The shape within the piece follows the cut of the back of a Red River Style jacket normally made from hide and adorned with intricate quillwork. Maria Campbell told me a story about Harry Daniels that became the inspiration for this piece. She said that she and Harry used to take walks in the bush and his favourite plant was the wild rose. He once told her that he wanted a red river style jacket covered in wild rose patterns. He then asked her if she thought it would be too “girly”. But before she could reply he said, “Well, I don’t give a shit what anyone thinks anyway”. Which of course was exactly like him. So this is my red river jacket for him, the jacket he never got.
