d ‘ T h e Coffin’!
T H E O L D LY S A N D E R 2021 painted ceramic (fired) 30 x 90 cm
Pr i s o n h u l k n o . 5 m o o r e d a t W i l l i a m s t o w n . A 476 tonne brigantine that had been used for trade around Australian ports, carrying, wool, timber and iron. Decommissioned in 1851, then transferred to the penal department to serve as a prison hulk. She housed 240 prisoners on board, who were e m p l o y e d i n q u a r r i e s , o a k u m p i c k i n g ( s h i p ’s r o p e s ) as well as making shoes. In 1853, she was used as a hospital ship for typhus v i c t i m s f r o m t h e ‘ Ti c o n d e r o g a ’ , m o o r e d a t Po i n t Nepean.
I love histo ry a nd fi n d m ys el f i m m er s ed i n i t as so o n as I sta rt to cre a te e a c h a r t wo r k . T h e re is a m a g ica l c o n v er s a t i o n t h a t t a l k s i tsel f into each of th e co m po sitio n s , wh i c h s o m eh o w r es o l v es at th e end. If y ou ha v e e v e r rel a x ed i n fr o n t o f a c h u r c h w indo w, th e ligh t o utsid e a f f e c t s yo u r m o o d. Th i s i s wh at I l o ve abo ut gla ze d ce ra m ic til es . As a w o m a n a nd a m o t h er, I feel c o n n ec t ed to th ese de pic t io ns o f ships a n d s t o r i es pa s t . I inv it e y o u to e nter a n d en j o y t h em a n d m ay be o ne day pa ss t he m o nto y o u r c h i l dr en wi t h l o v e.
We lea rn a n d w e re l e a r n . We are c o ns ta n tl y o n a sp i r a l j o u r n e y. Ta k i n g u s to p l ac e s that c a n be ex c i ti n g , e x h a u st i n g , d a u n t i n g a n d at time s emo ti o n a l l y c h a l l e n g i n g . Pa i n t i n g fo r m e , i s th at jou r n e y. Like on e bi g j i g s a w, p i e ce s st a n d i n g a l o n e , ye t al s o f ittin g to geth e r. One pa i nti ng l ea di n g i n t o a n o t h e r, l i k e t h e stor ie s them s el v e s . Inv esti g a ti ng h i s to r i ca l b o o k s fr o m o b scu r e l ib r ar ie s , l e tte r s fr o m d es c e nda n ts , r e v e a l i n g u n e x p e ct e d d e t ail s . Fro m a m a ke s h i f t q u a r a n t i n e st a t i o n a t Po i n t O r mon d to pri so n h ul k s m o o red a t Wi l l i a m st o w n . A m yst er y b oat sneaking i n to Po rt Ph i l l i p B a y, u p t u r n e d sh i p wr e c ks f r om ou r treach e ro u s c o a s tl i n e , a m a z i n g r e si l i e n t In d i g e n ou s wome n , to geth e r w i th entre p r e n e u r i a l b r o t h e l o w n e r s an d th e f ir s t m ed i c o s . Sto ri e s tha t m a ke u p o u r Vi ct o r i a , o u r M e l b o u r n e , an d on e ep i c tri pty c h - m y G i p p sl a n d ‘ w a l l p a p e r’ p a i n te d ove r 2 y ear s. S to ri e s s tu m b l e d u p o n w h i l e r e se a r ch i n g my Ir is h ancest ry i n Gi pps l a n d . A n e m o t i o n a l r o l l e r co as te r of h id d e n histo ri e s a l l w i th i n a l a n d sca p e o f su ch i n t o xic atin g l y, r aw but ro m a nti c bea ut y. Ber n E m m e ri c hs - 2 021
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