Boatbird
Author Identifier (ORCID)
Research Statement
Research Background
Boatbird is an illustrated hardcover book published by Upswell Publishing and co-created by Dr Jo Pollitt and Lilly Blue, the makers of BIG Kids Magazine (10 x publications of BIG were sold nationally and internationally and featured at Sydney Opera House and MCA). Created over a ten-year period for a multi-generational readership, Boatbird won a grant from The Ades Foundation and was featured in public workshops at WA Museum Boola Bardip. The book as a hold-in-your-hands artwork offers a poetic and spacious way to engage with stories that are often difficult to hear.
Research Contribution
The book introduces a unique artistic methodology of cutting and choreographing words and images, that blends poetic allegory with visual storytelling to support reflection on complex emotional and social experiences. Its innovation lies in the way it fosters empathetic listening through layered, age-inclusive narratives. The intuitive, co-authored process challenges traditional forms of storytelling and pedagogy, offering a model for emotionally attuned, collaborative creative practice. At a time when we are seeing an alarming increase of displacement worldwide, along with a rise in anxiety and disconnection, Boatbird encourages listening with compassion and care.
Research Significance
Boatbird demonstrates significance through its growing public recognition and resonance across audiences, evidenced by media engagement such as a feature interview on RTR FM with Danae Gibson and invited appearance at In Visible Ink at WA Museum Boola Bardip. It is stocked via the Upswell Publishing website and in bookstores including Crow Books and Rabble Books. With its capacity to support conversations around survival, resilience, and care, Boatbird holds the potential for significant impact in educational, therapeutic, and community settings, fostering emotional literacy and intergenerational dialogue.
Non-Traditional Research Output
Original Creative Work
Document Type
Non-Traditional Research Output
Date of Publication
2024
Publisher
Upswell Publishing
School
Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts / School of Arts and Humanities / Centre for People, Place and Planet
RAS ID
82730
ISBN
9780645984033
Comments
Pollitt, J., & Blue, L. (2024). Boatbird. Upswell Publishing