Reclaim The Void: Weaving Country Whole 

Community Weaving Workshop

Come Along & Weave a Rug for the Reclaim the Void project

Facilitated by Fiona from @LifeWalker

Reclaim the Void is a bold cross-cultural project with a vision to 'seal' a mining pit in the northern Goldfields of WA, with a huge dot artwork, made up of thousands of handmade circular rag-rugs woven from discarded fabric.

Image Credit: Karen Hopkins (18th Feb @26 Advantage)

Workshop Includes:

• Weaving, Connecting and Contributing to this Community Space.
  
• Learning how to weave a spoke based woven rug. 
• Learning how to Set up a Spoke Based Loom. 
• Facilitator Support throughout the day.
• Cups of Tea and biscuits on tap.

• BYO keep cup so you can buy a lovely coffee from the cafe on site.
• BYO lunch (or grab something from Flavours of Syria, the cafe nestled in the laneway behind Space2b, bringing you the flavours from the Middle East,)
  
• There is a small $20 charge which comprises: $10 to cover postage & fees and $10 donation to Space2b for use of their lovely space.
• All welcome. Most suitable for Adults & Keen Children (approx. 10yo+)

Pictured: Karen Hopkins Art (Artist - Earth & Sky Stories Exhibition)

More About Reclaim the Void:

We're offering this Community Workshop here in Naarm, Melbourne, gathering to weave a story of our collective love, respect, and wish to care for country.

Reclaim the Void is a conversation about caring for country and its custodians, and it invites everyone to be part of that through small-scale acts that collectively make something very special.

The elders share their wisdom with us in reminding us that: "when we wound country, we wound ourselves, and end up with a scarred physical and cultural landscape. This project carries the desire for healing country, healing community, and healing ourselves. It is about acknowledging the hurt and contributing to restoration. It offers people the chance to learn about country and culture."

For us here in Melbourne, Naarm, we can be part of this small act and be part of healing the fractures in our own community, as we contribute to the story of healing country in WA.

Learn More About Reclaim the Void

In Australia:

We’ve dug 50,000 holes across sacred land.

We dump 500,000 tonnes of fabric and clothing every year.

Can we give our hands and hearts in healing, to create 5,000 rugs to seal one hole?

Image credit: Reclaim the Void

Who is Your Host?

Fiona Morrison - Educator, Coach,Creative, Lifewalker

Fiona will be Facilitating the Weaving Space.

Hi I'm Fiona, I believe in whole-self living, where we can build a path to being our authentic selves more often, with less comparisonitis and self-judgement.

Whether it’s working with young people or adults, individuals, families or groups, my drive is to be a companion for the messy journey of life, as it unfolds in our day to day happenings. When I gather folks together I focus on nurturing the individual through warmth, creativity and playfulness so that we can sing up a more sustainable, hearty world to inhabit together.

Our Workshop will be held at Space2b, St Kilda

The Workshop will be held at Space2b in Melbourne which is . "Space2b Social Design is an art and design social enterprise. It has been established to support people seeking asylum, refugees and newly arrived migrants to become financially independent and included in the community. This is achieved through creative enterprise, workplace training and business mentoring". You can support Space2b by browsing the shop and buying some lovely wares. The shop will be open 10am-2pm. Learn more about Space2b

FAQ:

Can I take my rug home with me?

No, Rugs will be donated to the Reclaim the Void Project, so you will leave your woven wonders with us to send over to WA.

Will I be able to complete a rug during the Workshop?

Unlikely!! A finished 80cm rug takes upwards of 8 hours, so expect to be a contributor rather than weaver of a whole rug. Each rug will have all contributors named and have its own rich story to tell, weaving us into the healing process.

Can I bring my Children?

Children who will be able to sit and weave are welcome (I've found 10yo+ to find it most interesting and engaging). Because the workshop will be held in a Gallery space with an adjacent shop, it is unsuitable for children who need to play and explore. If you'd like a child-friendly community weaving space, please get in touch to find a time and space, cos I love running those workshops too!!

Do I need to Buy a Ticket?

Yes! We will have limited spaces available and need to know in advance who's coming to prepare sufficient materials.

What if I get sick? Do you offer refunds?

Please let us know as soon as practical if you're unable to attend so we can offer the spot to someone else.