Speaker Series: Double Act with Sylvia Martin

A richly illustrated double- biography of Eirene Mort & Nora Kate Weston—where art, design, and queer history converge.

Sylvia Martin’s Double Act explores the livelong partnership of Eirene Mort and Nora Kate Weston—dynamic artists and ‘New Women’ who challenged gender convention and gained recognition as professional artists. Drawing on archives and a feminist and queer perspective, Martin crafts a moving, illustrated biography of collaboration, creativity, and a deep and enduring relationship spanning more than sixty years.

Eirene Mort (1879–1977) was an Australian artist, art teacher, printmaker, cartoonist, fashion designer and one of several founders of the Society of Arts and Crafts of New South Wales.

Nora Kate Weston (1880 –1965) also known as "Chips" Weston, was an Australian cabinet-maker who taught woodcarving, carpentry and leatherwork. She was influential in the arts and crafts movement in Australia.

Reserve your copy of Double Act HERE

Other Books by Sylvia Martin HERE

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS:

After an early career as an actor, SYLVIA MARTIN obtained a PhD in Women’s Studies/Historical and Cultural Studies in 1996 and turned to writing biography where her acting training and skills turned out to be useful.

She has published four biographies of Australian women who have been neglected in Australian literary and cultural history. Her biography of the first female Mitchell Librarian, Ida Leeson: a Life. Not a Blue-Stocking Lady (Allen & Unwin 2006) was awarded the Magarey Medal for Biography and was short-listed for the NSW Premier’s Literary Award and the Kibble Award. Ink in her Veins: The Troubled Life of Aileen Palmer (UWA Publishing) came out in 2016 and was followed by her book of memoir essays, Sky Swimming: Reflections on Auto/biography, People and Place (UWA Publishing 2020). A second edition of her first book, Passionate Friends: Mary Fullerton, Mabel Singleton and Miles Franklin (Interventions/Queer Oz Folk) was published in 2021.

Sylvia has also published widely in academic and literary journals and writes book reviews. She chaired the judging panel of the National Biography Award in 2025.

ABOUT THE VENUE:

Emanuel Tsardoulias Community Library is located at street level from New Canterbury road and via a ramp from the Seaview street parking.

If you have any access or support requirements in order to participate fully, please let us know in the booking order form to ensure that we can arrange any reasonable adjustments. Please note: the venue is accessible for people using wheelchairs and other mobility aids.

We may take photos and video of the speakers and audience. See details here