Lighting Up Culture projection on the Multi Arts Centre at the Spirit of the Muster Street Festival last Tuesday.
A new way of sharing their culture with the community has been embraced by Yarkuwa Indigenous Knowledge Centre this year.
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The organisation had the opportunity to host Lighting Up Culture - a visual light projection project supported by the Aboriginal Regional Arts Alliance and SEEN, which is a cultural dance-based production of Phunktional Arts.
The three day workshop providing mentorship for First Nations students coincided with the school holidays and the pre-entertainment for the Deni Ute Muster.
Light projections helped light up the Deniliquin CBD last Tuesday night, which was followed by a showcase of art and culture at Yarkuwa’s north Deniliquin space the following night.
Lighting Up Culture participants were mentored by artist Scott Baker, learning how to bring their stories, artwork and ideas to life through large-scale video projections.
ARAA project manager Pene Riggs said the Deniliquin program was a standout success.
“It was three days of workshops that introduced artists to the world of video projection and projection mapping,” she said
“Visual content is transformed into immersive visual experiences.
“They’ve done it all themselves, from content creation to video mapping; it’s been amazing.”
The component from SEEN paired students and Elders with professional artists, choreographers to “make and share something new”.
As part of the group’s region tour, the professionals worked with the local community to deliver a performance set against the backdrop of the Lighting Up Culture show.
Phunktional Arts company artistic director Gerard Veltre said the process of young people creating and performing dance based around their culture and connection to the land has been meaningful.
“The Monday was really special. We did a walk on country and, afterwards, we talked about our experience. That was then the inspiration for creating a dance piece together.
“I think what’s really exciting about this project is that young people are given the opportunity to express themselves creatively.
“Interestingly, for this community, they are so passionate about culture and learning their culture, so including that content in the dance work and in the visuals makes for interesting individuals that reflect the land and the country we’re on.
“They’ve created something which is for everybody, and is a moment of them to feel pride in who they are.”
Yarkuwa senior project officer Karen Wilson acknowledged all those involved with the projects, including the visiting groups and the Deni Play on the Plains Committee.
She also acknowledged funding support from the Regional Arts NSW Rally Program, South West Arts and the young people involved for their “creativity, courage and hard work”.
“The night belonged to them,” she said.
The participants involved with the showcase rehearsal at Yarkuwa Indigenous Knowledge Centre last Wednesday.
Gerard Veltre and Pene Riggs before the showcase night at Yarkuwa last Wednesday.
Lighting Up Culture projections on the Multi Arts Centre at the Spirit of the Muster Street Festival.
Lighting Up Culture projection on the Multi Arts Centre.
The Lighting Up Culture projections in action last Tuesday.
The Lighting Up Culture projection last week.
Some of the artists involved with the Lighting Up Culture project.
Huxley Lilford-Hansen, Degan Morgan, Ashton Londrigan and Braxton Lilford-Hansen.
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