Repurposed plastics and wire. Dimensions variable.
Thawvl wedlvn was a cultural retention, development, production and presentation project that occurred in North Queensland between July and September 2019.
Thawvl women weavers worked with artists from nearby regions – Bernadette Boscacci (Townsville), Nina Dawson (Cassowary Coast), Janelle Evans (Woorabinda) and Shenane Jago (Normanton) during the inaugural Ngethn o’ Festival in Kowanyama to create a large-scale, public artwork.
The finished artwork was showcased in Townsville as part of Strand Ephemera 2019, where it received the Highly Commended Award.
Kowanyama artists visited Townsville as part of the Strand Ephemera project, with funding support from the Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund, to present cultural workshops and talks about their work and The Kowanyama Project – a community culture, research and keeping place project.
The woven artwork and a short film about its production also featured in Bernadette Boscacci’s Travelling by String exhibition at Umbrella Studios Contemporary Art Studios, August to September 2019.
This weaving is now installed in the Kowanyama Airport foyer.
Thawvl Wedlvn Collective: Bernadette Boscacci, Lillian Josiah, Chrissie Aidan, Jacob Boyd Aidan, Francine Gilbert, Shenane Jago, Priscilla Major, Priscilla Josiah, Vivian Sinnamon, Janelle Evans, Kerrianne Barney, Judy Joe, Keisha Yam, Nina Dawson, Rowena Aidan, Megan Inkerman, Jamie Kepper, Shenette Gilbert, Ron Gillespie, Andrew Boscacci, Mary Boscacci, Peter Buosi, Des & Donna Gribben, Tony Squires, Mary Gilliver.
Documentation: Mark Vincent Weaver, Matt Whitton, Fairlie Sandilands, Lara Weiland.
When: 2019
Venue: Townsville Strand Park & Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts.
Media
A Woven Tracks Production, Direction and Production by Mark Weaver.
Skytrans Inflight Magazine, Edition Seven.
Strand Ephemera 2019 Catalogue
Townsville City Council Media Release – 30 July 2019 – Strand Ephemera Major Prize Awarded.
Mr Vincent said the jury would also like to acknowledge two works with a note of being ‘highly commended’. First, for a great example of collaborative practice and it’s striking use of scale, material and colour – Thawvl by Ngethn o’ Thawvl Wedlvn,” Mr Vincent said.
Project Testimonials
“I liked that I got to do the dilly bag weaving with the electrical cords, even though it was hard on my fingers, I found that project to be mind-blowing. It was really good being with everyone there in Kowanyama and Townsville, learning and sharing skills. It was great being involved in it with family and friends and meeting new people. I was really inspired after I went home, I made lots of new pieces of art.” Shenane Jago, 9 September 2019.
“We’ve been busy making art since the festival. People keep asking us about the trip to Townsville after the festival… What we achieved together was really amazing! It makes us feel proud about where we come from and who we are. It was very healing for me, it helped me going to that festival every day during all the sorry business. I wanted to do things to keep me calm, help my mind. The weaving has helped me to build my mind to be a strong person. We can’t stop making art, we’ll keep it moving forward.” Francine Gilbert, 27 August 2019
Acknowledgement
This project was made possible through a Flying Arts Community Project Grant 2019 – The Regional Arts Fund (RAF) is an Australian Government program designed to benefit regional and remote arts practitioners, arts workers, audiences and communities. The fund is provided through Regional Arts Australia and is administered in Queensland by Flying Arts Alliance.