May 14, 2020 - A Date With Use-By
(Clunk & Jam book. All content from book freely available in Black Dog’s blog here.)
Stories
May 12, 2020 - Clunk & Jam in FOUND
Both Clunk & Jam and Wisdoms and Rose books are now available in Fremantle Art Centre’s FOUND online store. FOUND showcases work from a range of local and Western Australian Makers. Very grateful for their warm support. Instagram @fremantleartcentre . Cover art by Stormie Mills.
Rose paste-up in Fremantle Art Centre’s FOUND.
April 18, 2020 - Think Different
Why didn’t the Black Dog cross the road? Because he wanted to wonder a while at the masses marching in blind faith.
Why didn’t the Black Dog cross the road? Because green’s not always right – and red’s not always wrong.
Why didn’t the Black Dog cross the road? Because he wasn’t ready to go yet.
(See also ‘Good Difference’, ‘Being Different Is No Joke’, ‘Difference Matters‘.
(Clunk & Jam book)
March 15, 2020 - Army of Ink Dream Time
Army of Ink Salute .
It is these inky things that stand me up when I slip up back. Show me forward into places I wouldn’t go all by myself. Write the wrongs through poems and songs. Create picture books of what I can’t tell. Hold me in a silent vigil when I bump and stop. Slow a world too big ad fast into moments precious and still.
It is these inky things that turn the deep end into a puddle I can jump over. Fear into something I can see. Anger into rock the boat defiance (like a wee rabbit thumping its foot). Shift loneliness into along wrapped in a nice warm blanket. Shrink pain to a hurt more my size. Make difference and smallness fell like a snug old fit. Every knock a trip to somewhere new.
And when night arrives … they snuggle beneath my pillow soft like a hidden treat. Riding the rise and fall of a slumbering breath. Catching sweet dreams and soft sounds that awaken a brand new day.
(Reposted from 2010. See also, ‘Peacemakers Plot’, ‘Once Upon A Dark Time‘. All Army of Ink here. In Clunk & Jam book, 2019. Original handwriting by Mags, with a chook feather from Ruth’s farm in Yallingup, Western Australia for handmade book, ‘Rock The Boat’, 2009.)
March 4, 2020 - Good Difference
What if being different meant you’d never be alone again ?
Imagine…if those of us who felt different could be strengthened in our difference through the sharing of stories….which wouldn’t mean we’d all become the same ….but we might feel less alone in our difference….
(Art by Stormie Mills. ‘Clunk & Jam’ book – a collection of art and stories championing diversity and difference.)
(Ash Browne).
January 13, 2020 - The Crossing
The Crossing .
One day I will swim out to the seaweed. And I swam for the longest time to know the place where I now rest. But let me not forget to look far back into the distance. Cast the mind before the deep unknown. Feel the fear in every stroke as I made that crossing. As I make it still each day.
(Clunk & Jam book, 2019. Pictured, Hansel & Gretel).