By Jed Lanyon
Local artists and community members are expressing their emotions and insights gained during the Covid-19 pandemic through a local art project.
Feeling Our Way Forward with Ephemeral Art Play is a nature based community project in Healesville’s Coronation Park, which invites local residents to participate with local artists to experiment creating with natural materials making ephemeral sculptures.
Local Lisa Dalboni is studying a diploma of creative art and health and was invited to be involved as an artist.
“I thought this sounds interesting because the unit I’m studying at the moment is about working with communities, so it’s perfect.
Ms Dalboni said she believes anyone can be an artist.
“The work I’m creating a 12 year old could do. So that means anyone can come here and make whatever they want.”
Savaad Felich event manager said, “The idea is that the artists create artworks but also work with the public to create artworks which will be displayed within the park itself.”
Betsy-Sue Clarke has been busy creating a Covid timeline with a representation of certain events like the introduction of JobKeeper and the ending of lockdown.
Another artist Ruth Woods said, “I think what I enjoy most about any of these types of projects is the process … I’ve just been collecting bits of wood and things like that out of my garden.
“Because it’s a community project people have been coming in and just sitting down and picking at things and allowing them to know it’s not about the piece they’re creating … I think we sometimes find that challenging, like we have to have something definite at the end but it’s more about sitting down and being together as a community and working together.”
The sculptures are on display every day at Coronation Park, Healesville, under the oak trees. The project runs 1-28 March; Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Artists will be on site from 10am to demonstrate and help people create sculptures. This free activity is open to everyone. No experience required. The project is funded through VicHealth’s Reimagining Health Grants. It was created by FoodPatch Art in conjunction with Healesville Community Garden.
