WHITE PARACHUTE, solo exhibition, 2013

“Within the prism of my mother’s experience in wartime Russia, this body of work captures a moment of her childhood memory. It reveals the human impulse to create order and beauty in the face of displacement and the chaos of war. As a young child she lived in a displaced persons camp and recalls the time when she and her own mother found an abandoned white silk parachute in the neighbouring woods. From this parachute they made clothing and little white silk ribbons for my mother’s hair… her symbols of comfort and hope.
A beautiful heartfelt personal story that I honour in a series of Works on Paper, Paintings and an installation of a rare WW2 white silk Parachute Canopy. This is my first major solo exhibition and I am grateful to family and friends for their precious support, and especially to my beautiful Mum.”

– Lisa Sewards

My Mother for sharing her inspirational personal story
fortyfivedownstairs for hosting my first major solo exhibition
Dr. Julie Cotter for catalogue essay
Tina Douglas for editing and rendering of art projection
Sarah Tomasetti, mentor and Opening Speaker
Jessica Burrows and Bella Sewards for High Tea service