The book was officially launched by Donata Carrazza, founder of the Mildura Writer's Festival, at the opening of the solo exhibition Introduced Species on 30 July 2009 at The Art Vault, 43 Deakin Avenue Mildura, Victoria, 3500. The exhibition continued through Sunday 9 August.
Excerpt from Donata Carrazza's opening remarks:
“I’m going to start tonight by reading one of Deborah’s stories, from the book we are also launching called There was once… It’s The Story of the Moth Masks, which is particularly pertinent since the 16 linocuts of the same subject have also been included in the show. The 13 stories from the book combine subversion, humour and a narrative drive that challenges the status quo of old and seeks to redress the subjugated status of women in folklore. One might ask, but what’s the point today? Aren’t women free to do as they please? Surely feminism died when Germaine Greer confessed to taking Hormone Replacement Therapy. In the last 50 years we’ve certainly increased our financial independence, and thus our freedom, through improved education and employment opportunities, but I think that women carry in their very cells the memories of a lesser life through past generations, and so what’s valuable about such story telling and the powerful images in this show is the recognition of a past that has sought to degrade, denigrate and obstruct women’s power and potential. This we must never forget. We should not stop telling our children fairytales, but we should balance the story telling with other stories, like Deborah’s, to reiterate and affirm that a person isn’t saved or rescued in life, she has to take responsibility and work out her own best strategy for making her life glisten and sparkle.”
From top:
Donata reads the The Story of the Moth Masks at the exhibition opening
Opening night view
There was once... The collected fairy tales
