One of our community art ventures here in Maleny is a group called art4place which promotes and facilitates placemaking art. Sometimes the art is permanent and tells the story of a place; sometimes it is more ephemeral or temporary and briefly speaks of art within a place.
In the past week we have been involved in two festivals - Festuri (a multicultural festival) and Bunya Dreaming a local Aboriginal festival.
We spent Saturday alongside Bunya Dreaming festival attendees and participants, guiding, encouraging and facilitating artworks which were made from materials found by Baroon Pocket Dam where the festival is held. Children and adults foraged in the bush, collected sticks, barks and bunya nuts and created amazing works of arts that will stay in place until they drift away. Most of the time we just watched in awe and wonder as these masterpieces appeared.
Here are shots of some of my favourites.
In the past week we have been involved in two festivals - Festuri (a multicultural festival) and Bunya Dreaming a local Aboriginal festival.
We spent Saturday alongside Bunya Dreaming festival attendees and participants, guiding, encouraging and facilitating artworks which were made from materials found by Baroon Pocket Dam where the festival is held. Children and adults foraged in the bush, collected sticks, barks and bunya nuts and created amazing works of arts that will stay in place until they drift away. Most of the time we just watched in awe and wonder as these masterpieces appeared.
Here are shots of some of my favourites.
I love these! And it's great you got to work outside.
ReplyDeleteYes Annie they are just great! And it turned out to be a lovely gentle afternoon; the sun shone sometimes and there were bits of drizzle, but it was warm and happy.
ReplyDeleteHi Fiona, I love hearing about how CREATIVE Maleny is! Has it always been that way, or did it take special people putting in lots of effort to bring the creativity out? Locally you seem to have lots of arty stuff going on in various 'community' contexts and frankly I'm in awe. Someone who knows more than me may jump down my throat but in my view Coffs Harbour is nowhere near as blessed! I recently ran a free sketch morning... and no-one came * sniff *. I wonder what the magic ingredient is that makes these things happen? I am very admiring! Sara x
ReplyDeletefabulousness (and believe it or not - today I read about this festival - and got to see yet more pics of ephemeral photos and read all about bunyas on another blog I visit and love..... hows that for a tight little universe!)
ReplyDeleteindeed I'm thinking all things ephemeral at the moment - as I'm about to do a solid stint at sculpture on the edge (in bermagui) as symposium speaker.... which I expect will be VERY interesting.... now you've given me a another great thing to talk about - yay!
Sara - we really are lucky up here. Lots of artists live around and there is also a strong sense of community - the two together make for some wonderful art opportunities. I sometimes think its about small towns and rural locations as well - sometimes harder in the larger cities? But also we have a lot of folk who think _ we could do that - and just do it!
ReplyDeleteRonnie - yes I read the permaculture blog as well. Its a wonderful world indeed; and I must say the Bunya Dreaming is such a credit to Beverley Hand who has regenerated it. It felt weird in a way to simply walk away and leave the art behind; not have to pack it up and the like - but lovely to think of the joy it would have brought folk this morning who were just wandering by...
Fiona, I love these works - from the earth and back to it, once they start to disintegrate. I agree, it does sound like you have the ideal conditions, a small supportive community, but one with a cultural sense you would think to find only in a big city! Thanks for sharing these.
ReplyDeletewonderful to see these. i suppose i should be out in our abundant snow making things.
ReplyDeleteG/TT - yes our town is full of smart city folk who fled! The works are so gentle and so perfect for their place.
ReplyDeleteVelma - oh no! I wouldn't send you out there now! Maybe in Summer we'll see...
I want to rush out and make a lizard up a tree! I'm sure you're right about these sculptures bringing joy to those who wander by, not expecting much, yet here are these quite spare, elegant and amusing items made from the bushland. I would imagine that this could inspire a child to want to become a maker.
ReplyDeleteThese are so wonderful and creative and bound by nature!
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