southern Wheatbelt program, narrogin
strong culture, strong community
In 2010, the CAN WA Narrogin office officially launched the Strong Culture, Strong Community program - an Indigenous Arts and Cultural Development Program focusing on the Southern Wheatbelt towns of Brookton, Narrogin, Pingelly and Wagin (also known as the Southern Wheatbelt).
Yarns of the heart: wa museum exhibition
Noongar dolls from the Southern Wheatbelt
Over seventy exquisite handmade dolls that represent the lives and stories of their Noongar creators.
When: 16 September 2011 - 31 January 2012
Where: Mezzanine Gallery, Western Australian Museum - Perth, Perth Cultural Centre
Yarns of the Heart is an exhibition showcasing the dolls created by the Noongar community of the Southern Wheatbelt, made during workshops between 1994 and 2011.
Image credits I A selection of Noongar dolls. Photos by Bo Wong.
museum.wa.gov.au
Animated Storytelling workshops
CAN WA ran a week of animation workshops during the WA Museum’s October 2011 school holiday program. Facilitated by photographer Luke Thompson, and using equipment provided by Xcite Logic, the workshops invited young people to create their own animations of the dolls on the iPad programs ‘Puppet Pals’. Almost 80 animations were created, each with their own unique story. Check out all of the wonderful animations created on Vimeo.
the story of yarns of the heart: doll making workshops
CAN WA revived the original doll making project through the three-year Strong Culture, Strong Community program, almost twenty years after it began. Through the first project in 1994, facilitated by Nalda Searles and Pantjiti Mary McLean, the Narrogin community created their first Noongar dolls.
In 2010, Nalda Searles and Cecile Williams were invited back to Narrogin, and later Pingelly, to bring the skills to a new generation of Noongar women, boys and girls. Through this exhibition and accompanying documentary, you will follow the stories of the doll makers and their unique dolls, which encapsulate their connection to family, culture and community.
‘I always saw the potential of these dolls to be little storytellers – little pictorial storytellers. Because they’ve got so much character attached to them.’ Nalda Searles, artist facilitator
abc radio national interview
Listen to dollmakers Geri Hayden and Nikki Littlecott talk to Bridget Boson from ABC Radio National about the project: http://www.abc.net.au/local/audio/2011/08/31/3306614.htm
RTR FM interview
Take a listen to the RTR FM Morning Magazine interview where CAN WA's Jason Cleary and Geri Hayden are interviewed by Peter Barr on Friday 30th September, 2011: http://www.rtrfm.com.au/shows/morningmag
Image credits I Doll makers Senema Kickett and Cherie Abednego making their dolls in the 2011 workshops.
Photo by Bo Wong.
Image credits I Artist facilitators Cecile Williams and Nalda Searles depicting the joy of creating dolls; photo by Nicola Davison.
voices of the wheatbelt: wheat beats
The latest phase in an exciting three - year community arts project, Voices of the Wheatbelt: Wheat Beats enabled young people aged 11-15 from schools and communities in Kellerberrin, Quairading, Brookton and Narrogin to use art as a means to express what is important to them.
Through a series of workshops run between July 2010 and June 2011, the students learnt the history and skills of Australian hip hop, traditional Aboriginal and contemporary dance, photography, music and digital media.
The workshops were facilitated by Scott Griffiths (AKA Optamus) from acclaimed local hip hop act Downsyde, filmmaker Mat de Koning, Aboriginal dancer Olman Walley, hip hop choreographer Nelle Hokianga and acting coach Eve Kermack, all well-known and successful artists in their fields.
On the night of Friday 17th June the Fremantle FTI Cinema was filled with an audience treated to an exclusive screening of the CAN WA Voices of the Wheatbelt: Wheat Beats hip hop clips and a behind the scenes documentary.
Image credits I Pictured left: Wheat Beat stars Karlee Barr, Raymond and Juwan Storey in Panel Beat at the Perth launch. Pictured right: Hip hop dance facilitator Nelle Hokianga and CAN WA project facilitator at the Perth launch.
The Narrogin Skate Park was also rocking on Friday 3 June, with the launch of CAN WA’s Voices of the Wheatbelt: Wheat Beats. The hip hop tracks created by young people in the Wheatbelt were showcased with a premiere screening of the Wheat Beats music video clips and the behind the scenes documentary at the launch.
Over two hundred people rocked to live performances from Wheat Beat MC’s, a DJ mash set featuring local dance crew Part Time Royalz, and a special performance by hip hop act Optamus! The attendees also had the opportunity to produce stencil works with stencil artist Lady Bna-nas with her interactive art stall, and saw talented BMX and skate demonstrations.
Image credits I Pictured left: Marshall Nelson and Daniel Watkins performing an original song with Scott Griffiths (Optamus) at the Narrogin launch. Pictured right: New Balance perform their Wheat Beats song ‘Tru Dat’ with Optamus Raymond Storey, Juwan Storey, Hope Turvey, Megan Turvey, Chiara Bolton, Shinea Bruckner. Photos by Matthew Scurfield.
This project was funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA).
Narrogin Creek Revitalisation Project
On Friday June 3 2011, along with launching Voices of the Wheatbelt: Wheat Beats (see above), CAN WA was also able to showcase the completed Poles sculptures located on Gnarojin Creek, in Narrogin.
The hard work of the NOW Green participants and the program leaders has helped reinvigorate the poles, which were originally constructed in 1993/4.
Clearing the area, creating a new footpath and seating, and a fresh coat of paint and design on the poles has given the creek a new lease of life. Each NOW Green participant had a pole to themselves to design, with some vibrant results.
The Poles project was the result of a partnership between CAN WA and PEEDAC/NOW Green, and provides local indigenous and non-indigenous young people with accreditations in Conservation and Land Management.
Image credits | Top: NOW Green participants reinvigorating the Gnarojin Creek. Photos by NOW Green. Below: The completed poles along Gnarojin Creek, in Narrogin. Photos by Michelle White and Nicola Davison
can wa at the narrogin 'unity in the community' day
On Friday, 3 December 2010, school children, teachers and community members participated in the Town of Narrogin's 'Unity in the Community' day. The day was held in part of the town's move towards reconcilation and community togetherness with an awareness of Noongar history, culture and heritage.
Image credits | Peace to All banner at Unity in the Community | CAN WA
CAN WA had a stall open on the day, and our staff even met the wonderful Ernie Dingo.
Image credits | Sonia, Geri and Ernie at the CAN WA stall | (L-R T-B) - Michelle, Ernie, Sonia and Geri at Unity in the Community | CAN WA
rainbow serpent public art piece
On Friday 26 November sculpture artist Jahne Rees, local Narrogin artist and CAN WA Aboriginal Arts and Culture Trainee Ross Storey and local community members, completed the finishing touches on the Rainbow Serpent public art sculpture along the Gnarojin Creek.
Image credit | Rainbow Serpent public art piece in progress | CAN WA
Undertaken on-site so community members could wander past and join in, the sculpture is a 3m tall concrete artwork representing the Rainbow Serpent. The outer shape of the sculpture is an abstract form, reminiscient of such things as a Noongar shield, a seed pod, or a flame. Each of the three openings in the side of the sculpture are decorated with colourful mosaic tiles, with an outer surface of an earthy colour, highlighting local aggregates, particularly pea gravel.
Image credit | Rainbow Serpent public art piece completed | CAN WA
The public art project occurred as part of CAN WA’s Strong Cultures, Strong Communities project, and was undertaken in order to highlight the significance of Gnarojin Creek within the local Aboriginal community.
'noongar seasons' sculptured seats at gnarojin park
Workshops ran through May and June 2010 to create beautiful sculptured seats for the Aboriginal Walk trail at Gnarojin Park in the centre of Narrogin. Artists Jahne Rees and Toogarr Morrison worked with members of the Narrogin community to create an Aboriginal design of the six Aboriginal seasons of the year: Bunuru (February/March), Djeran (April/May), Makuru (June/July), Djilba (August/September), Kambarang (October/November) and Birak (December/January).
Image credit | Process creating the Gnarojin sculptured seats | CAN WA
The participants made the seats from scratch - mixing and pouring the cement and designing and creating the images depicting Aboriginal heritage. Artist Jahne Rees also mentored Ross Storey, CAN WA's Aboriginal Arts and Cultural Development Trainee in the public art process.
Image credit | Completed Gnarojin seats | CAN WA
launch of the southern wheatbelt program
CAN WA celebrated the launch of the Southern Wheatbelt program, Strong Culture, Strong Communities with a community performance in the centre of Narrogin and the launch of the second phase of the Voices of the Wheatbelt in the Southern Wheatbelt.
Narrogin stories community performance
At the heart of the launch, a collective community performance entitled Narrogin Stories highlighted the community's collective struggles and their hopes and aspirations for the future.
Image credit | Mary G performs | Bo Wong
The performance was directed by Catherine Simmonds from Victoria's Brunswick Women's Theatre. The performance featured visual images and voices from the Narrogin community.
Image credit | traditional dance performance, and Mary G | Bo Wong
The night also featured performances of traditional dance from Olman and John Walley, and hip hop collective New Balance - all presented by our hilarious host, Mary G (Mark Bin Bakar).
Image credit | lanterns from the Narrogin Stories launch; Pilar Kasat, Mary G and Geri Hayden | Bo Wong
Click here to read the Media Release for the launch.