27. Gina McDonald's 'For my mother' - inviting Amanda Watts into the conversation

 

Gina McDonald, ‘For My Mother’, artist book, solar plate intaglio on washi mounted on Arches 600gsm, 20cmh x 50cml x 20cmd, 2024

Short bio for Gina McDonald

I was born in Canberra, lived and worked in Sydney for 10 years and finally moved to Newcastle in 1995.  Along the way I have been involved in the arts, undertaking drawing classes as well as developing black and white photographs in my homemade darkroom.  I first became aware of printmaking through studying at the Hunter Art School/TAFE and in 2011 completed an Advanced Diploma majoring in Printmaking.  Since graduating I have exhibited in primarily group shows and been successful in being selected for and awarded a number of printmaking prizes. 

The artist book I have included for this blog was made in response to the death of my mother, Gail Hennessy in 2023, who wrote the poem For My Mother in response to her own mother’s departure.  In the circular windows are images of dried flowers and a basket of flowers printed on washi paper which reference another poem she wrote titled The Orange Basket and the line… a basket I never used but woke to sight its warp and weft, shadows that promised unsown flowers.   

My thanks go to Carol Archer and Kit Kelen for inviting me into the common or garden poets.  I would like to invite Amanda Watts, a fellow printmaker.