Susan McArthur is a notable identity in Burnie, affectionately known as the resident 'hat lady' with the eye-catching shop.
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She is never seen in the streets without one of her intricately detailed, personally designed hats.
Often extravagant in appearance, noticeable even from a far, every inch of these beautiful hats is made with thought, care, and love.
McArthur's history as a maker started 30 years ago upon seeing an ad placed in the newspaper by a female milliner from David Jones and Myer, for classes in bridal millinery; an area of no particular interest to Ms McArthur it was not something that she aspired to do. However, it presented an opportunity to engage in the making of something she has always loved and sought joy from. Armed with a hat block and a simple instruction to go away and practice Ms McArthur took to the task and that was the beginning of her illustrious journey as a milliner.
Upon completion she took the final product to show the teacher and was told she was a natural and needed to keep going with this art.
This was the encouragement she needed to inspire self confidence in her ability.
She began teaching herself to make hats and her lifelong love of wearing them turned into creating them.
From wearing a tea cosy on her head as child to loving berets as a teenager, a favourite being one made of pink velvet, McArthur's relationship with her hats has always inspired creativity and imagination.
Allowing her the opportunity to imagine herself being whisked away to an exotic place, like that of Mary Poppins, though not an umbrella providing the magic, but a hat.
Though always having a flare for creativity, McArthur was not always a maker.
Growing up in the mining industry, living all over Australia in mining towns, marrying a man who worked in the industry, and then working as a secretary in the mining industry herself, she could not have been further away from the opportunity to make and create.
These varied experiences lead her to a career as a computer operator in the military, which did not go far in providing entertainment, however, it gave her the opportunity to fly in lots of interesting aeroplanes and wear a hat, which McArthur was rather fond of.
McArthur's professional career always provided a vast array of opportunities and experiences; however, it wasn't until she moved to Burnie in 1990 that her true millinery process began.
Her work has been sold on the mainland, travelled the world to places such as New York and Dubai and been exhibited in London.
The reach of McArthur's art is widespread and has led her to attain prolific opportunities closer to home.
In 2016 she was commissioned to make a replica of Vermeer's 'Girl with the Red Hat' for MONA's exhibition Hound in the Hunt.
It was both a privilege and an honour for McArthur to be selected to provide the red hat, which helped shape the image other artists could recreate. Her creativity has taken her on not only a journey in millinery but in painting, jewellery making and photography. Ms McArthur's original style took abstract form, and it wasn't until she started to see the faces of family members within the pieces that her style shifted to portraiture.
Some of her original works are displayed in her studio, but the focus of the pieces is to capture her admiration for her family members and for their individual enjoyment.
Over a 15-year period she has had several studios and shop fronts around Burnie, the last four years have seen her placed in Studio Four in Burnie's Plaza Arcade where she displays her works for the public to admire and some for purchase.
Her hats take anywhere from a day to a month to reach completion and are predominately inspired by environments around her, they take form from ideas generated in and around her happy places, her garden, nature, the ocean, and her time in the military.
Each piece holds its own personality, some hats tell a story and others don't, shaped with a plethora of materials, sourced from online, op shops, hardware stores, businesses and found objects.
"I like the way that people engage with you when you wear a hat. People are kind and friendly towards you because they are fascinated by your hat. So, they want to stop and ask you about it and children say, 'Oh Mummy look'," she said.
I like the way that people engage with you when you wear a hat. People are kind and friendly towards you because they are fascinated by your hat. So, they want to stop and ask you about it and children say, 'Oh Mummy look'.
- Susan McArthur
"I love it when a child does that because it's nice for a child to be surprised. They walk past this door and they stop, and their mouths just drop open because they love the colours and textures"
Ms McArthur has seen firsthand the shifting landscape and mindset of Burnie and the locals growing appreciation for locally made product.
As one of The Makers of Burnie the importance of incorporating art into the community is something that she feels strongly about.
As an artist working in a variety of mediums, she creates pieces and spaces that invite you into her life and the life of her hats, readily challenging you to think about how life experience and your surrounds can impact and influence your art in significant ways.
As a woman honing her craft over 30 years with no intention of retiring any time in the near future; her life's work keeping her "going, keeping her alive and keeping her inspired".
- Tamara Palmer is a student at Hellyer College.