Ngethn o' Thawvl wedlvn (We're here weaving this basket)

Photographs by Bernadette Boscacci

GIANT BASKET IS A HIT

A collaborative work of weavers

The fine weave basket was a multi-purpose traditional basket made with a range ofplant fibres. Known in Yir Yoront(Kokomnjen) as thawl, in Kokoberra thabvlang and in Kunjen/Olkol as abmbin. Sometimes synthetic raffia is used in its weaving but never a giant basket like the one made by weavers at Ngethn o’. It is special!

Twenty-nine weavers from Kowanyama, Normanton and Townsville worked until after last light during the week to complete the body of a traditional woven basket made from plastic and electrical wire.

It was the first time Kowanyama weavers had tried such a big work. Northern weavers had pioneered the use of contemporary materials gathered during the Ghost Net Program. Pormpuraaw artists have been making large artworks of dugong and other animals that have become well known in galleries around the country. The Kowanyama basket followed the same idea of using recycled plastics from electrical wire.

Work began in the Cultural Centre grounds in building the base of the basket but was moved to the shade of the Church Mango tree. Later it was suspended from branches to allow weavers more space to weave the growing giant. Only two or three people could work on the piece at one time.

Others stripped palm fibre, collected and dyed the raffia with morinda root dyes.

Many came to watch the basket growing as it hung from the mango tree. Elders and adults as well as children visited the workshop located in a very public place. They came to look and to help.

Weavers enjoyed fish provided by the boys from Ron’s bush group with damper cooked on the coals. A fire was kept going for cooking and billy tea by the group.

Bernadette Boscacci worked tirelessly in the lead up to Ngethn o’ to find support to cover the travel and expenses of a second phase of the project called Thawl wedlvn (Making a basket in Yir Yoront). The basket was installed at Strand Ephemera in Townsville the following month of August. Five weavers travelled to Townsville to participate with other artists and to showcase traditional fibre working skills with the assistance of a Regional Arts Network grant.

Photograph s by Bernadette Boscacci

Photograph by Mark Weaver

Nina and Bernie

Loading the basket

for the long trip

down to Townsville

“It’s been amazing to watch this Thawl wedlvn Project draw the community together. So many hands have woven this contemporary statement. Every day has made it stronger. A Dillybag. Tonight under headlights and torches it was completed. Beautiful, strong, a statement about the importance of indigenous culture for all Australia. Thank you Kowanyama.”

Mark Vincent Weaver: Coolum, Queensland Ngethn o’ Media Woven Tracks Facebook post

Photograph by Nina Dawson

Photographs by Fairlie Sandiland

BIG BASKET GOES TO TOWNSVILLE

Weavers showcase traditional fibre works

The big basket made at Kowanyama during Ngethn o’ was transported back to Townsville. It was completed and installed in late July at Strand Ephemera 2019. It was a Townsville City Council hosted event, where it claimed a Highly Commended Award. Weavers travelled from Kowanyama and Normanton to Townsville to experience the event, represent the community and have weaving workshops on the Strand. They talked to exhibition audience members and showed their traditional weaving skills. Everyone was very excited to meet their local football hero, Jonathon Thurston. The group personally thanked Johnathon for the in-kind support provided by Skytrans for the project. The basket was displayed later at Umbrella Studios in Townsville during Bernadette’s own very successful art exhibition “Travelling by String”

The weaving team in Townsville on the Strand with Olkola Elder, Hazel Barr and friends