dry as a bone
Driza-bone coat, wool
Artist Statement 2023
This artwork has been made in response to the indigenous possum coat that Boandik woman Auntie Michelle Jacquelin-Furr shared with us as well as to the immersive education received during the Land Arts of Limestone Coast retreat in late 2019. The retreat, produced by Country Arts South Australia in partnership with Riddoch Art Gallery, included time to be with, amongst other explorations, the drains, the wool shed, the indigenous community, the drainage board, and the restorative wetland projects of the region.
During welcome to country Auntie Michelle took time to educate us about the possum coat she was wearing. The inner lining exposed mark-making which held sacred mapping of country and life story.
Europeans made the journey to Australia in sailing ships manned with sail cloth that in the years to come provided the raw material to make oil skinned waterproof garments. Officially founded in 1898 and later trade-named Driza-bone the oil skinned coat was developed with the stockman in mind. It has now evolved into an emblematic fashion item that evokes a certain type of Australian fantasy mythology. In 2007 the leaders of at least 21 APEC nations including George Bush and Vladimir Putin were uniformly decked out in Driza-bone coats for the official group photograph.
The interior lining of this Driza-bone coat is patterned with little bones, that echo the raw ingredient of limestone substrate. Areas of it have been selectively treated with bleach. The drainage sections of the Regional Watercourse and Drainage Infrastructure of South East South Australia map have then been sown with wool into the lining. Wool has been used as sheep were one of the primary industries in this area from at least 1844 and one of the main reasons why drainage of the wetlands was seen as essential to the region.
When worn, the relief aspect of the wool embroidered drains can be felt almost like a reverse and transitory scaring experience against the skin.