‘Roses From The Heart’ is a project being organised by Christina Henri, a Post-Graduate Student studying fine arts living in Hobart, Tasmania and who is co-ordinator of The Bonnet Project which recognises the lives of convict women deported from the UK to ‘parts unknown’ in the 19th Century ..................................... For crimes that required pity more than punishment convict women were forcibly migrated around the world. Until 1776 when the War of Independence halted their offloading to America, these ‘unfortunates’ were pawns of the slave trade. From 1788 to 1853 – 25,566 women were transported to Australia...............................
Members of the Embroiderers’ Guild Locally and Nationally, Quilters and Friends have been helping Christina raise 25,000 bonnets – symbols of the women’s spirit – A rose for an English or Irish rose, uprooted from all that was familiar and dear to them; a Heart to show the tribute is made with sincerity and empathy; from descendants, with love.
Exhibitions, enactments and much more are happening in Australia and when Christina accomplishes her goal she hopes to bring ‘the lasses’ back to England and Ireland with a Blessing Ceremony in Westminster Abbey and various Exhibitions around the country and further there will be tours in Denmark and wherever else in Europe, America and Canada ending the journey in N.Zealand before returning to Tasmania where they will be permanently displayed in a very contemporary, stylish public art work.
At the Twisted Threads Festival of Quilts in Birmingham 20th to 23rd August 2009 there was a Booth where people were able to see the progress of this project and receive handouts for this year’s Festival 19th to 22nd August 2010 when it is hoped that Christina will be with us with some 13,000 Bonnets representing those lost lives of women who became the pioneering grandmothers of Australia ................they died to their families back home, the majority never returning and many marrying never knowing what their partner/husband back home experienced from the loss of their loved ones................... may we offer moments of reflection, taking time out from our busy lives to contemplate the female convict story, to scrutinise our own value systems, our levels of judgement, tolerance and acceptance towards others.................................................If you’d like to support this initiative and be a part of a present day Memorial please get in touch with
Norma Bean.
18 Woodhall Crescent,
Saxilby,
Lincoln LN1 2HZ.
Norma.bean@ntlworld.com
See www.femalefactory.com.au and www.christinahenri.com.au
for more details and Database where you may find your Surname and adopt a person/persons.
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