Shirley Macnamara life outside Mt Isa in North West Queensland in which she runs a thriving cattle house with her son, and is also immersed in her family’s cultural and political analysis.
In 2013 Macnamara started to make skullcaps, reminiscent of a customary funerary practice for some Aboriginal ladies wherever their heads ended up plastered with white clay or burnt gypsum to kind a cap, covering their hair totally. The putting on of this cap could extend for some time right after a death, with successive coatings making it heavy and uncomfortable for the widow or feminine relative of the deceased.
In Skullcap 2013 (illustrated), Macnamara does not try to imitate the caps located in museum collections and illustrations, somewhat, she intends to honour Aboriginal adult men who represented Australia in two entire world wars, by no means to return to their cherished ones. She hopes to ensure that Aboriginal troopers are no for a longer time overlooked. Skullcap is made from rich, crimson ochre and is included with emu feathers, which allude to these employed to beautify Australian soldiers’ uniform hats (illustrated).
Shirley Macnamara ‘Skullcap’

Light Horse slouch hat with emu plume

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Featured picture element: Shirley Macnamara Skullcap 2013
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