In answer to “Nothing New”, Free Times 31st May, 2012.
Yes, it is approaching that time of year when, according to your interpretation, “women drape clothes around trees and other objects in Warwick”.
May I point out to you, sir, that the Jumpers part of the Jumpers & Jazz in July Festival is a textile art competition, where those of us who use this medium to express our artistic talent are able to create works for the appreciation of others, perhaps in this instance, not you.
With regard to your comments about knitting for third world countries, well I would like to make you aware of the donations to charities by the craft group members of Maryvale, who, by the way have entered the Jumpers and Jazz competition most years, with our beautiful sunflower being on the post cards and banners for the 2011 promotions for the festival.
Our most senior member, who is 91, has produced over 100 garments for the AIDS orphans of Africa, she is always knitting and crocheting items to be donated to charities. I also produce items for such charities as Knit One Give One, knitting for Brisbane’s Needy and last year donated a very large (garbage) bag of beanies, gloves and scarves to the Warwick branch of Rosie’s van, who keep a stock of winter woolies for the homeless.
Your gall, sir, to suggest that we would not think to do this with our God given talent.
As for the suggestion that the council has to clean up after us, check your facts. Every contributor has the responsibility to put up their own display and remove it at the end of the festival. The Warwick Art Gallery are curators of the tree jumpers exhibition. The only cleaning up the council has to do is from the increasing number of visitors to our lovely town for the festival, all bringing their money to spend here over the 10 days of the festival.
Would you have us do nothing in Warwick so we can avoid having to spend money cleaning up? How much cleaning up has to be done after the Apple and Grape festival or the Warwick Rodeo, are you against them as well?
One wonders how hard you had to look to find the one reference in the bible that mentions “women weaving hangings for the grove”
The grove mentioned was a grove of trees that was planted beside the altars erected to the pagan god Baal. The trees were stripped of all their branches and then the trees were carved into fertility idols. The items being woven by the women were used as covers for these idols, or in other interpretations, tents for the sodomites to carry out their behaviours. I was not able to find any interpretation that indicated that “the women made clothes for the trees to attract customers” as you stated.
There may be nothing new under the sun in your part of the world, sir, but in the part of the world inhabited by entrants in the Jazz and Jumpers in July festival, every day is new and every tree is and opportunity.
Michelle de Banke
Maryvale
