Our Community is Our Shelter

This large boat structure, decorated with marine flags and a quilted canopy, creates a place in which community members can pause and reflect on what shelter means to them. Here, they can consider what decisions they would make to change the fabric of their society to create a more sustainable future in the face of climate catastrophe.  Its message is that ‘She Rescue’ can be powered and protected by love and justice for all. 

From the seat in the boat, there is a direct sightline to “What Will You Pack in Your Suitcase?”. 

The hull of the boat is made with remnant bed sheets that were immersed in the Mandurah estuary for three months. The marine flags and hand-stitched morse code embellishment on the canopy spell out “Love and Justice Are My Flag” – the title of an anthem commissioned by the Victoria Women’s Trust, and written by WA artist Kavisha Mazzella. It was first performed in 2008 by a choir of 400 women to celebrate women’s right to vote. 

Installation materials include aluminium scaffolding, recycled bed sheets, digitally printed cotton, embroidery thread, domestic seat.