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AbstractHistoryArchive Description
'My story cannot be painted onto a canvas - it is skin painting.
Brave, haunting and evocative, this powerful volume is poetry as memoir. From her early experiences in an institution and the effect of this on her family to the illustration of her strength as an adult, Elizabeth Hodgson helps make a slice of Aboriginal experience accessible and resonant. Skin Painting explores themes of art, identity, sexuality and loneliness. It is both universal and intimated, honest and important.'
Source: Publisher's blurb
Notes
-
This collection is not the same as Hodgson's earlier manuscript, 'Skin Painting', for which she was highly commended in the 2002 David Unaipon Award. A few poems from the earlier collection have been substantially re-worked and included in the 2007 award-winning manuscript; the majority of the poems are new.
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Dedication: Dedicated to the memory of Aunty Joy Williams 13 September 1942 - 22 September 2007. She went down fighting but there are others who have picked up the words and continued the struggle for compensation and recognition of the hurt done to Aboriginal people by the forced removal of children from their families.
And to Les Matthews - my English teacher who told me I would become a writer.
Contents
* Contents derived from the
St Lucia,
Indooroopilly - St Lucia area,
Brisbane - North West,
Brisbane,
Queensland,:University of Queensland Press
, 2008 version. Please note that other versions/publications may contain different contents. See the Publication Details.
- I'm sitting in an exhibition room; alone I am trying to trace my history Art Galleryi"I'm sitting in an exhibition room,", single work poetry (p. 1)
- Somewhere Beyond This Room is the Sound of Childreni"Somewhere beyond this room is the sound of children tumbling into the gallery", single work poetry (p. 2)
- At School I Spent My Time Staring Out of the Windowi"At school I spent my time staring out of the window uniforms, classrooms,assemblies, British colonisation", single work poetry (p. 3)
- Two Girls Linger by a Triptychi"Two girls linger by a triptych in one panel a white man menaces a young black", single work poetry (p. 4)
- The Room is Quiet Againi"The room is quiet again I lose myself in the painting of the girl,", single work poetry (p. 5)
- This Is My Memory of My Lifei"This is my memory of my life; no-one else can own this memory. I can tell you anything", single work poetry (p. 6-7)
- Bindawalla, Binda, Bindi, Bindiii"Bindawalla, Binda, bindi, bindii bindiis prick at my heels in summer", single work poetry (p. 8)
- Little Two-Year-Old in Yellow Plastic Sandalsi"Little two-year-old in yellow plastic sandals second-hand, the neighbour's child discarded", single work poetry (p. 9)
- Mr Cage, Can You Imagine A World Without Musici"Mr Cage, can you imagine a life without music?", single work poetry (p. 10)
- I am in a Room, it is Day but the Room is Dark,i"I am in a room, it is day but the room is dark,outside I hear children playing, laughing", single work poetry (p. 11-12)
- Sometimes the Man and His wife Go Awayi"Sometimes the man and his wife go away they drive to Alice Springs in their old car.", single work poetry (p. 13)
- These People Give Me a Religion I Do Not Wanti"These people give me a religion I do not want they are moulding me with their beliefs,", single work poetry (p. 14-15)
- They Change My Name, I Am No Longer Elizabethi"They change my name, I am no longer Elizabeth because another girl here has the same name;", single work poetry (p. 16)
- Little Four Year Old With Bells on Her Slippersi"Little four year old with bells on her slippers tinkling through the halls of her new home", single work poetry (p. 17)
- Every Weekday - Porridgei"Every weekday - porridge thin, grey", single work poetry (p. 18)
- When I Don't Eat My Porridgei"When I don't eat my porridge, they call me ungratful,", single work poetry (p. 19-20)
- Drip by Precious Drip, My Life Re-Beginsi"Drip by precious drip, my life re-begins in the hospital bed.", single work poetry (p. 21)
- I Have a Toy Stroller, Filled with Dollsi"I have a toy stroller, filled with dolls a pink plastic pig with a yellow shirt", single work poetry (p. 22)
- One Day My Guardian Comes to Visiti"One day my guardian comes to visit I sit up straight, smooth the sheets and smile,", single work poetry (p. 23)
- I Know Many Places Well - Some I Can Still Smelli"I know many places well - some I can still smell the coke burning in the huge combustion stove", single work poetry (p. 24-25)
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Other Formats
- Sound recording.
- Large print.
Works about this Work
-
Untitled
2009
single work
review
— Appears in: Overland , Summer no. 197 2009; (p. 73)
— Review of Skin Painting 2007 selected work poetry -
Poetry : Elizabeth Hodgson's Skin Painting
2008
single work
review
— Appears in: M/C Reviews , October 2008;
— Review of Skin Painting 2007 selected work poetry -
The Dark Water That Reflects Our Soul
2008
single work
review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 1-2 November 2008; (p. 37)
— Review of Skin Painting 2007 selected work poetry ; Aria 2008 selected work poetry -
Family, Loss, Love and Strength
2008
single work
review
— Appears in: Koori Mail , 27 August no. 433 2008; (p. 58)
— Review of Skin Painting 2007 selected work poetry -
Untitled
2008
single work
review
— Appears in: Bookseller + Publisher Magazine , August vol. 88 no. 2 2008; (p. 39)
— Review of Skin Painting 2007 selected work poetry
-
Untitled
2008
single work
review
— Appears in: Bookseller + Publisher Magazine , August vol. 88 no. 2 2008; (p. 39)
— Review of Skin Painting 2007 selected work poetry -
Family, Loss, Love and Strength
2008
single work
review
— Appears in: Koori Mail , 27 August no. 433 2008; (p. 58)
— Review of Skin Painting 2007 selected work poetry -
The Dark Water That Reflects Our Soul
2008
single work
review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 1-2 November 2008; (p. 37)
— Review of Skin Painting 2007 selected work poetry ; Aria 2008 selected work poetry -
Untitled
2009
single work
review
— Appears in: Overland , Summer no. 197 2009; (p. 73)
— Review of Skin Painting 2007 selected work poetry -
Poetry : Elizabeth Hodgson's Skin Painting
2008
single work
review
— Appears in: M/C Reviews , October 2008;
— Review of Skin Painting 2007 selected work poetry
Awards
- 2010 highly commended Australian Centre Literary Awards — The Kate Challis RAKA Award
- 2008 highly commended Anne Elder Award
- 2007 winner Queensland Literary Awards — Unpublished Indigenous Writer : David Unaipon Award
Last amended 13 Feb 2020 12:03:22
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