I draw inspiration from the world around me and from particular aspects of life. Previously my work dealt with my experience as a Scottish migrant – looking back and forward, north and south, here and there, between two countries. This ‘in-between-ness’ of the migratory experience, while not unique to me or other Australians, contributes to my sense of being made up of many parts, a kind of fragmentation where certain components come into play at different times. There is an eternal mismatch or sense of being out of place in my world as I am recognized as Scottish in Australia when people hear me speak but in Scotland people comment on my Australian accent. In a wider sense Australia’s history and culture is made up of many examples of people and things brought together without a good likeness or fit. Woven tapestry allows me to combine my interests in textiles and visual art using the tactile qualities of materials in the highly complex woven form. It allows be to create realistic images, but change format, composition and placement to create images which invite the viewer to question. The intricate nature of multiple wefts twined between warps parallels the complexities of life and tapestry’s building /constructed process embodies the advancement of time.Wangaratta Art Gallery CollectionA small tapestry of roots and leaves handwoven using a colour palette of black, grey, and white.valerie kirk, textile, tapestry

Caught Fish, PANGASIANODON GIGAS” is a miniature version of the larger tapestry described below and it embodies the same ideas: The giant Mekong Catfish is under threat of extinction due to over-fishing and loss of habitat. It is beleived that the fish used to reach sizes over 3 metres, but the largest recorded catch to date is 2.7 metres – a monster fish caught in Thailand in 2005. As its fame and the mythology surrounding it increases, so does the number of game fishermen keen to land a record catch or earn a sizeable amount of money in the exotic food marketplace. However, the water flow of the river is increasingly more controlled by China, changing the natural habitat of the river. It seems that survival of the great catfish is being left to chance and the fish’s ability to avoid nets, lines and traps in the murky green waters of the Mekong. My exhibition piece is a giant, woven Pangasianodon Gigas – made as a shaped tapestry which will hang the way a fisherman would hold up his catch to display or be photographed as his trophy. The drawing was made from photographs of very large fish I observed in Laos and the detail on the body of the fish is deliberately ambiguous scales/nets. The piece will be woven on cotton seine twine (which was originally made as a string for fish netting) with mixed weft yarns. Artist statement about the work: The final work is an abstraction of fish and nets – an image made with a hand drawn quality suggesting the personal observation that goes with looking and responding with ink on paper. The tapestry technique mimics the original marks to a certain degree but is also very obviously a woven form with its stepped edges and shapes, blending of tones through hachure and broad set of warp and weft.Wangaratta Art Gallery CollectionA small tapestry of a caught fish handwoven using a colour palette of black, grey, and white.valerie kirk, tapestry, textile, fish

The panels from the I Am Because We Are series are woven from cut-up donated socks. They were woven on a four-shaft floor loom with a cotton warp. The names of the donors have been typed onto polyester ribbons which have been woven in with the socks. It’s possible that the typewriter ink could fade if exposed for long periods to strong light, but the sock material should be fairly stable as they were almost exclusively commercially-produced socks. The wood of the frames has been painted with an acrylic paint, and covered with MDF boards. The fabric is stretched over the frames and secured with staples.Wangaratta Art Gallery Collection. Donated by Artist.A woven textile work using fabric in shades of black, grey, white, green, and orange.

Soldier Killed First World WarB/W Photograph Oval Framed Image of Harold Grey S/N 6205Harold Elroy Gray 6205ww1

30 Seaby St Former C of E Manse. built 1863Colour Photograph: white Brick house with grey iron roof, concrete dive with lawnOn Reverse: 30 Seaby Stc of e, religion

Oblong grey cheque book (Bank of Melbourne W) with dark blue end binding.Bank of Melbourne (W)commerce, banking

1 pair sheer nylon stockings with sheen, reinforced heel and toe silver grey.costume, female underwear

from the collection of Betty McPheeA small grey commemorative pencil with symbol and name of Needlework Tool Collectors Society of AustraliaNeedlework Tool Collectors Society of Australiadomestic items, writing equipment

A ladies hair net made from human hair, colour grey. In original envelopeMade expressly for The Myer Emporium.costume accessories, hair accessories

Book of 'Stories of British History', used by Edith FingerGrey notebook with dark blue writing with Edith Finger Grade V on cover and inside.Stories in British History - Part I, B.C 55 to A.D.1558, a first course in British history by William Eillies, M.A. 1/9 Edith Finger Grade V.finger edith, school, british history, william eillies

Photograph of Lake King in Rutherglen Park. Sepia Toned, mounted on dark grey cardboard lake king, rutherglen

15th Annual Carnival of Returned Soldiers Association of Rutherglen A.L. Grantham President / Messrs P.R. Fullerton, J. Briggs VPs / Secretary J. Small, Ass. Sec. W. CollierGrey-blue paper cover, 8 pages, Sun Print. Printed for the R.S.A. of Rutherglen"Rutherglen Returned Soldiers Association / 15th Annual Carnival" RSL Badge.returned soldiers' association, rsa, sporting events

House hold item, 249.1- lid -metal cup, 249.2- grey enamel billybilly, tea

Loosely bound pages, some with maroon and grey hard cover, from various yearsVictorian Government Gazette, crown coat of arms, dates: 1886, 1889, 1891, 1894, 1895, 1896, 1897, 1901, 1902, 1906, 1907, 1912, 1913, 1914, 1915, 1928, 1929, 1933, 1935, 1938, 1939, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1952.

Part of Capt. William Robertson's collection. Early career in navy. Captain of S.S.Casino. RAN reservesSailor's cap: Navy and white topped sailor's cap with grey lining and navy ribbon6 7/8 size marking / 157 red inking marking on crown lininglocal history, uniforms, navy, robertson, mr or captain william, s.s.casino, royal australian naval reserve, hats

Colour slide of large number of toys collected for distribution. There were wooden rocking horses, doll cribs and planes. Also soft toys such as Humpty Dumpty, teddies and koalas. The toys were part of an arrangement with the Department of Education. Schools would produce the toys, often in wood work classes and they were donated to Legacy and Carry On. The toys were given to Junior Legatees at the Government House Christmas Party. Excess toys were passed to a dozen additional charities. The scheme started in 1949 and by 1962 over 8,200 toys were donated, from 201 schools. The total to that date was over 72,500 toys. It appears to be 1963 as there was space for the tally to be completed. Was with many other slides taken in the 1950s and 1960s. The slides have been photographed to make digital images and moved to archive quality sleeves. In many cases the original images were not well focussed and the digital image is the best available.A record of toys donated to Legacy in the 1960s.Colour slide of toys stacked on a table, in a white plastic mount and grey mount on the reverse.toys, department of education, toy appeal

Used to cover equipment to protect from weather also used by soldiers as ground sheet for sleeping Grey plastic sheet with three eyelets each side and two eyelets on one endmilitary, ground sheet

Clay mock up of ZB model Commodore, used in the design processAustralian designed model used prior to production of carGrey and black shrink wrap over clay mock up of ZB model CommodoreHolden insignia on Grille and boot lid centrevehicle, clay, model

Use by soldiers to cover equipment from weather and also a a ground sheet for soldiers to sleep onManufactured and sold by Holden and FrostGrey plastic sheet with three eyelets one end and two eyelets the other endP.V.B.L. D D V681-1945 - made in Adelaidemilitary, ground sheet

The black and white manual typewriter is made of plastic and metal by the Swiss company,Hermes. The model name ‘Ambassador’ and the series number M82, indicate that the typewriter was made sometime between 1953 and 1965. It demonstrates the working operations of the lightstation under the Commonwealth Lighthouse Service when it was managed by the Department of Transport, which introduced a number of modernising initiatives during this period.It has second level contributory significance for its historic value as an original item of office equipment. It demonstrates the working operations of the lightstation under the Commonwealth Lighthouse Service when it was managed by the Department of Transport, which introduced a number of modernising initiatives during this period.1. Black and white plastic and metal typewriter. 2. Grey vinyl typewriter cover.2. On cover,"HERMES / Ambassador / FABRICATION SUISSE / MADE IN SWITZERLAND / D" : 1. On typewriter," M82". On label, " C.of A / D.O.T. 143851".

Used for reading people's fortunesMagic cup and saucer for reading people's fortunes, white china with red and grey symbols.On cup - Would'st learn the future with thy tea this magic cup will show it thee On saucer - The "Nelros" Cup of Fortune Rd No 442928 By Royal Letters Patenttableware

A badge made to celebrate a history project conducted by Year 4 at Buninyong Primary School in 2010Large round badge in grey tones showing the old bank and shops in centre of Buninyong.Buninyong PS Local History Project Year 4 2010buninyong state school, buninyong primary school, education, badges

Contains Club information, members' names and contact details and a calendar of events. Some sponsor advertising throughout.Part of an incomplete collection of members handbooks from 1985-2015192 p., spiral binding, Grey and white cover with stylised logo. 2 copies.Inside cover: "Neil Walker"heidelberg golf club, members handbooks, neil walker

Melbourne Tramway and Omnibus Co. Ltd Rules and Regulations by which all operational staff were to abide by. Provides separate sections of rules for Gripmen and Conductors, with Special rules for both roles, collection of fares and use of Bell Punch, transfer and check tickets, Collectors (Conductors acting as collectors on the dummy or grip car), signalmen and shunters. Printed by Sands & McDougall. Date of issue has been damaged by silverfish - Mr H A Wilcox was appointed Secretary in 1909, becoming General Manager in the Tramway Board which succeeded the private company in 1916. Rule 76, page 21 allows for the wearing of the Australian Tramway Employees Association union badge. The Union was recognised by the Company in August 1912 and the wearing of Union badges on watch chains was permitted. A possible date for the document is 1912. See item 6340 for the MTOCo / AETA agreement that was reflected in these rules.Demonstrates a MTOCo cable tram rule book and requirements of its employees.Book - 68 pages + card covers covered in a dark grey cloth, centre stapled.tramways, cable trams, conductors, tickets, grip men, signalmen, shunters, fares, operations, rules