Something Quirkier

Exhibition and collaborative community art project: Working to make our world a happier and kinder place, one small blessing at a time.

Counting our small blessings:

• 170+ stories
  
• 110 tea bag cosies
  
• 107 fish
  
• 6 glass tiles
• 19 other assorted art works
  
• 34 flowers
  
• 21 patches for the artwork ‘Enveloped’ (created by 50+ people)
• 70 fabric drawings from Gordon PS students, making 5 blankets for ‘Enveloped'
• 100 hearts
  
• 50 painted stones
  
• 31 birds
  
• 6 audio recordings 
• 25 drop-in sessions at TAC
• 1 impro/feltmaking interactive Impro performance ‘Beyond Small Talk’ with Lightbulb Improv.
• 3 media interviews
• participation in 3 community festivals

...... and many smiles

How the project was developed:

An application was made to the Tuggeranong Arts Centre to host and support the project. 

An invitation went out to the general public to contribute to the project - via the website, instagram and many conversations with individuals and groups. A link was provided so that people could sign in to receive regular updates about the project. People could also keep up with the project via posts on Instagram 

"I would love as many people as possible, from anywhere in Canberra and beyond, to volunteer to contribute to this project. There are many ways that you can take part - by sharing a story; making something for the exhibition at Tuggeranong Arts Centre and taking part in community engagement activities at the Centre and beyond."

Over 2023 we collected over 190 stories - from personal conversations, classroom discussions at Gordon Primary School, via an online portal, during the improv show ‘Beyond Small Talk' and on notes written by visitors to the gallery. You can read the most of the stories in the catalogue. 

Participants were invited to ‘adopt’ a story (or use one of their own) to craft an item to gift to the project. Makers did not have to be literal in their response - the work may have been inspired by an image, a word, an emotion, an action or a character. Makers could use any medium that they liked - textiles, ceramics, 3D printing, digital photography, mosaics, print making, song, music, poetry, script writing..... You can see the results of their creativity in the catalogue. 

Three large-scale, collaborative community pieces were constructed as part of the project.

1. Enveloped. A VERY large blanket pieced together from handcrafted textile patches (any size) gifted to the project. This blanket was made into a cubby that people could sit within and listen to recorded stories about small blessings. 

2. Delighted. A flock of 3D textile fish (yes, a flock - they flew through the ceiling space of the gallery). 

3. A Conversation Between Birds. A gathering of 3D textile birds - to hold in your hand - to comfort and calm. 

I also held drop in crafting sessions at Tuggeranong Arts Centre and at local community festivals. Participants of any age could learn how to make a small felted object such as a flower or finger puppet. It was great to meet so many people - and it was lovely there were many ‘regulars’ by the end of the project. There was also a crafting table permanently located in the exhibition for people to stitch a heart or tea-bag cosy. 

In collaboration with Lightbulb Improv, we developed an interactive performance piece ‘Beyond Small Talk' where the audience learnt how to make a wet-felted flower. Whilst they were making the flower they chatted with the actors about their experiences of a ‘small blessing’. The ideas were transformed into poetry or song (improvised of course!) during the last half hour of the evening. 

The idea of ‘gifting' was central to the design of the project. We did not sell any artworks created for this exhibition. A gifting bowl was placed in the exhibition. Visitors could choose a ‘small blessing’ to take home - ranging from a tea-bag cosy, painted rock or hand sewn heart. On the final days of the exhibition we held ‘Gifting Days’ where visitors took home an item to keep or to give to someone who is in need of a 'small blessing’. Any items that were not taken were donated to relevant organisations in Canberra. The pieces from ‘Enveloped' were reworked into single bed covers and donated to local charities.