Session 3 continued with cord making and coiling and introduced string making using a metal hook.

Workshop participants have been encouraged to putting together a tool kit.   Tool kit essentials are:

• Scissors, both small and large are useful. Heavy sewing needles with large eyes; tapestry, knitters or utilty.

• A  cutting mat and rotary cutter is good for plastic and fabric and a craft knife is useful for paper and plant material, leather etc.

• For plant materials, secateurs, a bucket or tub to soak dry material and an old towel to keep it damp.

• For wire, long nose pliers and cutters suited to the gauge of wire.

• For beading, beading needles.

Categories: Backyard Project 2009, Session Reports
No Comments »

This session featured four different “stations” where we completed activities:

WORK STATION 1

1 READING – a personally significant text brought from home

A volunteer time keeper is needed. Four to five minutes each is allowed, with the time keeper to give warning at 4 minutes and call finish at 5.

Each group member reads their selected text and identifies why the text was chosen and sums up, if time allows.

Concluding discussion if time permits – look for themes

2 DRAWING – a container of some kind brought from home

Spend 10 minutes drawing your object on black paper using white paint and recycled plastic scrapers (notice the thickness / thinness of the paint)

Spend 10 minutes using a pencil to add detail.

Spend five minutes adding words to the drawing – visual descriptors, function, personal meanings and associated symbolism

3 CORDMAKING

Learn to make a hand twisted cord using bread bags

4 – COILING

Begin to make a coiled container using your hand made cord.

Use a double knot to secure the end of the fishing line (make two loops and pass the end through twice, tightening after the threaded needle has been passed through)

Categories: Backyard Project 2009, Session Reports
No Comments »

Session 1 began with get to know you activities with MWG President Regan.

There was a basketry show and tell as well as still life drawing of baskets.

As a concept development exercise participants were asked to write words on their drawing. Word association was used to explore what containers are and what we as individuals contain.

Ann told a story about her daughter coming of age and being given a twined pandanus basket. Her auntie said it was because she was old enough to need somewhere to put special things.

In one creation story she has heard, the ancestral spirits brought forth all life from their dillybags. So, a bag is not just a bag, it is a reminder of that sacred event.

The name used for basket also means womb. Baskets are anthropomorphised and the handle is called the “arm.”

This session was intended to get workshop participants thinking about how baskets can be metaphorical objects, which can contain symbolic and personal meanings.

Tags: BYP
Categories: Backyard Project 2009, Session Reports
No Comments »

Our supporting artist this year is Ann McMahon, an ANU School of Art graduate, community arts worker and arts writer and … former Majura Womens Group member!

We had a great session, doing a few drawings of the objects/containers Ann had brought along and exploring ideas about containers and containment in words and images.

For the next BYP session, bring along a container of some kind and a a short piece of text to share with the group.

And don’t be nervous – it’s never too late to join in!

Categories: Backyard Project 2009, MWG Publications, Session Reports
No Comments »