This is part of it
Map
Map
Story & Experience
On different occasions some of our group have sung, danced, swum, picnicked, protested, rested, shopped and eaten here. We felt sadness, joy, comfort, curiousity, depression, impotence, grace and beauty here today. A person nearby our little gathering was angry, irritated and aggressive for a time, and we felt that too. One noted, “this is part of it”. Later, he spoke to us, explained his anguish and apologised and said “bless you”. We shared that together too.
On different occasions some of our group have sung, danced, swum, picnicked, protested, rested, shopped and eaten here. We felt sadness, joy, comfort, curiousity, depression, impotence, grace and beauty here today. A person nearby our little gathering was angry, irritated and aggressive for a time, and we felt that too. One noted, “this is part of it”. Later, he spoke to us, explained his anguish and apologised and said “bless you”. We shared that together too.
Why this Place?
Cotton Tree Park
For us to sit safe and dry on the grass above the river, we know that much harm has been done to cage the once-ephemeral river banks, the people, plants and animals around us have been and continue to be wounded in different ways by biodiversity loss, climate change, colonialism, development and our general rushing and complicating of things.
Act of Beauty
Our conversations danced and flitted between acknowledging hard times and laughing out loud at jokes and contradictions. One of us gathered beautiful natural materials and we used these to be inspired to make a picture of an Australian white ibis (Threskiornis molucca), which walk through the park and are often termed ‘bin chickens’ for their strength in adaptation to living in cities and thriving in our rubbish tips. We used a stone that had been thrown by the angry man for the bird’s head, and adorned it with a flower from the Cotton Tree.
Additional Photos
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