The focus of my Lab Project is to explore and integrate native and local flora through printmaking to form collages from the prints to form images of native and local forna. An exploration of what it means to be, create and nourish locality. The way in which we connect with our surroundings as a landing place.
A video art project exploring the mystical connection between the town of Natimuk and its residents, past and present. Through the memories and imaginations of current residents, the work reinterprets history, redefines the present, and envisions the future, offering a way to express and to connect with the Whispers of Natimuk.
Wotjobaluk woman, Chrissie Secombe and Moonahcullah, Wamba-Wamba man, Alan Murphy, are creating a book to tell the story of Alan’s discovery of his connection to country roots in Moonahcullah. The book will include Alan’s own original artwork, photos of country and Chrissie’s original storytelling, in two parts – the non-fiction retelling of events and a creative fiction children’s story.,
Louise Cooper and Sue Pavlovich engaged in multidirectional mentoring exploring the changing contexts of Autism artistically, socio-culturally and personally over the past 36-40 years. This gave Louise a greater understanding of where her work is situated in the Autism landscape, why older initiatives were run in the ways that they were and how they may be able to be reworked to be more in line with today’s ideologies. Louise presented to a gathering on her journey of community arts practice platforming untold stories and unheard voices leading towards new futures for Autistic creative recovery, cultural and community development. A zine making activity was offered to explore and demonstrate authentic Autistic ways of cutting out the small talk and skipping straight to our passionately held interests
Very Long Distance An abandoned box of words and stories. An invitation. Ringing. A mysterious guided tour of Natimuk. A coming together. If you could call someone, one more time.…. Very Long Distance… at the corner of Schmidt St. Wait your turn. Reignite.
Using Nati’s telephone box on the corner of Schmidt and Main Street, participants are asked to share details and stories, elements of which re-emerge as they subsequently traverse town and a series of bespoke interventions. The portal participants converge in fellowship and food at the event finale.
TRUCK is a vehicle for Kat to frame a biography of her dad, Graeme Pengelly, who was a Truck Driver for over 30 years. Creative Lab will allow Kat to explore how to record and present her dad’s stories through script, film, theatre and fashion with collaboration at the core. She will collaborate with Script Writer Kirsty Hawkes to undertake research on the Australian Trucking Industry and Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War.
Experimenting with a blend of paper puppets, stop motion animation, augmented reality, postcards, community arts, geocaching and projection; Louise Cooper will create animated stories based on Natimuk’s people, places, street art and history.
Louise is using her creative development period to explore the concept of #artcaches. For a couple of weeks from October 29th 2021 she called on the community to find plastic pockets filled with sketchbooks and art materials to draw the town’s streetscape, characters, Mt Arapiles, make split pin sheep at the caravan park and even draw cups and coffee plungers for something of a madhatters coffee party – Natimuk style. Download the Zappar app and scan the zap codes to unleash stop motion animation augmented reality content.
‘an apology I was never given, and the one I never made’ is a site-specific performance work/installation staged at the Natimuk Court House. This work will be developed during the ACT Natimuk Creative Lab and exhibited as a work in progress at the Nati Frinj 2021.
Resident at the Natimuk Courthouse Sam, invited community members to come sit with her at sessions from November 18th – 20th 2021 to share an apology they were never given and one they never made. These apologies will be collected and developed into a text based sound work, installation, and projection to be exhibited at the Natimuk Fringe 2022.
There was also the opportunity to participate anonymously by leaving written apologies in a special box installed at the Natimuk Post Office from November 15th – 26th 2021
Bringing echoes of beach holidays and whimsical fun, Boat Ride melds your favourite coin operated supermarket animal ride with a Tunnel of Love experience – complete with romantic automatic music for two. Absurd and hilarious, this strange ride puts the romance back in inland boat cruises. Come ride today! (ride will be road tested at Nati Frinj 2022)
This Lab will take the private affair between artist Anthony Pelchen and non-artist Hiroshi ‘Kanazawa Jack’ Yoshida beyond Facebook and into heart of a quiet, somewhat locked down Natimuk. In collaboration with Grace Pundyk, D’Arcy Molan and Jack, Anthony’s project activated a closed Goat Gallery with night light signals and doorway dusk performances, Frid Oct 29- Frid Nov 12, 2021