Of rivers, tall trees and tales

As part of an Arts Practicum unit of study earlier this year I participated in a community performance project. It was designed around a series of workshops covering textiles, writing and performance, directed by local choreographer Annette Carmichael. The project Solace + Yearning: Between Kwoorabup and Denmark was part of Denmark's community arts festival Brave New Works #19. It culminated in a series of five site-specific performances on the Kwoorabup Trail along the banks of the Denmark River (Kwoorabup Beelia).

You can watch a You Tube video of the making of Solace + Yearning. 

Solace + Yearning was a contemporary abstract performance aiming to reach the emotional heart of our connection to country and to invite the audience to begin to see the complexities and contradictions of our indigenous and settler histories. We wove stories along the trail, shared histories and culture, incorporated written and spoken text, music and song, dance and performance. The silks for our costumes were dyed with local plant materials so fitted beautifully in the environment. The audience moved along the trail with us making it an extremely intimate experience.  We worked out under the cool of the tall karri trees or in the baking heat of the paddock. As summer wore on the karri shed silver and rust bark strips to expose cream gold trunks, covering the path. We had to contend with stinging march flies after the rain and bull ant bites if we ventured too close to their nests. Despite this, I found the whole experience to be intense, inspiring and enriching. It was great to be playing with textiles again and performing was a new challenge for me which is always good for the soul.

The below web address will take you to a photostream for the performance.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/denmarkarts/sets/72157629568831307/with/6829814732/