HOOKED! FROM THE MOUNTAIN DRAGON TO THE HANDFISH
JULY 2013
Inspired by knitting and crochet projects worldwide, Hooked! from the Mountain Dragon to the Handfish was a community arts and environment project, drawing inspiration from Tasmania’s natural surrounds, and inspiring participants to think about our unique flora and fauna in a new light. Initiated by Cradle Coast NRM, in partnership with Burnie Regional Art Gallery (BRAG) and the Handweavers, Spinners and Dyers Guild (HWSDG) of Tasmania, Hooked! was a year-long project in North West Tasmania from May 2012-June 2013; and became a community cultural development project raising awareness of threatened species through fibre art; allowing participants to express their interpretations of environmental issues, and make unique Tasmanian animals and plants from fibre.
INTRODUCTION The name and links to NRM was inspired by Cradle Mountain to the Sea, and two unique and endemic Tasmanian native animals: the Mountain Dragon (Rankinia diemensis - Tasmania’s only native dragon lizard); and the Spotted Handfish (Brachionichths hirsutus - listed as endangered under Tasmanian and Commonwealth legislation). Hooked! highlighted these, and other special native flora and fauna, to increase knowledge and awareness of how to look after them for future generations, whilst having fun and being creative. Project participants contributed to a community art exhibition held at Burnie Regional Art Gallery from 25 May to 30 June 2013. Hooked! gained a state-wide and large social-network following reaching over 21,400 on the Hooked! Facebook page (May 2012 - July 2013).
INFORMATION SHEET HOOKED!
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HOOKED! FROM THE MOUNTAIN DRAGON TO THE HANDFISH
EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS A series of sixteen free workshops were held for adults and children, where participants learnt about our local reptiles, the endangered spotted handfish, giant freshwater lobster, burrowing crayfish, Tasmanian Devils, platypus, quolls, the problem of marine debris; and what we can do to help look after our unique part of the world. The series of science and wildlife presentations included: Peter Whish-Wilson, Tasmanian Surfrider Foundation – about the value of the ocean and coastal environment, and why it’s important to look after it for the future.
Joanna Lyall, Burrowing Crayfish – endangered crayfish in the North-West compared to the Giant Freshwater Lobster, with a live specimen for viewing. Todd Walsh, Giant Freshwater Lobster - why it is endangered, the threats it faces, research findings, biology, with a live specimen for viewing. Bill Flowers, native wildlife and local artist – about the platypus, Tasmanian Devils and Tigers, and quolls; and footage of active animals at night from remote cameras with remote sensors.
Michael Thow, All About Reptiles – about our local snakes and lizards (including the Mountain Dragon), with live specimens, and education about snake safety and awareness.
Tracey Lane, Wings Wildlife Park – about Tasmanian Devils, with two live baby devils for viewing and photograph opportunities with workshop participants.
Rebecca Hubbard, Environment Tasmania – about the values of the unique and beautiful Tasmanian marine environment, and why it is important to look after it for the future.
HWSDG members and local artists were on-hand to share their skills and knowledge with fibre-arts, assisting participants to crochet, knit, needle felt, and sew their creations for the exhibition. Community members were able to keep their woolly contributions after the exhibition.
Jeremy Lane, Spotted Handfish – why it is endangered, the threats it faces, interesting research findings, and how to help look after it for the future.
BENEFITS “The workshops were great - lots of fun and lots of learning. I do hope that the program continues into the future, as the type of activity complements our need to understand more of our impact on our world and how each person has a role to play regardless of age.”
Hooked! provided many benefits to the community; through the format of fibre-art, providing a tactile medium, enabling creativity and self-expression. Fibre-art could be readily adapted for different skill levels; and provided fun opportunities for learning about native wildlife. With the natural environment and the creatures within it as inspiration, participants could replicate an object, using their visual learning and senses to study the subject (native plant, animal or sea creature). The participants’ learning was further reinforced by the presentations and talks by the guest presenters and scientists, the live animal displays; and resources and patterns that were provided free of charge. Participant feedback about Hooked! has indicated there is greater community appreciation and interest in the value of the natural environment and its native plants and animals.
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INFORMATION SHEET
THE EXHIBITION Hooked! was exhibited at Burnie Regional Art Gallery from 25 May to 30 June 2013. Putting together the exhibition was a challenge: more than 500 fibre-arts creations, contributed by 230 community members, collated in four days. At the Gallery, viewers could meander through and interact with the exhibition, and listen to a soundscape of oral histories, overlaid with native animals ocean and forest sounds. Even the unmistakable growl of the Tasmanian Devil, and local bird calls could be heard. Key features of the exhibition included a walk -through glow-in-the-dark jellyfish swarm under black lights; and a life-sized felted seal. A photo montage of images representing the region’s varied landscapes and iconic sites Cradle Mountain and Table Cape lighthouse - was commissioned to a local artist and manipulated to represent fibre. The graphic artwork was printed onto two fabric wallhangings with one including a fun photo opportunity with head and hand holes for participants to be a 'mountain dragon' or 'spotted handfish'. The art exhibition enabled community ownership of the project with a common target to work toward.
The Exhibition Booklet told the story of the Hooked! journey; recognised the contributions of the participants and funding providers; and provided information about our special Tasmanian flora and fauna. The participants who attended the workshops were also excited to attend the exhibition and Opening Night, especially the children who made fibre-arts contributions. Some of the children brought their family members, including their grandparents, to make the project truly ‘community’ and all-inclusive. Some children also encouraged their teachers to take their class as a school excursion. The Exhibition Opening Night was well-attended by 132 people, and the exhibition was a great success with 2,000 viewing it during its five weeks at BRAG.
“The exhibition has done well – which must open people’s eyes to Nature’s wonders – hope so .” Fabric wall-hangings, crocheted jellyfish, aquariums filled with fibre creatures at the BRAG exhibition
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Hooked! was supported by Cradle Coast NRM through funding from the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country, and was assisted by sponsorship from Tasmanian Alkaloids, and grants from the Tasmanian Community Fund and Inspiring Australia; with countless hours of support from volunteers of the Handweavers, Spinners and Dyers Guild of Tasmania, Burnie Regional Art Gallery and the local arts community.
PO Box 338 1-3 Spring Street Burnie Tasmania 7320 Phone: 03 6431 6285 Fax: 03 6431 7014 E-mail: nrm@cradlecoast.com www.cradlecoastnrm.com.