Something Quirkier

Description of the project:

A flutter of flags in the trees of Garran. Each flag endowed with words written by an Australian author. Whispered words fill the spaces between. 

The streets in Garran are named after Australian authors. I wonder how many people who live in Garran know the history behind their street name? 

Community members will be invited to ‘adopt’ an author from the street names and transcribe a quotation onto a piece of fabric made from natural fibres. They will add the words using fabric paint, ink or embroidery. Once completed, the flags will be installed in a tree near the ‘Tree of knowledge’ sculpture at the Garran Shopping Centre or other nearby locations. Each participant will be asked to audio record the words and name of the author to form a compilation of quotations that can be quietly played in the vicinity of the flags. 

Participants will also be asked to reflect on whose voices are 'missing' from the collection of Australian authors included in the street names. They may wish to create a flag to represent an Australian author of their choice. 

To extend the project, participants can add their own ‘voices’ to the work. Using a creative design approach, participants will reflect on their own street (or a landmark in a street in Garran), what they notice, what they appreciate… and share their observations through writing a haiku. They will then create a flag from fabric and stitching or painting to share their thoughts. These flags will be hung in an adjacent tree near the first installation.

This project will raise awareness of the history behind the street names in Garran and promote engagement with the writing of Australian authors. Knowing local history can help us feel more connected to place and “connect with past communities of people by learning about the lives of those who have gone before us” (Saunders, 2020). Consideration of the names and authors represented may spark conversations on our heritage and how it is represented “…learning the stories of a region’s past can change the way you think about the present.” (University of Toronto, n.d.) We might consider whose voices are represented – and whose are silent. 

By contributing to this project participants can ‘invest’ in their locality. If they choose to write and share their own haiku they will reflect on the value of their corner of the world and share their appreciation with others. Engaging with Haiku has been noted for increasing creativity and sensitivity to the world, (Stephenson & Rosen, 2015) Reading and writing can affirm our connection with the world. It allows us to make discoveries and share them “especially… the small everyday wonders which so often go unnoticed and unsung… It is a poetry of gratitude and praise” (Mason, 2022)

References:

Bullock, O. (2021). Haiku for recovery: An immersive workshop. TEXT: Journal of writing and writing courses, 25(1): 1-26. https://doi.org/10.52086/001c.23463 Mason, S (2022) Haiku and Human Flourishing in Rosenow, C (Editor) 2022. Juxtaeight: 

Research and scholarship in haiku. The Haiku Foundation. https://thehaikufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/juxtaeight-1.pdf#page=15

Saunders, J. (2020, November 11). Why do local history? British Association for Local History. https://www.balh.org.uk/blog-why-do-local-history-2020-11-11#:~:text=It%27s%20a%20way%20to%20immerse,who%20have%20gone%20before%20us.

Stephenson, K., & Rosen, D. H. (2015). Haiku and Healing: An Empirical Study of Poetry Writing as Therapeutic and Creative Intervention. Empirical Studies of the Arts, 33(1), 36–60. https://doi.org/10.1177/0276237415569981

University of Toronto, Mississauga,  n.d.) Why local history matters. Retrieved 20 March 2024. https://sites.utm.utoronto.ca/historyinternships/blog/12102015-1243/why-local-history-matters.