In Family Mistletoe I have raised the possibility of an alternative model to the family tree.  Informed by the work of ecologist David Watson, I am interested in Australian Mistletoe and the pivotal role it plays in its natural habitats. Historically, Australian Mistletoe has been largely ignored or regarded as a menace to the trees it inhabits. However, contemporary ecological engagements with mistletoe identify it as a ‘keystone’ plant that reflects, rather than being the cause of, either a healthy or a disturbed eco-system.

Using leaves from mistletoe plants to create dyes and screenprinting inks I have printed fabrics from which I have sewn a series of six garments, each a subsequent generation from one family. These garments have then formed the props for two series of portraits. I am interested in how gender relations are reflected in historical knowledge. Like mistletoe, women are keystones, vital for the formation of the family tree, yet historically represented as incidental, perhaps even as parasites.