Edith Barton: Bella

“Bella” in the Cabinet of Curiosities Bella is one of a series of experimental sculptures where Edith placed the support and base of the sculpture on the outside of the piece, rather than contained within. Bella has heavy plastic-coated wire for internal support wrapped with cotton batting and glued into a drilled stone. Her body is made of painted calico and machine stitched following some of the painted pattern. After machine stitching her top-heavy asymmetrical body, Edith carefully placed it over the wire support and stuffed it with polyester fibre fill. Using wool, she hand embroidered around her middle; her hair do was accomplished using palm fronds, plastic wire, found washed fishing line, beads and seagrass wrapped with wool. "Bella is my favourite of the series because of her sweet little face supports a somewhat wonky body. She is content and happy with herself. I had no pattern or idea of her. She was born from my subconscious."