Where I work
I live and work on a small island, accessed by car ferry and boat in the Gippsland Lakes. We have an old family dog, Noah. Because we live in a nature reserve and there is a drought, we have many parrots, wild kangaroos, koalas, echidna in the garden. My little studio/office overlooks the bush. It is a quiet place.
What inspired my work
I am interested in the interplay between traditional coiled basketry made with grasses and baskets made with non-traditional materials such as silk, wool, fringing, beading.
How I made it
I grew and harvested New Zealand flax in my garden in various colours such as brown flax or a variegated green and yellow flax. These I then wove the flax into 38 baskets to represent the 38 language groups of Victoria. I embellished the baskets as I went using Australian Tapestry Workshop wool cotton or silk and fringing. Each basket was then unique. The whole process took 6 months.
What I am working on
I am working on a large solo exhibition at Gippsland Art Gallery in Sale on theme of climate change, I live in East Gippsland which is still recovering from catastrophic bushfires which have killed a billion animals , burnt houses, devastated communities and national parks. Also, I am part of our local artists collective Concerned Artist Resist Species Extinction, I will exhibit some works on the theme of climate change this year in the East Gippsland Art Gallery.
Biography
Lee’s artwork is inspired by the need to continue cultural, artistic & spiritual practices. Lee hopes to recreate, reconnect & reaffirm her culture through her artwork. She practices a number of art forms including possum skin cloak making, pastel drawing, painting, basket weaving, textiles & large-scale sculptures.
Instagram: @leedarroch3