Fivebough field trip

Parkview Public School's third grade students were given a guided tour of Fivebough Wetland on 20 August to learn about the important role of this ecosystem, which attracts migratory birds from as far away as the northern hemisphere

In the much-anticipated follow-up to the Beak Technique workshop at the School in July, that illustrated the relationship between habitat and bird diet.

"This excursion highlighted the important role the landscape plays and how it has developed over hundreds of millions of years," said Red Earth Ecology's Jo Roberts.

Activities included identifying birds and beaks using binoculars, map-making, hearing about the history of the Wetlands and seeing small invertebrates in water samples using magnifying glasses.

"We're grateful to the Murrumbidgee Field Naturalists for the loan of binoculars," said Ms Roberts. "Their assistance was also appreciated in creating the educational resources shared with students."

The excursion also included walking along the Wiradjuri Loop at Leeton's Fivebough Wetlands that demonstrates First Nations totems, fish traps and other cultural practices.

Enthusiasm among the students was clearly evident, as they were keen to share their observations and detailed experiences with local flora and fauna.

"One highlight was watching a swamp hen through the binoculars as it caught and ate a fish," said Ms Roberts, who also noted the popularity of looking at the magnified water 'bugs', which was an eye-opening insight into the microscopic world that supports the wetland food chain.

Worksheets developed by Red Earth Ecology for the project were supported with a Country Art Support Program grant administered by Western Riverina Arts and Create NSW through funding from the NSW Government.

 

Little things

Red Earth Ecology are planning an excursion to Fivebough Wetland

Today Jo and I made this little guide to waterbird diets and it's a zine, so it can be folded up to fit into little pockets.

Night At The Museum

Griffith Pioneer Park Museum's first night time event in living memory was an explosion of colour

Projection artists worked alongside a cohort of local students to develop the Night At The Museum event with Riverina-based arts organisation Red Earth Ecology and visitors the Bioluminescence Project. 

The Museum's historic and replica buildings were bathed in large-scale animations with a variety of styles and materials. 

Locals Andrew Keith and Bernard Gray were joined by regional artists Jason Richardson and Greg Pritchard. 

Scott Baker returned to Griffith to run workshops in video projection-mapping and digital file manipulation. 

The group of eight also learned skills in design and event management for the public outcome on Saturday night. 

An audience of over 160 people from all ages attended and were able to appreciate the diversity of projection art techniques. 

Mr Gray was demonstrating live-coding, while Dr Pritchard showed material from his project recording the Murrumbidgee River. 

"It was beautiful to see Greg brought the River to the old Baptist Church building," said Jason Richardson, event coordinator and Museum Curator. 

"Scott and I were also happy to be joined by Andrew Keith, who attended the first projection-mapping workshop that we ran in Griffith back in 2016." 

The opportunities for night time events at the Museum offers a range of possibilities at a venue traditionally used during the day. 

"The buildings provide a wonderful environment and we'd love to see Griffith continue to host showcases for projection art in the region," said Mr Richardson.

Night At The Museum was supported by Griffith Pioneer Park Museum, Red Earth Ecology, Western Riverina Arts and Create NSW through funding from the NSW Government.

Leeton Memories concludes

The final instalment in Red Earth Ecology's Leeton Memories project brings together two prominent local women

Cynthia Arel has interpreted the recollections of Julie Maytom in a window display that captures elements from her childhood in Stanbridge and Parkview, as well as her passion for Fivebough Wetlands.

"My interests now include designing for theatre so I'm treating the display as a small set," said Mrs Arel.

"A lot of what I've included are scenes from nature and the social aspects that unite people.

"I made notes and focused on her early childhood, particularly the red dirt and when she talked about Parkview, like climbing trees in the scrubby setting prior to the School being built."

Viewers will be able to listen to Julie's memories via audio-streaming linked in the QR code shown in the window of the Leeton Community Op Shop.

"I thought I'd be working on it earlier this year, but I'm glad this exhibition came after a history unit that I recently completed.

"Memory is not exactly how it happened, so I'm layering old and new. I find it interesting to think how memory works, the way things that mightn't have been a great experience become lessons of resilience over time.

"Originally my intention was to use chronological layers, but that's not how memory works. Every time you revisit that memory, it changes a bit."

The interview with Julie was conducted by Kathy Tenison of Storymaster Audio and collected details from throughout her life, including the Carlton Cafe that was next door to the current display and significant as the location where she met Paul Maytom.

The Leeton Memories project was developed by Red Earth Ecology as a way of bringing colour to windows on the main street and to prompt discussion of change.

"We're stoked that Cynthia joined in and are very grateful to the team at the Op Shop for the chance to use their location and its visibility within town," said Jason Richardson.

"This project has been a wonderful way to get to know people, as well as share some history of the region.

There's been a lot of support but I am particularly grateful for our host, the Leeton Community Op Shop, and great response from the community too."

One surprise was learning that the artist and subject already have a connection.

"Julie and I are actually related," revealed Mrs Arel. "Her dad and my grandmother were cousins and she went to school with my aunty, so the places she talks about are those I've heard about or visited.

The reframing of the familiar in new ways has always been central to the appeal of looking at art, which can also build empathy by letting viewers see through the eyes of another.

"It's an opportunity to think about things from a different angle and to view things from a perspective other than my own, " agreed Mrs Arel.

The project is also a platform to demonstrate a spectrum of creative activity in the Shire.

"It's important to present the variety of art as a way of showing what can be done, especially for younger people. People will say what they like or not, but it's helpful to broaden their view."

Leeton Memories is supported by Western Riverina Arts and Create NSW through funding from the NSW Government. 

Red Earth Ecology · Julie Maytom's Leeton Memories

Artists wanted

Red Earth Ecology is looking to commission four local artists for the "Leeton Memories" project, which will transform reminisces of older residents into shop front displays

"Our aim is to work with people to develop a series of displays based on interviews about observations of environmental change," says project coordinator Jason Richardson.

"We have a small budget to cover materials and contribute something toward the time of the four contributors."

Edited extracts from recorded interviews with longtime residents will prompt and inform a series of shop front installations and be linked to these displays using QR codes.

"The idea is that you'll be able to hear a recorded commentary from older residents and that will inform the experience for viewers seeing the artworks," says Jason.

"We hope people will think broadly about what materials can go into making a display and the budget should help to realise their ideas."

The Leeton Memories project will raise the profile of local art and also aims to help the artists involved to develop their own projects.

Each display will be promoted with a profile of the contributors and discussion about the themes raised in the interview.

"We will also share our CASP application for this project with the artists, so they can get an understanding of what goes into a successful funding proposal."

Afterwards Red Earth Ecology will consider assisting with grant applications from the artists for the development of future projects in our region where they relate to the aims of that organisation.

"Red Earth Ecology was incorporated to enable projects that link people to the landscape, whether through plant regeneration activities or cultural practices like making artworks," says Jason.

"There's also a need for pathways in the Riverina so artists can develop local projects and we're willing to provide guidance."

"We want this Leeton Memories project to be the start of something that will create new memories in Leeton for years to come."

Leeton Memories is supported by Western Riverina Arts and Create NSW through funding from the NSW Government. 

Addressing Field Naturalists

Jo and I spoke with the Murrumbidgee Field Naturalists about the development of Red Earth Ecology

500 million years in the making

Red Earth Ecology video

My partner Jo runs and ecology walk at Burning Seed, which is the NSW regional Burning Man event.

This year we've decided to create a series of videos that visit the site through different seasons.

Matong Park after Red Earth Ecology

One year on from Red Earth Ecology’s urban regeneration weekend in Matong village and the park is thriving

In June 2019 Burners from Matong, the Riverina and interstate came together to revegetate private and public spaces using plants endemic to the area.

Here are recent images of the garden at Matong Park, which looks fantastic.

Thanks to the locals who watered and weeded to ensure the seedlings survived their first tough summer with very little loss of life.

The watering system installed by Coolamon Shire Council will benefit the area.

While Red Earth Ecology has had to postpone all activities for 2020, we will be back planting together in 2021.

GEO//GRAPHOLOGY

One of the highlights of Burning Seed this year was seeing Red Earth Ecology establish itself on the paddock

Jo’s been developing this project for years, undertaking activities around Matong and introducing Burners to the local ecology.

I’ve seen the crowds for her bush walks grow and in that time she’s been joined by a number of people with expertise — particularly Brian Jones, Ash Blackwell, Diego Bonetto and Peter Ingram.

There’s a good level of interest from visitors wanting to know more about the environment in Matong State Forest and many years have seen additional walks added to the program.

This year we were awed to see around 60 people show up for the walk.

It was also exciting to see Jo’s art project start to take shape this year, after she struggled last year before being taken off site in an ambulance.

GEO//GRAPHOLOGY uses the Cut-up Technique to reveal hidden meaning from local histories and, as someone who has worked as a curator at a local museum, I feel there is a need for a fresh perspective in this area.

Orwell famously wrote that “history is written by the winners” and it’s increasingly clear to me that reconciliation in Australia will require a truth-telling, much like the hearings that took place in post-apartheid South Africa.

It’s desperately overdue as more Australians identify as Aboriginal.

Jo has been using the Cut-up Technique in local exhibitions for a number of years and it suits her conceptual approach to art-making.

It’s a great way to review and reinterpret historical narratives, hopefully prompting a reevaluation of meanings drawn from records — which at times used euphemisms to hide the extent of the Frontier Wars in the Riverina.

That’s a small part of a much bigger picture but an important one given the Wiradjuri drove almost all the Europeans out of the area west of Ganmain in the mid 19th Century.

Jo's activity of selecting fragments from histories and pasting them together is a social one.

Really enjoyed being part of the conversations and making art with friends.

Looking forward to seeing Red Earth Ecology continue to develop on and off the paddock.

Planting natives in Matong

Matong was the site of a working-bee on the June long weekend, as local residents were joined by visitors to plant around 1200 native seedlings

Around two dozen people worked to develop the landscape at the park in town and surrounding properties, with a number travelling from Melbourne to lend a hand.

The initiative was a partnership between the Matong Community Group and Red Earth Ecology that was assisted by Coolamon Shire Council.

"This was the fifth event we've held in the Matong area since 2014," said Jo Roberts of Red Earth Ecology.

"Our landcare group started at Burning Seed, where I've run tours in the State Forest to help visitors recognise features in the local environment."

"Locals had knowledge to share, particularly the late Brian Jones, and we've revegetated paddocks, as well as undertaking weed removal at the Burning Seed site."

Sonya Spencer and Dave Currie's property has gained a number of treelots in previous years and Ms Roberts worked with them to coordinate the recent plantings.

"In recent years I've met a number of residents in Matong," said Jo Roberts.

"I was able to meet with them at their homes and identify native plants for their gardens and properties."

Locals were pleased to receive the plants from Red Earth Ecology.

"The enthusiasm of the community was demonstrated in their hard work and it will be exciting for visitors to see when they return for Burning Seed in spring," said Ms Roberts.

It was the first of a number of urban revegetation activities planned by the Matong Community Group and Red Earth Ecology.

Photos by Mal Evans and Sonya Spencer

Burning Seed 2018

Once again Burning Seed was a wonderful experience shared with many friends

This year I didn't make many plans aside from supporting my partner, who'd committed to a few projects.

As a result I got to have a small part in the Forest Rising effigy led by Flamewriter Glenn Todd.

My role involved collecting soil and seedlings to make a garden at the base of this sculpture.

My partner Jo, through her role with Red Earth Ecology, worked on the murals that showed Wiradjuri seasons and fire management as well as local flora and fauna.

It looked incredible when the "puppet effect" was launched during the fire, see video below.

View this post on Instagram

Friday night's Burn was very magical indeed, thanks for capturing this while I was too busy being amazed and cheering the rising Phoenix #Repost @arlsd with @get_repost ・・・ This Phoenix rising from the art burn was an incredible moment from Burning Seed. The beauty and the heat encompassed me, and I finally began to feel the strength to rebuild myself #burningseed2018 #artburnburningseed #momentofstrength #icandothis #funemploymentday100

A post shared by Lola Levenstein (@lolaleve) on Oct 2, 2018 at 2:55pm PDT