Local sculpture takes flight

Local Torquay artists Bronwyn Razem and Katja Nedoluha created two stunning pieces – an emu and brolga – for this year’s Lake Bolac Eel Festival using traditional Indigenous weaving.

In the spirit of the Lorne Sculpture Biennale a woven brolga and emu took to the skies at the Lake Bolac Eel Festival (LBEF) over the March 22-25 weekend.

In its 12th year, this biennale grass roots music, arts and environmental festival featured guest speakers, musicians, workshops and the stunning brolga and emu sculptures by Torquay artists Bronwyn Razem and Katja Nedoluha.

Born in Gunditjmara Country, Warrnambool, Ms Razem comes from a long lineage of traditional weavers, having learned from her own grandmother and mother.

The project, funded by Regional Arts Victoria and Ararat Regional Art Gallery, aimed to engage community in the creation of the larger-than-life pieces.

The two birds were decided on after a consultation process with local Indigenous leaders and singer Neil Murray and represent the different tribes that would gather around the lake (a sacred site) over tens of thousands of years for ceremony.

In the lead up to the festival, artist sculptor Dave Jones and Gunditjmara artist and master weaver Ms Razem taught students welding and weaving skills.

“The kids were really awesome, they got right into it,” Ms Razem said.

Scrap materials for the steel framework were collected from surrounding farms while the grasses were identified and sourced at the lake.

Ms Razem and Ms Nedoluha share a studio at Torquay’s Ashmore Arts and run weaving workshops throughout the year at schools, universities, festivals, community groups and corporates.

“Our workshops cover an array of curriculum units but when a school engages in a project like this, they take cultural education to the next level,” Ms Nedoluha said.

Through her work, Ms Razem acknowledges the importance of maintaining the cultural knowledge behind weaving and the role this played in times past; teaching traditional weaving techniques asserts the strength of this cultural practice that was utilised for everyday life.

Ms Razem said the workshops seek to reconnect Aboriginal people with their culture and strengthen their identities, as well as bringing forth awareness and cultural values of Aboriginal people to the general public and educational institutions.

For more information on the duo and workshops, go to mirrnongminnie.com.au.