The Park Lands Project
Tuthangga, Carriageway Park, Sunday 16th May 2021
A one-day festival where art, music and citizen science meets nature.
The Park Lands
are the crown
on Adelaide’s noisy, pointy and sometimes chaotic head. The jewels on the crown are colourful - like it’s history, they sparkle - like the eyes of possums at night, they buzz - like the natives bees in their hotels, they are mysterious - like what the heck are caterpillars doing in ant nests in Pakapakanthi/ Victoria Park?
The more you learn about this crown of jewels, the more you realise how little you know. There are layers of history and stories that are waiting to reveal themselves as you deepen your connection to this land.
‘Grassy Shadows’ an interactive exploration of grasses by Laura Wills
Until a few years ago, I took the Park Lands for granted
- assuming they would always be there and cared for. But as the saying goes “you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone” and threats to our open spaces are forever lurking.
So with my environmental educator hat on, I began to organise events to encourage more people to connect to the Park Lands on a deeper level.
The Park Lands Project grew from this, working with an amazing team - Jill Woodlands (Nature Conservation Council of SA and Nature Festival), Paul Gazzola from OSCA (Open Space Contemporary Arts) and Natasha Davis (Trees for Life). With funding from The Commonwealth Department of Industry, Innovation and Science; The City of Adelaide and Inspiring South Australia.
Over 700 people attended the event taking part in environmentally focussed workshops and events alongside the commissioned multi-media artworks.
Photos by: Morgan Sette
Five exceptional artists:
Rosina Possingham, Laura Wills, Louise Flaherty, Belinda Gehlert and Tanya Voges worked on this project with school students and local community.
Their work was hung, performed and discussed in amongst the trees of Park 17.
We also got to find out what the caterpillars are doing in the ant nests! (see ‘Herding Caterpillars’)
Artwork inspired by the Bush for Life Site in Park 6 by Rosina Possingham and Year 5 students from Wilderness School
Lisa Savchuk teaching how to make string with natural fibre
Gerry Butler interviews Laura Wills about her artwork
Laura Wills 'Teaming' artworks. Made in collaboration with Gilles Street Primary School students
Mandala around the South Australian Forest League Centenary tree. Jacqui Hunter and Lisa Savchuk
Jenny Deans and Rosina Possingham artist in conversation
Gerry Butler's butterfly walk
Welcome to County by Michael Kumatpi Marrutya O'Brien
Tanya Voges dances the artwork with Belinda Gehlert on violin
Beautiful music by Naomi Keyte
"Don't cut down the trees" - Zakki's song with Jen Lush, Zakki and friend
Hugh Kneebone shares stories about gum trees
Jason Tyndall from Nature Play SA
Randall Bates from Trees For Life
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Stringing a yarn
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earth art
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Cultural burn site
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