Semaphore Score
Can you rewrite a 19th-century military language as messages of love?
Semaphore Score is the work of State Library and Archives’ inaugural Creative Fellow, Margaret Woodward. This exhibition is inspired by one important artefact found during her research at State Library and Archives Tasmania, the 1868 Tasman Peninsula – Semaphore Code Dictionary.
In response, Margaret has created a contemporary and revised semaphore code book for Lutruwita/Tasmania, and a series of naturally dyed semaphore flags. The code book includes language that addresses climate and environmental damage as well as expressions of intimacy and care. Her new codes are designed so they can be used flexibly. They can be used as a call to action, an instruction, a plea, a poem, a love letter or a warning.
In this artist talk, Margaret will share insights into the research, production and performance of the Semaphore Score exhibition. At the conclusion of the talk you are invited to compose messages which Margaret will decipher and upload onto the digital web log that is accumulating over the duration of the exhibition.
This is a FREE event. Numbers are strictly limited due to space considerations, so it is open to Friends members only.
