Art + Ecology + Games + Farming + Culture + Country
The whole group using dyed silk flags to map out water movement, biodiversity hot spots and heat maps on the slope overlooking the Mulloon Home Farm valley.
A remarkable day was had in early November when nine artists, performers and game designers joined 20 members of the Mulloon team for a Creative Residency. The day involved sampling many creative approaches to exchanging knowledge, and embracing oral, visual and tactile kinds of communication. We asked:
How can we share knowledge in ways that appeal to diverse learners, and can be activated out in the field?
How can we tune into the ‘pattern language’ of landscape at different scales?
How can we quickly gain a holistic view of a problem we want to solve?
How can we transform social-ecological systems so they can support future life?
The ‘artist-facilitators’ each brought something to help explore these questions: clay modelling of hydrology, climate science games, blanket-based social sculpture, Landscape Function Analysis sketching, a magnetised felt Landscape Kit, a Soil system roleplay, Ceremony, a flag-based land art installation and more.
They day began with a climate science game led by Ang, Nathan and Julia from Boho Interactive with teams nutting out risk strategies to save their towns.
Our guests included:
Lana Nguyen, presenting on A Climate For Art (ACFA) and several agri-culture and art/land regeneration projects
Lucas Ihlein & Kim Williams of Kandos School of Cultural Adaptation (KSCA) & Pootopia, who presented their ingenious humanure solution: The Turdis
Erika Watson of KSCA, who’s hand-sewn woolen blankets moved our bodies into more intimate relation with the earth, pasture and each other.
Ang Collins, Nathan Harris and Julia Johnson, deft game makers from Boho Interactive who brought climate science, systems and banter together with the lightest touch.
David Hardwick from Soil Land Food, who’s participatory ‘Day in the Life of Soil’ revealing intricate interconnections between plants, micro-organisms and water.
Peter Swain, Dabee Wiradjuri Custodian and KSCA member who conducted a moving Water Ceremony on Mulloon Creek.
Mulloon CEO Carolyn Hall shared many of her learnings from her recent training trip in Indonesia.
And Dr Laura Fisher, Creative Adaptation Partnerships of Mulloon, also KSCA, who invited the group to install dyed silk flags to tune into the invisible flows of water, energy and nutrients in the landscape.
Everyone was energised and inspired by the day, which will hopefully be the beginning of many collaborations and projects. We were also able to welcome new staff members Kate, Sophie, Mitch, Sharni and Brooke – very exciting! Thank you to everyone who contributed!
Erika’s upcycled woollen blankets gave everyone valuable time to take a quiet moment, listen within, tune in to Mother Nature and have quiet conversations about the micro and macro landscape around them.
We all stood and studied the same landscape, and came up with so many different variations in charcoal drawings!
Lana sharing a powerful story of how A Climate for Art is responding to the climate crisis through community action.
David presenting the participatory ‘Day in the Life of Soil’.
A fascinating and humorous presentation by Lucas and Kim about their successful Pootopia humanure Turdis loo which is gaining traction at festivals.
A communal lunch with delicious produce from everyone being enjoyed by the lake.
Clay landscapes were built by teams and now come together to incorporate art, science and agricultural systems.
A quiet moment between good friends.
Hands on in the water in preparation for Peter’s wonderful Water Ceremony which closed out the day.
Charcoal micro landscape drawings from the hill session now hanging in the Barn.