ISSN 2207-001X – March 2025
What an honour to have my artwork, a collaboration with textile artist Peta Korb, hanging in the office of Tracey Roberts, Federal Member for Pearce, in Parliament House, Canberra, ACT.
Tracey has a deep passion for Western Australia and her community, and for over a decade has been a strong supporter of the Wanneroo Rugmakers Group. During her tenure as Mayor (2011–2022), Tracey played a key role in ensuring that one of two large community-created textile pieces completed in 2012, was proudly displayed in the Mayoral chambers.
The Wanneroo Rugmakers Group was established in 2014 and as Facilitator I’ve aimed to engage the community through annual collaborative projects. To date, more than 50 individuals from diverse backgrounds and generations have participated. The group meets at the local library, offering a welcoming and accessible space where members can join in as their schedules and family commitments allow, fostering creativity, connection, and cultural exchange
Tracey visits our Saturday morning meetings a couple of times each year. On a visit in 2022 coinciding with International Rug Hooking Day (Dec 4) and the groups Christmas gathering she told us about her office in Canberra with a large blank wall just crying out for some texture and colour and commissioned us to create a textile artwork representing Western Australia for her personal collection to be displayed in her office in Canberra.
This piece was designed by Peta Korb, an award-winning textile artist whose work bridges the worlds of theatre, storytelling, and craftsmanship. Now celebrated for her innovative use of wool fibres, blending traditional wet and needle felting techniques with methods from other crafts to create truly one-of-a-kind pieces.
Due to family health issues and my absence from the group, it became a collaboration between the two of us instead of a group project. We worked together on the vision behind the piece, as Peta with her unwavering connection to Western Australia explains…
“WA is a place that has shaped my identity and artistic vision. Having been born and raised in this extraordinary land, the inspiration for this work was already ingrained in me. However, it was also essential that the piece reflect not just my connection but also that of Tracey, someone I have known for many years and whose bond with her community runs just as deep.”
“To create something that evokes warmth, familiarity, and connection; a piece that draws the viewer in, igniting curiosity and a desire to explore its deeper meaning. At its core, it represents the vast and diverse landmass of Western Australia, interwoven with the traditional Aboriginal language areas, paying homage to the history of place and the cultural heritage embedded within it. Rather than allowing the land to simply exist against a void of ocean, I chose to enrich the background with native flora and fauna, a passion that has long been central to my artistic practice. Integrating species endemic to Western Australia felt like the most natural expression of the state’s beauty and identity; and to acknowledge the broader role Tracey plays as a Federal Member of Parliament, representing the electorate of Pearce within the national landscape. The inclusion of Sturt’s Desert Pea (Swainsona formosa), South Australia’s floral emblem, serves as a subtle yet powerful symbol of interconnectedness. While it represents South Australia, this striking flower also flourishes across Western Australia and the Northern Territory, a testament to the deep connections that transcend geographical boundaries. Through this piece, I sought to create more than just an artistic representation, I wanted to weave together history, identity, and the profound ties that bind people to place. It is an invitation to reflect on the richness of Western Australia’s natural and cultural heritage while recognizing the broader connections that shape our shared landscape.”
Tracey had provided an estimated size for the piece, and it just so happened that I had been holding onto a much-treasured piece of cotton rug warp, reserved for something truly special. It was the perfect size for this project. To execute the design Peta went through an elaborate process of photographing and projecting the design onto the rug warp backing cloth to accurately transfer every detail, shown here along with another members work in progress, at visit by Tracey in May 2023 .
I delved into the tapestry of indigenous languages across Western Australia and crafted a colour palette to represent 60 unique languages and dialects. Then took Peta’s design and worked with it to create colour palette for the surface. It was a significant creative challenge for me to blend over 60 unique colours seamlessly, to avoid a polka-dot effect, and to create a harmonious flow where one language group subtly merged into the next group.
My first thought was to use wool fabric which could be dyed in swatches of 8 different shades of the same colour. However, a major dye job was not feasible with what was going on in my life at the time, instead I opted for various fibres, (merino wool, alpaca, spun & unspun yarn) to craft naturally blended transitions.
I intentionally avoided outlining the language groups to reflect the organic crossover and fluidity of the boundaries. Variegated yarn dyed by Judi Tompkins in QLD, played a crucial role, offering soft, natural colour shifts that enhanced the overall design.
My overall colour plan was inspired by the topography of WA and my extensive road journeys across the vast expanse of Western Australia. I drew upon its vivid natural palette, from the deep greens of the southwest forests to the delicately coloured wildflowers along the central coast, the earthy brown of the central mining regions, and the bold, fiery reds and oranges of the Kimberley. The vibrant aqua of the ocean brought balance and energy, allowing the colours to reflect the spirit of the land itself. One ball of multi coloured yarn was unravelled to reveal the colours I needed for the Banksia cone.
While Peta’s creative journey with the piece began with the design, her role extended beyond that as she also took on the responsibility of creating the felted Numbat and Sturt’s Desert Pea which were to be mounted onto the shadowed outline of the piece I was hooking. This entailed incorporating anchor points within the structure of the numbat allowing it to be firmly stitched to the finished hooked artwork.
My creative journey began August 30, 2023, with the first loops meticulously pulled to bring the vision to life.
By August 3, 2024, the intricate work on the State map was complete, and the piece transitioned from the frame to the dining room table. There, the seascape and 3D hooked florals took shape, with the final loops triumphantly pulled on November 30, 2024.
The completed hooked artwork was then entrusted to Peta, who added her exquisite, felted pieces, plus a delicate overlay of felted leaves on the trail of my hooked Princess Gum leaves – this interplay of techniques complemented and enhanced my work.
With her finishing touches, Peta carefully prepared and transformed the piece stretched over an unseen frame, into a masterpiece ready to be displayed. No traditional frame, as it was Tracey’s choice to feature the textural surface.
Having gone through this long collaborative creative process, rather than write an artist statement to hang beside the piece, I created a publication for Tracey to show how the piece came together; our thoughts, from the vision of the piece to some of the challenges we encounter. Peta and I brainstormed the wording, with the final text written by Peta. (excerpts from the publication are shown in this article in italics)
“FINAL CREATION: Representing Western Australia is more than just an artwork — it is a tribute to the heart of Western Australia and the spirit of those who call it home. Through the careful blending of design, traditional rug hooking, and needle felting, this piece embodies the land’s rich heritage, natural beauty, and deep cultural connections.
Every element, from the symbolic representation of Western Australia and its Aboriginal language areas to the Numbat and Sturt’s Desert Pea, has been thoughtfully crafted to reflect the resilience and interconnectedness of this vast state. The collaboration between artists, techniques, and materials mirrors the strength of the communities that shape Western Australia.
At its core, this piece is a reflection of Tracey’s dedication, not only to her electorate of Pearce but to the wider Western Australian community she represents. Just as the Numbat looks toward Parliament, this work stands as a testament to her commitment, bridging the past, present, and future of the place she serves.
Representing Western Australia is a celebration of identity, connection, and the enduring ties between people and place.
Representing Western Australia has been a deeply meaningful collaboration, reflecting our shared love for this land and the communities it represents. From the initial concept to the countless hours spent rug hooking, needle felting, and assembling the final piece, this journey has been one of creative synergy, problem-solving, and storytelling through craft.
We have worked to weave the landscape, history, and identity of Western Australia into a piece that is both visually striking and rich in meaning. It has been an honour to create an artwork that not only embodies the heart of this land but also the heart of Tracey, who so passionately represents her community.
With great respect, we acknowledge that our work was created on Wadjak Noongar Country, and we pay our deepest respects to the Traditional Custodian of the land, their Elders, past, present, and emerging.
This piece stands as a testament to connection – between people place and purpose – and we are grateful for the opportunity to bring it to life.”
Peta Korb & Josephine (Jo) Franco
FROM THE EDITOR: What an undertaking this collaboration has been, so satisfying to see it come to fruition. Although I must admit, I’m looking forward to tackling something somewhat smaller for my next rug hooking project.
As I write this I’m thinking of our rug hooking friends and all those on Australia’s east coast who are under threat of Cyclone Alfred – as the landfall day and time keeps being pushed out it must be nerve wracking – like waiting for the other shoe to drop. Hoping you all stay safe.
