This field trip will be a contemporary exploration of First Nations Visual Storytelling grounded in connection, well-being and both Noongar and broader Aboriginal Knowledge.

Kiri Tawhai is a proud Noongar, Ngapuhi and NgatiTuwharetoa woman who grew up on Jaburara Country amongst the red dirt and the spinifex and the beautiful islands of the Dampier Archipelago.

A mother of three, an Aunty, a sister, a daughter, a cousin and a niece, Kiri has had a lifelong love of art in all forms and graduated from Deakin University with a Bachelor's Degree in Visual Arts in 2019. She is an Artist, Curator, Collaborator, and Mentor, who has had a collaborative artwork exhibited in Tokyo, curated multiple exhibitions, and held a solo show in Geelong.

A multimedia artist, Kiri is a storyteller with a passion for learning and sharing Knowledge and respecting old ways of knowing and doing within a contemporary world. Many of Kiri’s works are socially collaborative and feature a playful and colourful element, this comes from her love of connecting to people, to exploring collective thoughts especially when it comes to themes of identity, finding ones place in the world and the threads that show the similarity between each other’s journey.

Kiri Wicks will start by connecting to Country through an Acknowledgment and a guided meditation. Then explore the concept of Songlines, through yarning and observing. Play, interpret and capture movement that honours the language of songlines through contemporary design. Dance and sand drawing, sketching on paper with different media including pastel, pencil, texta, crayons. Both as a single artists and artworks and as collaborations.

A minibus will take participants to Kiri's workshop at Bancoora Beach. Participants are also welcome to join us at the location. The address will be shared closer to the workshop date.

Itinerary:

Please arrive at Platform Arts at 9.00AM
Bus departs at 9.15AM
Bus trip: 25-30 mins
Arrive at Bancoora Beach, Breamlea at 9.45AM
Experience: 10.00AM - 1.00PM
Depart Breamlea just after 1.00PM
Arrive back at Platform Arts between 1.30-2.00PM

What to bring:

Sturdy shoes, suited for walking on the beach
Hat
Sunscreen
Rain coat in case of weather changes
Water
Lunch and/or snacks
Any personal items or medications you might need

All materials will be provided.

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Please note: As this is a field trip, ensure that you bring anything you will need during this time. This workshop has limited accessibility. Please speak to our team if you have any questions or concerns: curator@platformarts.org.au. If you are catching the bus from Platform Arts, you will need to stay the duration of the field trip in order to catch the bus back with the group.

Field Trip is a series of encounters where participants join presenting artists on location, often traveling together from Platform Arts as a meeting point. It forges collaborative intergenerational connections, where artists share their site-based practice and speak to the importance of place in their work and self.

Platform Arts acknowledges that Field Trip takes place on the unceded lands of the Wadawurrung people of the Kulin Nation. We recognise their language, art and culture, and acknowledge their people as the first artists and Custodians of this land. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and extend these respects to all First Nations people and their Elders, past, present and emerging.

Field Trip is conceived by Professor Rea Dennis. 2025 field trips are co-curated by Rea Dennis and Amber Smith.

This project has been supported by a City of Greater Geelong Community Grant.

Contact the host of FIELD TRIP | Exploring Songlines with Noongar, Ngapuhi and NgatiTuwharetoa artist Kiri Wicks