Rosaleen Norton
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She lived much of her later life in the bohemian area of Kings Cross, Sydney, leading her to be termed the "Witch of Kings Cross" in some of the tabloids, [2] and from where she led her own coven of witches.
The film explores the life and work of Rosaleen Norton, a scandalous and notorious Australian artist who practiced sex magic and worshipped Pan in 1950s Sydney. It features her artworks, diaries, scrapbooks and interviews with experts and witnesses.
The Witch of Kings Cross is the fascinating portrait of a fearless woman outlaw railing against fearful conservative forces and an insight into the work of an...
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- Sonia Bible
- Documentary, Drama
- Kate Laxton
- Freedom and Creativity
- Strands of Magic
- Censorship and Court Proceedings
- The Case of Sir Eugene Goossens
- Later Life
Norton’s story has fascinated me from the age of five, when I began to devour the 1970s tabloid newspapers and magazines that featured her. During those years, Norton had become something of a recluse, rarely appearing in public but graciously agreeing to be interviewed about her life. By this time, the legend of “the witch of Kings Cross” was entr...
Norton and Greenlees practised several strands of magic, including trance magic, sex magic, and ceremonies combining and improvising elements from several traditions. These included Kundalini (the feminine, creative force of infinite wisdom that “lives” inside us, usually represented by a snake) and Tantra(encompassing esoteric rituals and practice...
Norton’s run-ins with authorities are partly what make her such an important historical figure. Her early exhibitions were subject to media attention and sensationalism, censorship and court proceedings. During an exhibition of her art at Rowden-White Library, University of Melbourne, in 1949, the Vice Squad seized several works deemed to be profan...
Norton’s practice of sex magic was at the centre of one sensational court case. Her private rituals concerning the practice (including, among other acts, anal and oral sex, and sado-masochism) involved a discrete group of devotees. One of them was the revered composer and conductor Sir Eugene Goossens(1893-1962). As director of the New South Wales ...
Norton retired from public view during the 1970s, living in a basement flat in Roslyn Garden, with her sister, Cecily Boothman (1905-1991), close by in the same apartment block. Frail, in poor health, but an artist and witch to the end, Norton practised her rituals, painted and communed with animals and nature. She and Boothman were visited by Gree...
The film tells the story of Rosaleen Norton, a controversial Australian artist and occultist who was persecuted for her beliefs and practices in the 1950s. It explores her life, work, art, sex magic, and media presence through archive, interview, and drama.
- sonia@blackjellyfilms.com
Mar 4, 2021 · Learn about the life and art of Rosaleen Norton, a self-professed witch and artist who challenged conservative Australia in the 1950s. The film explores her esoteric practices, sexuality, feminism and legacy in a modern world.
Artist Rosaleen Norton faced allegations of satanic rituals, obscene art and sex orgies in 1950s Sydney, but did the scandals mask her genius? This feature documentary by award-winning director...
