Perched on a rural hilltop outside
Hobart with echidnas and wallabies for company,
words flow easily from poet Crystal Davis. Her
hands often can’t keep up, but she refuses
surrender her visceral pen-to-paper method for
faster technological options. She’s proudly old
school-contemporary, a niche cemented by her
recent acquisition of the century-old typewriter
she’s using to create handmade wall inspiration
pieces.
But this idyllic artist lifestyle was hard won.
The production of Crystal’s debut publication
Azure Assurances, A Book of Pictured Poetry
represents the culmination of a difficult period in
her life.
“I’d been a carer for a loved one under
traumatic circumstances. I’d spent a decade
working 12 hour days in a job that didn’t fulfil me.
Eventually, I had a breakdown, which was the
catalyst to return to my greatest childhood love –
poetry.”
After months of cathartic writing, Crystal had
a clear vision: to produce a book promoting artistic
self-expression for positive mental health. “I
discovered that writing down my pain allowed it to
leave my body, I no longer needed to carry it
around. It saved my mental health.”
Her vision included a very specific style of
line drawing, which she found in lifelong Canberra
artist Kylie Fogarty.
“I tried to do it myself, but that’s not where
my talent lies.” Davis said. “I literally found Kylie
on Google, and knew it was meant to be. She’s
very talented. I was honoured when she loved my
work and agreed to collaborate. It was an
incredibly vulnerable time for us both.”
For 9 months, Crystal and Kylie
communicated only via email, finally meeting for
coffee when the book went to print.
“We didn’t follow the rules. Being a rookie, I
didn’t know there were any. The whole experience
was an exercise in creative trust and intuition.”
Following a successful launch and exhibition
tour in 2014, Azure Assurances has a growing and
dedicated fan base, with copies heading to
Denmark, the United States, Germany and the UK.
Broadsides from the book are held in private
collections Australia-wide. Crystal also donates a
percentage of profits to Lifeline.
And there’s no time to rest on her laurels. A
photographic exhibition studying women with
endometriosis, an Italian arts residency and a top
secret engineering project are all on the 2015
agenda, along with workshops helping women to
connect to heart and story.
Crystal writes regularly for online publication
Elephant Journal, with her most recent article “I
Drank Warm Honey Lemon Water Every Day for
a Year” receiving more than 1 million views in its
first week.
Connect with Crystal through her website
www.crystaldavis.com.au
For more of Kylie’s work, visit
www.kyliefogarty.com
A poem from Azure Assurances follows -