Leempeeyt Weeyn’ Campfire + Solstice Celebration
15–21 June
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Fed Square
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fedsquare.com/thelightinwinter
FREE
When we meet at Federation Square, we acknowledge that we gather on the lands of the Kulin nations and we thank their Elders for the welcome we receive each year. We pay respect to the Elders, past and present, to the traditions they safeguard and thank all first nation peoples for their continuing contribution to our contemporary culture.
Leempeeyt Weeyn’ Campfire 15–21 June | 24 hours | The Square | Free Burning continuously from 15–21 June, The Light in Winter’s Indigenous Campfire extends a welcome from the traditional owners of this land and is a hub for a rich program of fireside events. Leempeeyt Weeyn’ was created by artist Vicki Couzens for the very first The Light in Winter in 2007. In the Gunditjmara language group of Western Victoria – Leempeeyt Weeyn’ means Campfire. The Leempeeyt Weeyn’ Program could not be possible without the valued creative contribution of Vicki Couzens, Rob Bundle and Uncle Larry Walsh.
Solstice Celebration 20 June | 5pm–late | The Square | Free The Light in Winter’s much-loved tradition of the Solstice Celebration marks the longest night of the year and the journey toward spring with a feast of live music, performances and food.
Monday 15 June | 5.30pm–7pm | Campfire
Welcome to Country 5.30pm–5.45pm | Spoken word Celebrate the oldest form of human-made light: fire. The fireside celebrations begin each year with a Welcome to Country from Indigenous Elders and the first sparks of Leempeeyt Weeyn’, the campfire designed by Vicki Couzens for the very first The Light in Winter nine years ago.
Yoonggamateeyt Manakuwiya – Offerings of Hope 5.45pm–6.30pm | Installation + music Witness the placing of the offerings as artist Vicki Couzens invites The Light in Winter participating groups, artists, elders and community members to bring an offering of hope and light to the Campfire. On 21 June, the offerings will be burned, symbolising ritual, renewal and reflection. The ceremony will be accompanied and followed by music from singer/ songwriter Corey Theatre. He uses music as a medium to revive the Gunditjmara language family, which hasn’t been spoken fluently for 200 years.
Illana Atkinson 6.30pm–7pm | Music Enjoy a touch of blues with a pinch of soul through the incredible voice of singer/songwriter, Illana Atkinson.
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Leempeeyt Weeyn’ Campfire
LEEMPEEYT WEEYN’ CAMPFIRE
Tuesday 16 June | 5.30pm–8pm | Campfire
Our Voices
DJ Sovereign Trax
5.30pm–6pm | Spoken word
7pm–8pm | Music
Listen to poems and words by a number of Melbourne’s most talented female spoken word artists.
Enjoy the unique sounds of DJ Sovereign Trax as she mixes some of the maddest tunes from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists that speak to collective stories, identities and resistance.
Brite Fight 6pm–6.30pm | Music Go on a musical journey of space pop, soul siren and unorthodox beats with Brite Fight’s unique sound.
Brite Fight
Bahdoesa with DJ Relik 6.30pm–7pm | Music Tune into the soulful sounds of Quashani Bahd and rapper/vocalist Muma Doesa as they perform a set that encompasses afrobeats, hip hop and funk.
DJ Sovereign Trax. Photo by Gabi Briggs.
Shauntai Batzke
Keeping The Fire Alive
5.30pm–6pm | Music
7pm–8pm | Music
Hear the powerful sounds of Soprano singer Shauntai Batzke, a developing artist with Short Black Opera Company – Australia’s first Indigenous Opera Company. Shauntai will be singing works from her repertoire and endeavors to bring hope, truth and strength through voice, lyrics and music.
Listen to the heartfelt West Papuan music of Black Orchid String Band that marks the struggles for independence and promotes cultural diversity and unity. Black Orchid String Band will be joined by legendary beat boxer Morganics, Ukulele aficionado Rose Turtle Ertler and the Melbourne Ukulele Kollective.
Gayatri – The Goddess Of Light
DJ Nurra
6pm–6.15pm | Dance
8pm–9pm | Music
Learn the powers of Gayatri, who empowers the elements, in a performance presented by Natya Sudha Dance Company. Directed by Tara Rajkumar.
Move to the eclectic sounds of DJ Nurra, A.K.A James Henry, as he plays progressive, tech and deep house sets for the young and old.
Carroll Karpany 6.15pm–6.45pm | Music Hear the experimental sounds of Carroll Karpany, a founding member of iconic band ‘Us Mob’ and a singer/songwriter who has dedicated his extensive career to the repatriation of Aboriginal cultural song, music and dance.
Javanese Bantengan (Bull-Trance) + Bull Whip 6.45pm–7pm | Performance Be amazed by the once extinct art of bull-trance as Agus Riyanto of Java, Indonesia, cracks his whip.
Carroll Karpany
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Wednesday 17 June | 5.30pm–9pm | Campfire
LEEMPEEYT WEEYN’ CAMPFIRE
Thursday 18 June | 12.30pm–9pm | Campfire
Koorie Heritage Trust Series Koorie Culture – Materials Tools + Weapons 12.30pm–1.15pm | Demonstration Join Len Tregonning, a Gunai/Kunai artist and cultural educator, as he introduces the rich and diverse Aboriginal material culture of South-Eastern Australia.
Gavin Somers 1.15pm–2pm | Music Share in the positive and rich acoustic music of seasoned singer/songwriter, Gavin Somers.
Al-Nur – The Light 5.45pm–6pm | Spoken word Follow narratives about light and darkness through contemporary English and traditional Farsi poems. Presented by Afghan Literary Society.
Songs of Light + Hope 6pm–6.45pm | Music Be inspired by the ASRC Music Group’s performance including a symbolic blessing filling humanity with hope for the future using flaming hand-held Ethiopian torches (Chibo). Presented as part of Square of Light.
Hip Hop Rock Orchestra Amber 5.30pm–5.45pm | Dance + music Become absorbed in a dance performance that explores our sustained state of emergency and a society in a state of flux. Performed by acclaimed dancer/choreographer Tony Yap and Brendan O’Connor, accompanied by live musicians, Reuben Lewis and Scott McConnchie on saxophone and trumpet. Presented by Tony Yap Company. Presented as part of Square of Light.
6.45pm–7.45pm | Music Celebrate with the big beats and messages of hope from this intercultural musical collaboration led by singer/songwriter, Rob Bundle. Presented as part of Square of Light.
DJ Nurra 7.45pm–9pm | Music Move to the eclectic sounds of DJ Nurra, A.K.A. James Henry, as he plays progressive, tech and deep house sets for the young and old.
Koorie Heritage Trust Series Living on Country – Nature, Language, Culture 12.30pm–1.15pm | Demonstration Join Brendan Kennedy, a Tati Tati/ Mutti Mutti/Wadi Wadi man, who will demonstrate the art of creating traditional implements and objects from materials and discuss how the Indigenous land, language and culture are maintained and passed to younger generations.
Maylene Slater-Burns 1.15pm–2pm | Music Relax by the Campfire and listen to emerging Kamilaroi and (Kuku) Djungan singer-songwriter Maylene Slater-Burns, creating indie-pop and roots sounds for a generation.
Reclaiming The Stars 6pm–6.30pm | Talk Join us by the fire with a panel of experts to learn more about light pollution and efforts to save the night skies. Artificial light means we’re seeing fewer stars than ever before. The loss of darkness is affecting wildlife and even human health. Presented by Science in Public as part of the International Year of Light.
Benny Walker 6.30pm–7.15pm | Music Take in the rock vibe of Victorian Indigenous singer/songwriter, Benny Walker. His love songs and epic tales are mixed with passion for the land, the people and laid-back grooves.
Change Gonna Come 7.15pm–8pm | Freestyle battle
Star Stories 5.30pm–6pm | Storytelling Weaving together science and storytelling, Taunwurrung Elder Uncle Larry Walsh presents Astronomy stories of the planets and stars with other guests.
“No one can dim the light that shines within”, Maya Angelou. Follow a freestyle debate hosted by Melbourne duo Quashani Bahd and Muma Doesa as they challenge MC Meriki Hood, MC 1/6, Emerald MC and Morganics on the topics of freedom, protest, hope and recognition. Presented as part of Square of Light.
DJ Nurra *An Auslan interpreter will be present from 5.30pm–8.15pm.
8pm–9pm | Music Move to the eclectic sounds of DJ Nurra, A.K.A. James Henry, as he plays progressive, tech and deep house sets for the young and old.
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Friday 19 June | 12.30pm–9pm | Campfire*
LEEMPEEYT WEEYN’ CAMPFIRE
Saturday 20 June | 12.30pm–late | Campfire
Koorie Heritage Trust Series Basket Weaving 12.30pm–1.15pm | Demonstration Participate in a weaving demonstration by Vicki Couzens, a Kirrae Wurrong/Gunditjmara artist. You will learn weaving techniques and view examples of Vicki’s own works and raw materials.
Corey Theatre 1.15pm–2pm | Music Warm up by the fire and listen to music from singer/songwriter Corey Theatre, an artist who uses music as a medium to revive the Gunditjamara language, a tongue that has not been spoken fluently for close to 200 years.
The Campfire program continues as part of the Solstice Celebration from 5pm.
Uncle Larry Walsh 5.30pm–5.40pm | Storytelling Take a journey through storytelling hosted by Uncle Larry Walsh and Rob Bundle.
Yoonggamateeyt Manakuwiya – Burning of the Offerings of Hope 5.40pm–6pm | Installation + music Witness the ritual of burning offerings of hope, symbolising renewal and reflection. Accompanied with songs by Rob Bundle.
Uncle Herb Patten 6pm–6.30pm | Music Enjoy the talents of Uncle Herb Patten as he shares his skills in the art of gumleaf playing. Herb is from the Gunai nation of the Brabralung grouping and is a self taught and passionate exponent of the instrument. His repertoire ranges from bird impressions to the Beatles and includes pop classics and folk music as well as his own compositions.
Brett Lee 6.30pm–7.15pm | Music Celebrate the festival that was as The Light in Winter comes to a close for another year with music from Brett Lee’s forthcoming EP.
Uncle Larry Walsh
Square of Light This year sees the third and final year of Square of Light a project created with the generous support of VicHealth through their Arts About Us Program. Read more about various digital, language-based and transitory media works as part of Square of Light throughout this program. Key artists include Rob Bundle, Uncle Larry Walsh, Tony Yap, Yumi Umiumare, Quashani Bahd, Muma Doesa, Mohamed Nur, Beth Sometimes and Jim Arneman.
Square of Light addresses questions of inclusion, race and power.
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Sunday 21 June | 5.30pm–7.30pm | Campfire
INSTALLATIONS
Installations
Admire and interact with a number of installations throughout the Campfire and Solstice week.
Highlights Molecule of Light
Personwatch
1–21 June | 5.30pm–late The Square
17–20 June | 4pm–7pm St Paul’s Court
See the world premiere of Molecule of Light, a laser installation by renowned UK artist, Chris Levine.
Collect a set of headphones to venture on a pre-recorded, audio-guided thinking safari. Created by Beth Sometimes with audio by Waterfall Person.
Chromoscope 17–20 June | 12.30pm–2pm Big Screen 20 June | 5pm–9pm | Upper Square Control Fed Square’s screen and explore the sky at multiple wavelengths. Chromoscope was created by Stuart Lowe, Chris North (Cardiff University) and Robert Simpson (Oxford University).
Lala Lullaby Molecule of Light. Photo by James Morgan.
Luminous Intervention 1–22 June | 24 hours Fracture Gallery, The Atrium 20 June | 5pm–9pm | The Square Catch a glimpse of this colourful and iridescent installation by Skunk Control.
19–20 June | 5.30pm–9pm St Paul’s Court Hang out in a giant, interactive, hand-knitted egg for a quadraphonic sound and light journey. Presented with live sonic interventions from Amplified Elephants and James Hullick. Created by Richard Allen and Phillipa Willison in collaboration with Footscay Community Arts Centre, JOLT Arts Inc. and The Click Clack Project.
The Nightfall Recurring 19–20 June | 5.30pm–9pm Flinders St Amphitheatre + Upper Square Enter one of the eight black teepees to experience the techno-gothic sound and light machine installations of James Hullick and Jolt Arts Inc. Courtesy of Mars Gallery.
Flow 19–20 June | 5.30pm–9pm Swanston St Forecourt Be dazzled by Flow, an interactive digital garden of flower sculptures connected by streams of flowing light, by Ethno Tekh.
Star Stories Planets 19–20 June | 24 hours | The Square View a set of sculptures representing Aboriginal Knowledge Systems that have been utilised for thousands of years and listen to audio stories that tell the history and significance of the stars. Supported by City of Melbourne. Created by Uncle Larry Walsh and Rob Bundle.
Al-Nur - What does light mean to you? 20 June | 5pm-9pm | The Square Interact with this installation by contributing your thoughts on light. By Essan Dileri and Afghan Social Group.
Chromoscopic Adapter for Television 20 June | 5pm-9pm | The Square Learn about early colour television transmissions invented and patented in 1942 by Guillermo Gonzalez Camarena of Mexico. Presented by The Mexican Social and Cultural Association of Victoria with Paty Galan, Sandra Moye, Pedro Chan, Luis Sagrero, Oziel Gonzalez and Beto Caceres.
Today I Saw 20 June | 5pm–9pm | The Square View a portrait of the Artist’s Grandmother and his family’s journeys throughout different countries in this digital portrait made up of pixelated pieces of information. Created by Mohamed Nur. Presented as part of Square of Light.
Faster Than Light 20 June | 5pm–9pm | The Square Try your hand at a game of UV ping pong, hosted by The North Eastern Melbourne Chinese Association’s champion ping pong team.
LEEMPEEYT WEEYN’ + SOLSTICE 15–21 JUNE
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SOLSTICE CELEBRATION
Solstice Celebration 20 June | 5pm–10pm | The Square
Each year on the Saturday closest to the winter solstice, we mark the longest night of the year with a celebration of the first steps towards spring. Join a free and full program of light, music, dance and food, opening at 5pm by the Campfire. Visit fedsquare.com/solstice for more details.
Hip Hop Rock Orchestra 5.20pm–5.45pm | The Stage | Music
Highlights Shauntai Batzke 5.05pm–5.10pm | Campfire | Music Hear the powerful sounds of opera singer Shauntai Batzke as she opens the evening celebrations.
Dance to the big beats and messages of hope from this inter-cultural musical collaboration led by singer/songwriter, Rob Bundle. The group combines storytelling, vocals, choir and spoken word, offering a creative exchange between artists, including Uncle Larry Walsh, Muma Doesa, Quashani Bahd, Angus Downing, Tom Downing, Simon Despoja, Aki, James Henry, Monica Weightman, Kate Clarke, New Dub City and musicians from the ASRC Music Group. Joined by Thornbury Primary School Woiwurrung Language Choir Presented as part of Square of Light.
Warming the Square 5.10pm–5.20pm | The Square Flash mob Become part of a flash mob as they step through a square dance to Chinese mega pop hit, My Little Apple. Presented by North Eastern Melbourne Chinese Association with participating groups from all over Melbourne. Sponsored by Henry Carus and Associates. Presented as part of Square of Light.
Hip Hop Rock Orchestra
5.45pm–6pm | Campfire Performance Luminious Lunas. Photo by Yumi Umiumare.
Luminous Lunas
Meet two giant puppets and learn the story of Pulotu, a place where the spirits of kings and nobles go when they die. Presented by Australian Pacific Arts Network and Snuff Puppets with support from Brimbank Council and Australian Council for the Arts.
Maui Steals Fire from the Underworld
Various Times | Roving | Performance
Empat Lima
Celebrate the beauty of feminine strength through this surreal and mystical roving performance created and directed by Yumi Umiumare with Felix Ching Ching Ho, Sophia Constantine, Suhasini Seelin, Jennifer Tran and Jerrilee Cardoz.
5.45pm–6.15pm | Upper Square Music
Presented as part of VicHealth’s Arts About Us project and in partnership with Platform Youth Theatre.
Dance to songs that draw inspiration from the legendary women in rock, particularly those from 1960s south east Asia. Empat Lima present a set with songs in Indonesian, Malay and Japanese.
Presented as part of Square of Light.
Empat Lima
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Maui Steals Fire from the Underworld: A Tongan Legend
SOLSTICE CELEBRATION
Agung Gunawan
The Red Brigade
6.10pm–6.25pm | Campfire | Dance
Various Times | Roving | Music
See a master of Yogyakartanese classical dance and award-winning choreographer and dancer, Agung Gunawan blend classic dance with contemporary expression, mask work and improvisation.
Take a ride through dirty rock hits, Balkan madness and big-bad-swingin’ funk with this thrilling and playfully subversive all-girl marching band.
Miss Colombia 7.15pm–8pm | The Stage | Music Lose yourself to tropical pulsating beats, psychedelic vocals, guitar effects and Caribbean percussion mixed with boom bap and funk, inspired by Colombian popular culture.
The Red Brigade
DJ Ms Butt 9pm–10pm | The Stage | Music Miss Colombia
Sugar Fed Leopards 8pm–8.30pm | The Stage | Music Move your feet to a cosmic cocktail of disco, soul, doowop and hip swinging rock ‘n’ roll. With smoking hot costumes, sweet harmonies, tight dance routines and a cranking rhythm section, Sugar Fed Leopards will have you breaking a disco sweat.
Hit the dance floor as DJ Ms Butt weaves together a seriously fun set that will traverse the genres of disco, house, reggae, dancehall, hip hop, afrobeat and more. Having supported a long list of international artists, notably Flying Lotus (US) and Grandmaster Flash (US), DJ Ms Butt knows how to work an audience.
Solstice Artists As part of the Solstice Celebration you can enjoy a myriad of artists, musicians and dancers who collectively make the event a calendar highlight. In addition to those artists mentioned throughout the program we would also like to acknowledge: Faster Than Light | presented by The North Eastern Melbourne Chinese Associations champion Ping Pong Team including George Zeng, Michael Chen, Matthew Ma, Xilin Hu, Willa Yu, Lei Wei, Rong Xie, Gang Wang, Ou Bai, Peter Zheng
Melanie Clarke, Paul Delosa, Nicla Byrnes, Sophia Constantine, Patti, Simon Lewis, Mitzi McRae
Gayagum Performance | by Park Hyang 가야금 (연주:박 향) and the Korean Children’s Drumming Group 한가락 사물놀이 Han Garak (SAMULNORI ) With many thanks to Myung re Yoon.
Video work from Artists of WA’s Murchison region | Australian SKA office and Yamaji Art Centre
Gayatri | Artistic Direction by Tara Rajkumar OAM with dancers including Meghala Bhat, Tapasi Mukherjee, Priya Kulkarni, Sruthi Sridhar Hip Hop Rock Orchestra | Joined by Thornbury Primary School Woiwurrung Language Choir with thanks to Emma Cornish-Giles I am gentle, I am tall, I am history, I am yours | presented by DVA Theatre with Michelle Desmond, Brendan Slee, Catriona Fitzgerald, John Dope, Jamie Halliday, Darren Coulten, Larelle Kearney, Clare Bowman, Kristina Bencic, Duane Wilks, Doreen Youlten, Michael Buxton, Amelia Tang, Rachel Casanova, Shaaminni Rajeswaran, Simon Bryden, Jenny Cairns, Paul Delosa, Matthew Longmuir, Bernadette Negri, Paul Philpott, Joanne Spicer, Kassandra Davies,
Maui Steals Fire from the Underworld | presented by Snuff Puppets and APAN including Lachlan Plain, Nick Wilson, Katrina Chandra and Loketi Niua
Warming the Square | by The North Eastern Melbourne Chinese Association with Holly Qianhui Wu, Linda Xiaowei Dong, Tony Yap and Narkarin Jaikla Participating groups: New Star Art School Parents and Friends Dance Team, RMIT Chinese Debating Group, Melbourne Chinese Singing and Dancing Troupe, Sakura Dancing Group, Bentleigh Chinese Community Association, CLTAV, Fed Square Aerobic Dance Team, Kew Chinese House, Whittlesea Chinese Association, Australian Inner-Mongolia Chinese Association, Pedro Gonzalez and Tiffany De Caires We come from Light and Return to Light | Alevi Community Council of Australia with thanks to Surmeli Aydagon Plus the following artists and musicians: Cuture Queenz and Brimbank Council, Maylene Slater-Burns, Omar Pervaiz, Soreti Kadir and Gabriella Georges
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Thank You The Light in Winter is proudly supported by a range of partners.
Major Partners
Partners
The Light in Winter Team
ACMI Asylum Seeker Resource Centre Auspicious Arts Deakin University Footscray Community Arts Centre Hissing Swan Arts Kirra Galleries Koorie Heritage Trust National Gallery of Victoria Platform Youth Theatre
Artistic Director: Robyn Archer AO Produced by Fed Square Pty Ltd Producers: Kendyl Rossi, Tara Prowse Assistant Producer: Bebe Backhouse Production Manager: Elise Brokensha
Federation Square supports green printing initiatives.
This program guide has been printed using vegetable based inks with alcohol free printing on FSC approved paper under ISO 14001 Environmental Certification.