Take pART Act III, 2021

with melissa peacock @acountryartspractice

Presented by gladstone region community arts & culture project in conjunction with gladstone multicultural festival

‘Pathways’

A random weave sculpture

Made with recycled fabric and organic materials

8m x 1m, 2021

‘Pathways’ was the result of a successful public workshop held at Tondoon Botanic Gardens in Gladstone, between Melissa Peacock from A Country Arts Practice and myself.

Participants were invited to choose specific, recycled fabric to weave into the structure of the piece that best represented their own identity in relation to culture. The result was a mishmash of colour, pattern, and texture that symbolises that even as individuals, we are all connected with each other and the environment. Through our diversity, we can achieve unity.

The fortuitous arrival of a kookaburra onto the weave could not have been a better demonstration of this project's aim!

The pathway’s intention was to also represent the direction we take in life. While we can plan to create the perfect grid, the reality of life’s journey is that it twists and turns unexpectedly. Rather than be frustrated by this, we must learn to embrace it, and instead, find the learning within the process and the beauty at the destination.

The communication between the artists and the involved community members further exemplified this interconnection, highlighting that each of our decisions and actions can influence the course of the other, as though part of a giant web.

Melissa Peacock and Jennifer Hollstein respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land, waters, and communities on which they work and live. They each pay their respects to the Elders past, present, and emerging of Indigenous nations in Australia and abroad, and their relationship to the craft of weaving.

With thanks to RADF Take pART Act III for this opportunity.

The Regional Arts Development Fund is a partnership between the Queensland Government and Gladstone Regional Council to support local arts and culture in regional Queensland.