BELLENDEN PLAINS – Saddle blanket series from A CURIOUS Cabinet

I began weaving saddle blankets thinking of Will and the sort of items that would have been a constant presence in his life. Saddle blankets came to mind as something that was generally overlooked but mostly present, particularly when he was travelling. The principle object of a saddle blanket was to protect, to separate the saddle from a horse to reduce rubbing, prevent sores, and protect the saddle from sweat.  It was also used as a blanket by the rider, to protect against chills and so on, when in a camp situation. For me, the saddle blankets came to represent a physical manifestation of slippage – the space between.

I based the sizes of the saddles blankets I was making on commercially produced saddle blankets and combined natural fibres with organic material collected on my research trips. As I began to weave, I found the process gave me time to gather my thoughts and reflect on the connections that were developing.  The layering of colours that have significance for each of the properties signifies the many layers of history. The rich colours of the fertile flood plain are poised against the rich blue of a cleanly washed sky.  Bellenden Plains is a cattle property in Far North Queensland and it was Will’s home.