Mothers’ Memories, Others’ Memories is a community developed project by celebrated Australian artist Vivienne Binns OAM from 1979 to 1981 in Blacktown City.
Vivienne Binns OAM is a pioneer in the Australian feminist art movement from the late 1960s and an advocate for community artmaking. She uses multiple mediums to assert that art is for everyone and not just those who were art educated.
The project started as a residency where the artist worked with participants from Blacktown City and the University of New South Wales, to explore the lives of women and their means of creative expression.
Collecting memories through anecdotes, family photo albums, letters and diaries, participants created a collection of silk screen-printed postcards onto enamel panels.
This community project documented and honoured these stories in a way that celebrated women for who they were rather than what they were expected to be, something unusual for the time period.
Want to see the full collection of community made postcards? Visit The Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre from 1 July and catch the exhibition, A Real Experience as it honours the legacy of women, artists, collectives and projects anchored to Blacktown.
We gratefully acknowledge the Blacktown Arts and Crafts Group for their support and key role in co-facilitating Mothers’ Memories, Others’ Memories.