Volunteer spotlight - Normana Wight

Normana Wight is one of State Library of Queensland’s dedicated volunteers, and a well-known expert on artist books, having produced artist books herself since 1987. She is a celebrated artist, whose works include painting, screen printing and creating digital prints on paper and canvas. Normana’s works are in the National Gallery of Australia, the National Library of Australia, State and regional galleries and private collections. As an SLQ volunteer, Normana is involved with the Australian Library of Art, including a role as guest blogger.

Normana Wight, 2014

Normana Wight’s story can be viewed in a five minute video, part of the James C Sourris Artist Interview Series, which contains a number of interviews by prominent Australian artists. Noreen Grahame interviews Normana, who talks candidly about her art, her artistic career spanning 50 years, the influence computer technology has had on her art, and her future aspirations.

One of Normana’s fascinating artist books, Posted, is discussed in the full interview, and one of 10 signed copies of the book is held here at State Library. Each month over 10 months from October 2007 to July 2008 Normana made a postcard, which she posted to family members and friends in Australia and overseas. The project was called “then and there 1937-1946”, covering a period of great upheaval for many Australians. “Then and there” is based on a group of photographs of the Wight family from this period. The postcards were sent from Victoria by Normana’s mother to her sister living in North-West Western Australia, and were returned to the artist in 2007.

Posted, Normana Wight's artist book.

Find more information about Normana Wight, or view a longer form of the interview or a full oral history recording at http://hdl.handle.net/10462/eadarc/8188 You can also learn more about the artist book Posted in an earlier blog written by Normana Wight.

For information about becoming a volunteer at SLQ, visit the volunteer page on our website.