One Thousand Cuts

Thirty years ago, artist Rod Moss made his home in the stark beauty of Australia's Centre. Since then, his place in Alice Springs and the traditional lands of the Arrernte has deepened, as has his enduring intimacy with the families of Whitegate camp on the town's eastern fringe. In this frank and powerful illustrated memoir, Moss gently uncovers the places where his own family and art intersect with the lives of those in the Whitegate mob. The closely connected Hayes, Johnson, Ryder and Neil families consider Moss one of their own and, through them, Moss shows us the majesty of the land, the necessity of story, the intensity of kin, the madness of violence, the tenderness of friendship, and the rhythm of grief. One Thousand Cuts continues where Moss's highly acclaimed first book, The Hard Light of Day, left off - this time in pictures as much as words. Through Moss's moving stories and his stunning paintings and photographs, we share in and celebrate his everyday life with the Whitegate mob, including their continuing fight for a standard of living that is basic to most Australians. 'This is an unflinchingly honest portrait of violence and loyalty, of feuds and vigorous endurance. It is also a record of one of the dearest roles of friendship- to offer dignity by being a dedicated witness.' Jay Griffiths, Author of Wild and Kith- The Riddle of the Childscape