Weaving Stories of Change

Join a compelling line up of First Nations urban culturalists, Stevie Thorpe, Bianca Easton and Merilyn Merm Duff for a unique intercultural art parade, yidaki healing, film screening, exhibition and yarn. Together we commemorate the delicate dance of decolonizing a community of practise into a culture of care.

In the alluring timber lined auditorium at Woods Bagot architecture studio, participants will be led through an immersive water ceremony experience, gathered around an emu egg and river reed centrepiece by Ikebana architect Christina Theodorou. Under a night sky light projection, a song acknowledging Country will be performed by Stephen Thorpe, a GunaiKurnai Gundjitmara, Yorta Yorta man and co- founder of Sustainative.

Participants will then be seated in the auditorium and greeted by principal of Woods Bagot and their Reconciliation chair Bronwyn Mc Coll, who will share collaborative design highlights with Indigenous leaders and organizations. Boonwurrung woman Bianca Easton will reflect on the emu egg centrepiece made in her workshop with the Turruk community

Following a yidaki healing, participants will be led past Heart Spirit Home, an exhibit of speculative architecture proposals reimaging Aboriginal aged care at Initiatives of Change Australia. Selected works by Master of Architecture students from the University of Melbourne are presented and the student prize announced.

A short documentary Weaving Three Stories showcasing the weaving and yarning series in Fisherman’s Bend will be unveiled for the first time and is proudly supported by FB IDEAS. Insights from filmmaker Michael Woods at Pacific Studio and Trawoolway woman Merilyn Merm Duff will be shared.

An intercultural art parade of woven artefacts co-curated by Bianca Easton and Sarah Naarden will then be revealed alongside a parade of paintings and cultural artefacts from several First Nations contributors to the Turruk program including Dylan Charles, Uncle Glenn Loughrey, Merilyn Merm Duff, Bianca Easton and Jai Allen Wright.

Celebrating 5 years of the Turruk Community Program, Sarah Naarden will share highlights of Cultivating Trust, an exhibit of black and white photographs capturing moments when differences dissolve and reciprocal deep listening from the heart resonates.

This event is proudly supported by Aboriginal Melbourne, City of Melbourne, Woods Bagot, Melbourne School of Design, University of Melbourne, Pacific Studio and Initiatives of Change Australia.

All tickets at concession prices $40 released 26 July.

Complimentary tickets available for Mob.

For partnerships, media and volunteering contact: sarah.naarden@gmail.com