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Brunswick artist to host rain dance
SANDRA Tobias has a vision to bring together the people of Moreland.
Will you be taking part in the rain dance? Tell us below.
The Brunswick artist has developed a community arts project she hopes will unite the diverse population.
Unfortunately for Tobias, her event is called “rain dance”, which is probably the last thing people feel like doing after the past month.
When Tobias created this project, Victoria was in a drought.
She considered changing the name to “stop the rain dance” or “not the rain dance” but has decided to stay true to her original vision.
“We will use the day to express our solidarity towards these people who have been affected by floods,” she said.
“We all know someone who has been affected.”
Tobias wants to get as many people involved in the public dance as possible, and is aiming for between 100 and 200 participants.
The dance will take place on Saturday, February 26, at Bridges Reserve, as part of the Music for the People festival.
For more information click here
Tobias has previously created art for alternative spaces; Rotundas, shop windows, letterboxes at Federation Square and more.
In 2011‘Rain dance’ Tobias managed a participatory arts project that involved diverse community groups of Moreland. They came together to participate in raindance workshops and then for the final day participated as part of the Brunswick Music Festival.
In this installation Tobias plays with the same notion of community and connectivity and aims to represents an interaction between local community members in the pursuit of essential needs, ie., water and connectivity.
Tobias’ says ‘I’d like people to go away from this installation and reflect on the value of connection and ‘the dance of life’ a kind of spiritual secularism. A church (in the past) was a place whereby community came together to listen to stories and feel a spiritual connection.
Be it a temple, mosque, synagogue, or corroberee. The church is the community and offers a sense of belonging.
Although technology and social media are supposed to create a greater connectivity people still feel disconnected from community.
Human beings are social beings and need a physical sense of belonging and face to face connectivity!
Dates: Thursday, 4 October to Sunday, 7 October 2012
Location: Moreland Baptist Church, 384 Moreland Road, Brunswick West
Cost: Free
For further information please visit http://www.melbournefringe.com.au/fringe-festival/show/the-dance-of-life
Federation Square presents Posted – It’s what was written! a unique interactive art installation by Sandra Tobias based on the fading art form of the letter – giving Melburnians an opportunity to communicate – the old fashioned way!
The latest instalment in Fed Square’s on-going public art program OCCUPY: Art in Strange Places, Posted – It’s what was written! incorporates a collection of 50 letterboxes created from found and recycled material.
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Fed Square Chief Executive Officer, Kate Brennan, said, “The OCCUPY program has recently presented works by emerging artist, Clare McCracken including Urban Gifts –a series of recycled metcards and Throne – toilet cubicles decorated in the style of prerevolutionary France. As a key component of Fed Square’s Creative Program, OCCUPY: Art in Strange Places, enables unique site specific installations, sculpture, screen and performative works, as part of our commitment to the artistic community and artistic expression.”
As communication is taken over by technology – the internet, email, mobile phones, MSN, SMS – Sandra Tobias set out to revive the symbolism of the letter and letterbox.
“As letter writing borders on extinction, I wanted to record the spirit of the letterbox and asked people to reflect upon their own personal stories,” said Sandra Tobias.
“Found at the communication crossroad of lonely dirt stretches and dusty tracks, rural letterboxes are pointers to our past. Structures of communication relied upon for news, deliveries, pick-ups, sometimes providing the only real connection to the outside world.”
Posted, it’s what was written! incorporates the many innovative designs of remote and rural letterboxes, symbols of the difference between city streets and country landscapes.
Using recycled materials from tips, rubbish days and cast-offs, Tobias has reshaped and reformed discarded objects to create original and exquisite pieces of art.
“In the past people made do with what they had, if a letterbox was needed, people would use whatever was lying around to provide a venue for the written form,” reflects Tobias.
From old metal milk drums to paint tins and gas bottles, Posted- It’s what was written! showcases a unique array of materials given new life to accommodate the written word.
Visitors are encouraged to participate in the installation, to sit at the writing desk, write a postcard to a loved one and post it in the Australia Post post-box provided.
The installation also incorporates a three minute film playing on the ‘Big Screen’ at Fed Square of Sandra Tobias’ interviews with rural families and their letterboxes.
Posted – It’s what was written!
Dates: Thursday, 6 August to Thursday, 27 August 2009
Location: Upper Square, Federation Square
Cost: Free
For further information please visit www.fedsquare.com
