Marina Holland – Australia

 

 

 

 

 

FIRSTBORN         hand embroidered  & beaded infant clothing             installation: 1M X 1M X 1M

 

 

Born 1951, Brisbane, Australia

 

Occupation: Artist

 

Education:

1993  Associate Diploma of Art (Studio Textiles): Melbourne College of Textiles,

          Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT)

1989  Tertiary Orientation Programme (Art & Design): Box Hill T.A.F.E

1985  Bachelor of Special Education: Monash University (Melbourne)

1977  Bachelor of Arts (Hons.): University of Queensland

1971  Diploma of Education: Kedron Park Teacher’s College, Brisbane

 

Media:

Textiles, canvas, paper, collage, all forms of dyeing, painting, manipulating and decorating

 

Experiences related to art:

Teaching: “Artist in Residence” at The Box Hill Community Arts Centre (1995-96) and in 2 primary schools, teaching textile arts in the community, with people with disabilities, with church groups, at The Meat Market Craft centre (North Melbourne)  Textile Fibre- Forum (Geelong)

 

Honours and awards:

1990 and 1991: Best Student Awards in Advanced Certificate in Studio Textiles at Melbourne College of Textile (RMIT)

 

Solo Exhibitions:

1999   ‘Canvass’: Living Colour Studio, Yarraville, Melbourne

1998   ‘Invokation’: Queen Victoria Women’s Centre Artspace, Melbourne

1996   ‘Fields of Time/Field of Eternity’: Box Hill Community Arts Centre, Box Hill

        

Group Exhibitions:

10 Group Exhibitions between 1991 – 2003, selection:

2003  ‘Journeys’ – an Australian Quilts in Public Places Inc. exhibition: Fort Mason

           Museum of Art & Craft, San Francisco, USA

2001  ‘Journeys’ – an Australian Quilts in Public places Inc. exhibition: The Immigration

           Museum, Melbourne

2000  ‘Postcards – Images of the 20th Century’ : Fairfield City Gallery, Sydney

2000  ‘Exploring Australian Spirituality’ at Adelaide Fringe Festival, Adelaide

 

Important collections:

Commissions: Melbourne College of Textiles, Augustine Church Centre (Hawthorn) and private collections

 

 

Artists’ Statement:

 

“FIRSTBORN” is an installation of five items of clothing used by my newborn son, Lachlan. Lachlan was born one week after my fiftieth birthday – my first, last and only child – after twenty years of painful childlessness.

 

The items of clothing chosen for the installation are the most ordinary items which swaddle a newborn; cotton singlet, cotton nightie, pilchers, booties and bib. Anyone who has had care of an infant will know the look and feel of each of these tiny garments, irrespective of how rich or poor the family.

 

“FIRSTBORN” is a statement of the beauty and preciousness of the tiny child who wore them.