![](https://www.tumblr.com/widgets/share/tool?posttype=photo&canonicalUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fionarafferty.com%2Fcontent%2Fshellacked%2F&content=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fionarafferty.com%2Fstorage%2Fcache%2Fimages%2F000%2F147%2FShellacked%2Flarge.1446331199.jpg&caption=%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%3Ca href="https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fionarafferty.com%2Fcontent%2Fshellacked%2F" title="SHELLACKED"%3ESHELLACKED%3C/a%3E%3C/strong%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EIn+her+poem%2C+%E2%80%9CLetter%E2%80%9D%2C+Judith+Wright+asks%2C%0A%0AWhy+try+to+give%0Awhat+can+never+be+given-%0Asafety%2C+a+green+world%3F%0AIt%E2%80%99s+mined%2C+the+trip-wire%E2%80%99s+waiting.%0A%0AMy+work+%E2%80%9CShellacked%E2%80%9D+alludes+to+many+facets+of+ecology%2C+not+least+the+profound+effect+that+the+introduction+of+man+has+had+on+the+natural+world.+The+tortoise+shells+depicted+in+the+work+represent+the+many+meanings+that+the+word+%E2%80%9Cshell%E2%80%9D+has+in+the+English+speaking+world.+The+text+running+through+the+work%2C+in+tandem+with+the+opaque+stitching+lines%2C+describes+the+meaning+of+the+word+%E2%80%9Cshell%E2%80%9D+ranging+from+protective+coating+to+shell-shock.%0A%0AThe+grenade+represents+the+%E2%80%9Ctrip-wire%E2%80%9D+referred+to+in+Wright%E2%80%99s+poem.+The+pin%2C+with+red+chosen+as+the+pin+colour%2C+is+still+intact+but+the+threat+is+ominous.+%0A%0A%0AFiona+Rafferty+%E2%80%93+%E2%80%9CReminiscence%E2%80%9D+%E2%80%93+Spring+Creek+Station+%E2%80%93+Narrabri+%E2%80%93+October+2015%0A%0A%0A%3C/p%3E){kind=link}
SHELLACKED
In her poem, “Letter”, Judith Wright asks,
Why try to give what can never be given- safety, a green world? It’s mined, the trip-wire’s waiting.
My work “Shellacked” alludes to many facets of ecology, not least the profound effect that the introduction of man has had on the natural world. The tortoise shells depicted in the work represent the many meanings that the word “shell” has in the English speaking world. The text running through the work, in tandem with the opaque stitching lines, describes the meaning of the word “shell” ranging from protective coating to shell-shock.
The grenade represents the “trip-wire” referred to in Wright’s poem. The pin, with red chosen as the pin colour, is still intact but the threat is ominous.
Fiona Rafferty – “Reminiscence” – Spring Creek Station – Narrabri – October 2015