Regional Arts Victoria

Temporary Village
Flowerdale Recreation Reserve, Spring Valley Road, Flowerdale

'Pans on Fire'

In the wake of the Black Saturday Bushfires the flames of creativity will be officially lit today by the Governor of Victoria, Professor David de Kretser AC, and the Minister for the Arts the Hon Peter Batchelor, in the temporary village at the small township of Flowerdale to launch "Illuminated by Fire."

The two year program by Regional Arts Victoria will see artists working in residence with 11 communities across the State to create a local presentation around the themes of fire and resilience.

A special ceremony will be held today when the Governor will light a small symbolic fire pot which will then be used to light the eleven specially designed fire drums that represent the eleven communities across Victoria who will be involved in the project.

The steel band "Pans on Fire" composed of over 20 members from the Marysville and Triangle community, with ages ranging from 7 to 70 years, many of who had never played music before (formed after the fire) and now with a repertoire of African, Caribbean, Latin, and Jazz and European folk music will perform at the ceremony.

"This is a brave project about a difficult subject - how we can live sustainably in the most bush-fire prone region of the world," the project's Artistic Director, Donna Jackson said.

"Eleven regionally-based artists will work with their communities to create a unique and astonishing piece of art about our fascination with fire, our fear and our dependence on it for our survival."

Media Enquiries:
Ron Smith Corporate Media Communications Mobile: 0417 329 201

 

Regional Victorian Communities Fight Fire with Art

 

Professor David de Kretser AC, Governor of Victoria, will officially launch Regional Arts Victoria's major new initiative Illuminated by Fire at a special event to be held at the Temporary Village in Flowerdale on Saturday 29 May at 12.30pm. This two year program will see artists working in residence with 11 communities across the State to create a local presentation around the themes of fire and resilience.

Also in attendance at the launch will be the Honourable Peter Batchelor MP, Minister for the Arts, Ben Hardman MP, Member for Seymour and Parliamentary Secretary for Bushfire Recovery, and Victoria's Emergency Services Commissioner, Bruce Esplin.

The project's Artistic Director, Donna Jackson said she is thrilled at the response the project has had to date. "This is a brave project about a difficult subject - how we can live sustainably in the most bush-fire prone region of the world," she said. "Eleven regionally-based artists will work with their communities to create a unique and astonishing piece of art about our fascination with fire, our fear and our dependence on it for our survival."

"It's great to be able to launch this project in Flowerdale," she added. "Local artist Sharon Collins plans to work with a broad cross-section of local residents to create a multi-media projection that explores the many stages of fire and recovery." Members of the Flowerdale CFA Brigade are collaborating with Donna on a special fire ceremony that will take place on the day.

The launch will feature the first of several short films being made as part of the project by well-known social historian Malcolm McKinnon. Donna will also present an overview of all eleven projects. Artists will work with their communities from June to September this year towards a local performance, presentation or exhibition over the months of September and October. Local workshops will be delivered in partnership with the Neighbourhood House and Learning Centre network.

Local presentations in 2010 will be scheduled over September and October to allow Melbourne audiences to attend as many as possible. In 2011, artists will be teamed with a mentor to further develop the work which will then be brought to Melbourne for a multi-media site-specific installation at Fed Square later in the year.

"Illuminated by Fire is an inspired collaboration between communities and artists creating culturally and socially vibrant futures following the bushfires," said Frank Panucci, Director of Community Partnerships at the Australia Council for the Arts. "Artists and communities working together is the driving force behind the Commonwealth Government's new funds to the Australia Council for the Creative Communities Partnerships Initiative. Community arts and cultural development provide a unique way for communities to explore and determine a future based on well being and sustainability."

Media Enquiries:
Joe Toohey, (03) 9644 1812 Mobile: 0407 511 438
Ron Smith, Corporate Media Communications Mobile: 0417 329 201

Artists working in residence with 11 communities across the State

In Portland artist Carmel Wallace will work with the community to build a metal/wood sculpture in the form of a ship's hull (with reference to the emigrant ship The New Zealander, which was burnt in Portland Harbour in 1853). This will be filled with large sculptures of endangered orchids which depend on fire for survival. The sculpture will be towed to the site of the wreck of The New Zealander - a community performance will take place whilst it burns.

In Kyneton, artist Kathryn Portelli will work with the community to design and create personalised funerary urns, which will be exhibited alongside seven illuminated sculptures. In 2009, Kathryn completed the AFTER Black Saturday Memorial in Kyneton, an 11 metre mural which included donated material from fire affected residents.

Artists Ken Evans (founder of Handspan Theatre) and Rebecca Russell will work with the Creswick community to create an outdoor theatre piece featuring smoke, fire and shadows. The performance will explore the adaptive behaviours of plants, animals and humans in relation to fire.

Indigenous dancer Jacob Boehme and ritual performance artist Margie Mackay will work with Elder Uncle Bruce Baxter and the Swan Hill community using dance, storytelling and ceremony to explore stories of Indigenous fire practices towards a public site-specific performance outcome. Jacob will lead participants through 'boot camps', practising traditional dance and developing contemporary dance and Margie will lead workshops in the use of fire in design, performance and ceremony.

In communities around St Andrews and Kinglake, artist Leanne Mooney will work with the community to create Memory Box, which will honour precious objects rescued from the fires, the stories behind them, and the renewal that follows.

In Ballarat, under the direction of Tracy Bourne, a Wathaurong storyteller will lead the audience to the edge of Lake Wendouree at dusk. A 'Fire Choir' will sing as the fire from January 2009 is re-ignited on the lake. We are reminded of our ancient, and recent past as we imagine the future of this place.

Maxine Salvatore will work with the Briagolong community in East Gippsland, including members of the local Country Fire Authority, to create a installation using light, text and video at Blue Pool on the Freestone Creek.

Also in East Gippsland, renowned installation artist Catherine Larkins will work with the Gunai/Kurnai and broader community of Lakes Entrance to create a relocatable fire-place made out of briquettes. Briquettes are moulded blocks of compacted, combustible matter from ancient forests. A couch, TV, dog and pseudo electric log fire will complement the chimney - ancient resources supporting our modern needs.

Artist Trevor Flinn will work with the Dunkeld community in the South-West to create a two channel video work that showcases the art of woodcutting/splitting and the use of fire by local cooks to create a favourite dish using many different methods.

In Maldon, photographer Deanna Neville will create large photographic portraits of local fire fighters that will feature fire associated reflections written in fluoro. The giant banners will be displayed hanging from fire trucks and illuminated by their flashing lights.

The Flowerdale community has adopted as its symbol of its renewal, the image of a denuded tree with a few small green leaves returning. Eighty local residents have now had this tattooed on their bodies. Artist Sharon Collins will replicate a large version of this tree which will act as a backdrop for a multi-media projection that explores the many stages of fire and recovery.

Media Enquiries:
Ron Smith Corporate Media Communications Mobile: 0417 329 201