Seven seasons scarves created from leftovers

WHAT started with an approach from Creative Victoria ended up as a collaboration between two Ballarat women – friends for nearly 40 years – exhibiting at Hong Kong Business of Design Week this month.

Wathaurung visual artist Deanne Gilson and fashion designer Lea Oldjohn created and presented a range of garments for Recognition – a First Peoples’ fashion exhibition during the design week.

Ms Oldjohn designed and made the dresses using fabric created by Ms Gilson based on the seven Kulin seasons of Aboriginal culture.

The offshoot of this venture was using the offcuts of the fabric to create a range of Kulin seasons scarves which showcase each of Ms Gilson’s individual designs

Ms Gilson said, “Our seasons are not like normal weather seasons, we consider plants, animals, waterways, Country and our lived experiences as part of our seasons.”

Australian native flowers, traditional marks taken from artefacts and shields together with stories passed down by her mother Aunty Marlene Gilson for the basis for the designs.

Ms Gilson uses the wave pattern, the diamond and the circle, referencing yarning and ceremony, as a way to connect traditional Aboriginal culture overlaying them with her contemporary symbols, to create new artwork.

One of the design highlights depicted on the chiffon and crepe de chine scarves is of Koonawarra the black swan from Lake Wendouree.

The motif depicts the story of the Koonawarra, who wanting to be human killed a woman and stole her heart, only to be killed herself by the woman’s lover.

“I did a diploma in fashion design at SMB when I was 17,” said Ms Gilson.

“I’ve never used it until now but I have turned into Donatella Versace – not quite – maybe the indigenous version.”

Ms Gilsons scarves are available at the Art Gallery of Ballarat’s gift shop.