Artist Kathy West, centre, with Liane Arno and Matt Stone who helped to produce her memoir Reflections. By Ellen Hubble
AT THE age of 80, Wonthaggi artist Kathy West held her first solo exhibition at ArtSpace Gallery. At 90, she has just launched her first book.
Covering almost a century, Reflections is a collection of Kathy’s memories of horse and cart days, of new frontiers in Papua New Guinea, of riots in Malaysia and the rag trade in Australia.
AT THE age of 80, Wonthaggi artist Kathy West held her first solo exhibition at ArtSpace Gallery. At 90, she has just launched her first book.
Covering almost a century, Reflections is a collection of Kathy’s memories of horse and cart days, of new frontiers in Papua New Guinea, of riots in Malaysia and the rag trade in Australia.
The book was prompted by Kathy’s memories of her own grandmother’s stories of bushrangers and early settling days. After endless repeats, the stories became tiresome to the young Kathy and she closed her ears and mind to them.
Reflections is on sale at ArtSpace Gallery Wonthaggi which is currently showing an exhibition of paintings. The gallery is open every day from 10am-4pm. It was only after her grandmother was gone that she experienced a deep regret for losing the details and some of the stories entirely.
This inspired her to immortalise her own recollections in print to ensure her own children and grandchildren will always have access to them.
It’s a book not just for her offspring but for all of us to enjoy.
Beautifully told, Reflections spirits us on Kathy’s journey of joy and sometimes hardship, leaving us yearning for more.
A prolific artist, author and remarkable woman embracing life, Kathy’s inspirational phrase is “It’s Never Too Late”.
Liane Arno and Matt Stone generously assisted Kathy with editing and production.
The cover of Reflections depicts Kathy in front of Ken Griffiths’ painting Kathy’s Home Wonthaggi
Never too late for a fresh start: Bob Middleton’s 2015 interview with Kathy West
This inspired her to immortalise her own recollections in print to ensure her own children and grandchildren will always have access to them.
It’s a book not just for her offspring but for all of us to enjoy.
Beautifully told, Reflections spirits us on Kathy’s journey of joy and sometimes hardship, leaving us yearning for more.
A prolific artist, author and remarkable woman embracing life, Kathy’s inspirational phrase is “It’s Never Too Late”.
Liane Arno and Matt Stone generously assisted Kathy with editing and production.
The cover of Reflections depicts Kathy in front of Ken Griffiths’ painting Kathy’s Home Wonthaggi
Never too late for a fresh start: Bob Middleton’s 2015 interview with Kathy West