Occasional Public Art Tuesday – I’m On My Way Down by Robbie Rowlands

I’m On My Way Down
Robbie Rowlands
2012

Thomas Street Car Park
Level 5, 50 Thomas Street, Dandenong

Through a series of precise cuts, this bollard departs from the rhythm of the car park expressed rigidly aligned concrete columns and repetitive architectural structures.

Through Rowlands carefully considered reconfiguring of the bollard, audiences are invited to see the object as an entirely new form or to read it back into its former self. In doing so, the opportunity exists to reflect on the wider process of change.

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Historic map of Dandenong

This is quite awesome. One of the gents who runs the Springvale Historical Society bought this in to show us yesterday. It’s a hand drawn map of Dandenong by our very own Robert Woodcock, the gent who owned Laurel Lodge last century. You can clearly see how Dandenong was broken up back then and all of the local street names can be found as the last names of people who own the various properties. You can even see the road where we are (in the second shot) but oddly enough, Mr Woodcock didn’t mark his property on the map.

We love the old brown of the paper (wonder what colour it was originally?) and the fact there are a number of ink drops on them. Did Nellie get too close to her father’s desk as he was drawing the map? We’ll never know, but still, it’s so wonderful to be able to see such history so close up.

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Artists in residence in schools – Barking Spider and Dandenong West Primary School part two

This year, Barking Spider Visual Theatre (one of our regular school holiday workshop presenters) has an Extended School Residency through Arts Victoria, at none other than our very own Dandenong West Primary School. We’ve just had an update from BSVT with some great pictures to share!

Well, the title is official: “The Next Big Thing: We made it ourselves!”It’s all systems go at Dany West Primary. The shadow puppetry is gathering momentum, the sound creation is shaking up a storm (evoking one, literally), and the bunraku style puppetry is really taking shape as the kids are truly embracing the art form, and all the collaboration that the project demands.

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Recycled Art – School Holiday Workshop

How fast does time fly? We’re into the second week of the holidays already! Yesterday we had a fun and crafty hands on workshop making art from recycled materials. Here are a few photos of the process and the some of the finished items!

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Happy Birthday Peter Rabbit at The Drum Theatre

Looking for more things to do with your kids over these school holidays? Check out The Drum Theatre’s show next Tuesday –

Happy Birthday Peter Rabbit
Based on the books by Beatrix Potter
Tuesday 10 July, 10.30am & 1pm
Tickets – All: $15, Family: $50

Celebrate the 110th Anniversary of Beatrix Potter’s beloved classic with Happy Birthday Peter Rabbit, a mischievous musical about the world’s most loveable bunny. Bring your toy bunny along to play in our garden foyer. Join in other activities before and after the show.

Bookings through the Drum Theatre Box office on 9771 6666 or purchase them online here.

Duration: 55 minutes (no interval). Suitable: 3 – 8 years.

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Campfire Yarns – School Holiday Workshop

Today is our last indigenous workshop in celebration of NAIDOC week – for this year at least! We had the Wurundjeri mob back again, this time sharing stories around the fire in Campfire Yarns.

We were so caught up in the stories being shared, not just from the facilitators but by the kids too, that we didnt get much time for photos. But here is a hand carved Lyrebird, watching over the preceedings:

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Bush Tucker – School Holiday Workshop

Today our school holiday workshops continue with a Bush Tucker workshop from the Wurundjeri Land Council. We had a presentation on Aboriginal history, culture and food and we finished up with our participants being led in a dance retelling a creation myth on the front lawn of Laurel Lodge. What a deadly day!

A participant and some of the items bought in for show

A possum skin cloak with the story of the owner imprinted on the skin

Bill instructs a kangaroo on what to do

The eagle, Bunjil, soars past a hunter

The hunters capture a kangaroo

Inspired by the final dance, a young girl takes off around the fig tree

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Boomerang Painting and Decorating – School Holiday Workshop

Yesterday kicked off our term two school holiday program with a Boomerang Painting and Decorating workshop from the Wurundjeri Land Council as part of our NAIDOC week celebrations.

First, you plan out your decorations with a pencil.

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Station Sessions at Dandenong Station

Tom Francis

Commuters are being treated to free musical performances at Dandenong Train Station each week.

As part of the rollout of the Dandenong Railway Station Precinct Action Plan 2011-2018, local musicians will be performing at the station every Friday throughout the months of June and July.

The Station Sessions feature acoustic music from 4pm to 6pm.

So drop in on your way home from work and listen to some chilled tunes by some talented musicians!

Benny Walker

 

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Occasional Public Art Tuesday – Nocturnal night walk

As part of the Nocturnal Festival Dandenong 2012Last night was the last night of the walking tour of Dandenong’s Nocturnal festival, a public art festival in collaboration with Chisholm TAFE and RMIT University’s Masters in Art in a Public Space. It was an amazing two hours, walking around the CBD of Dandenong taken down alleys and through car parks to various works of art scattered around. Most of the 45 artists who took part were also stationed by their works, to talk a little about them and answer any questions we had. This year’s Nocturnal theme was Car Park, and it was really interesting to see how different artists interpreted this in a wide range of media. Even thought it’s over, you can still see many of the works in the streets of Dandenong for weeks to come, but if you missed out, Heritage Hill has you covered with a photo tour of the walking tour!

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