Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre
During her time as an artist in residence at Tanks Arts Centre, Camilla Ker will be creating a series of textile artworks that explore themes like epilepsy awareness, therapeutic hand sewing, and empowerment. Drawing from the rich tapestry of Australian quilt-making traditions, Camilla infuses pieces with the spirit of Wagga quilts, inspired by the resourcefulness of rural communities.
Using farm ephemera, like coffee and grain sacks, sourced from the Far North Queensland region, her work pays homage to the heritage of these communities, shedding light on the experiences of individuals living with epilepsy and echoing the chaotic nature of seizures and the resilience required to navigate them.
“My process involves hand-sewing, a therapeutic practice that mirrors the daily struggle and triumph over epilepsy. This residency offers me the space and time to create, enabling me to further explore botanical printing and the use of natural and found fabrics in my textile art.”
Image credit: I Need Space (detail), quilt by Camilla Ker 2023