2019 Strand Ephemera Education Kit

North Queensland’s Sculpture Festival | Part of the North Australian Festival of Arts

Education Kit

SPONSORED BY

Townsville City Council acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of Townsville – the Wulgurukaba of Gurambilbarra and Yunbenun; and Bindal people.

We pay our respects to their cultures, their ancestors and their Elders – past and present – and all future generations.

Turtle Tracks © Jordan Wyles 2019

PUBLISHER

Townsville City Galleries

PO Box 1268, Townsville Queensland, 4810 Australia

(07) 4727 9011

townsville.qld.gov.au

FINANCIAL SPONSORS

©Townsville City Council 2019

The images contained in this book are copyright the artists. All photography credited as known.

Turtle Tracks © Jordan Wyles 2019

CONTACT

Perc Tucker Regional Gallery

Cnr. Denham and Flinders St

Townsville QLD 4810

Mon - Fri: 10am - 5pm

Sat - Sun: 10am - 2pm (07) 4727 9011

MEDIA SPONSORS

ptrg@townsville.qld.gov.au whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au

Townsville City Galleries

STRANDEPHEMERA.COM.AU

#STRANDEPHEMERA

IN-KIND SPONSORS

PUBLISHED ON THE OCCASION OF

FINANCIAL SPONSORS

North Queensland’s Sculpture Festival

Part of the North Australian Festival of Arts

FINANCIAL SPONSORS

MEDIA SPONSORS

MEDIA SPONSORS

IN-KIND SPONSORS

IN-KIND SPONSORS

EDUCATION KIT SPONSOR

Strand Ephemera 2019 - Education Kit

NORTH A USTRALIAN FESTI VAL OF ARTS

How to use this book

This book contains activities you can do before your visit, during your visit, and back at school.

BLUE sections are to read before you explore The Strand

GREEN sections are to work through while you’re on The Strand

YELLOW sections are to complete back at school after your visit

What is Strand Ephemera?

Strand Ephemera is a festival of ephemeral sculptures. This festival happens every two years on The Strand, in Townsville, Queensland, Australia.

What does 'ephemera' mean?

‘Ephemera’ refers to things that only last for a short time.

When you look at the work on display, think about the materials used.

How long will they last?

Will they change over time?

What makes each artwork ephemeral?

Discuss the difference between sculpture and installation art.

Although they are both three dimensional art forms, the line between sculpture and installation art can sometimes be blurry.

Bruce Reynolds Wing Defence Plaster, steel mesh, formply 260 x 260 x 100 cm Image courtesy the artist

Jordan Wyles

Local artist Jordan Wyles created the artwork Turtle Tracks which has been used throughout Strand Ephemera 2019 materials. You will find Jordan’s designs throughout this Education Kit.

About the Artist

I have lived in Townsville my whole life and am a proud Aboriginal artist. I am from the Traditional Owners of Townsville and Magnetic Island; Wulgurukaba People. The Wulgurukaba people call their country “Gurrumbilbarra”, Wulgurukaba means “canoe people”. The artworks I create draw heavily from my cultural identity.

There is a strong connection to the animals and plants which are native to the local area; animals created within my artwork are often the totems for the local people. It is always considered appropriate and respectful to talk with Traditional Custodians and/or Elders prior to painting artwork to ensure the correct permissions have been obtained. Inspiration for my artwork also comes to me through the traditional or dreaming stories that have been shared through the community over the years. Traditional patterns and designs that I have painted throughout my artwork are patterns and colours that surround us all every day in nature.

I enjoy painting using traditional Aboriginal artwork techniques, some of the techniques I love to use are;

• x-ray technique

• cross hatching

• herringbone and

• spray technique

The colour palette that I generally use is traditional and keeps to colours that would have been used in ancient times such as ochre, white, yellow and reds. I would define my “style” as traditional and enjoy sharing my artwork and the stories with others. I love painting and drawing on many scales but specialise in creating artworks on canvases.

Original artwork designed by Jordan Wyles, 2019 (digital reproduction)

Investigating Sculpture

While investigating sculptures, keep in mind:

What does the artwork look like?

• Colour

• Surface

• Texture

• Display

How is the artwork positioned?

How are viewers encouraged to interact with the artwork?

• Scale/size

How big or small is the artwork?

How does the sculpture sit in the space?

How was the artwork made?

• Materials

Can you identify what the artwork is made of?

• Construction technique & process

What trades or skills would be useful in creating this artwork?

How long do you think it would’ve taken to make this artwork?

If you were going to make an artwork like this, what would your first step be?

What is the artwork about?

• Subject

What is this artwork depicting, referencing, and/or exploring?

• Meaning and message

What does the artwork say to you?

• Context

Does this artwork have a relationship with The Strand?

Choose an artwork on display and investigate in the space provided.

Artwork title:

What does the artwork look like?

How was the artwork made?

What is the artwork about?

Ephemeral Materials

Something that is ephemeral only lasts for a short time.

Think about the following materials and place them on the timeline below in order of how long you think they might last:

Plastic cup | TV | Sandstone staircase | Stainless steel cheese grater

Bronze coin | Car | Woolly jumper | T-shirt

Mobile phone | Sandwich

2019

2020

2050

4000 8000

Photography Rule of Thirds

When you start experimenting with photography, the Rule of Thirds is a good place to begin. Your eye will tend to rest at the intersection of the horizontal and vertical thirds. This means that if you compose your photograph carefully, positioning important features at one or more of those intersections, your photograph should look more balanced. Have a go sketching out a balanced photo in the empty grid below.

Performers

Get Snapping

Snap a couple photos on The Strand, keeping in mind the Rule of Thirds.

on The Pink Piano during Strand Ephemera 2017.

Dynamic Symmetry Grids

Like the Rule of Thirds, Dynamic Symmetry invites you to look at the intersections of lines to develop a well-balanced image. There are lots of different dynamic symmetry grids. Consider the grid below. While you would not want something on every single intersection, if you place significant features at a few of the intersections, it should help you build a more balanced photo.

Erica Gray Visceral Bodies, Winner of the Award for Artistic Excellence Strand Ephemera 2017 Detail of photograph by John de Rooy Photography

Photographic Competition

If you take photos on The Strand during Strand Ephemera 2019, you can submit your favourite to the photographic competition.

Categories:

• Under 18 years

• 18 years and older

How to enter:

Submit your entry via the Strand Ephemera website strandephemera.com.au

Entries close: Friday 9 August 2019

Winner of the 18+ category of the Strand Ephemera 2017 Photographic Competition: Wade Howlett’s photograph of Carla Gottgens’s Portal

Winner of the under 18 category of the Strand Ephemera 2017 Photographic Competition: Kai Wilson’s photograph of Vanessa Stanley’s Your Altered Gaze Returned

Sea Turtle Hatchlings

Townsville Primary School Students with Cass Roberts and Cassie Harris

This artwork is a result of the Art In A Suitcase program, which is delivered in a suitcase to primary schools by artists with Townsville City Galleries. Sea Turtle Hatchlings is a large installation of about one thousand hatchlings from paper based air dry clay.

Why do you think sea turtle hatchlings were chosen for the subject of this artwork? Why do you think this material was used?

Sea turtle species can often be identified by the patterns on their shells. Take some time to research different species and sketch the variations of their shells below.

Sea Turtle Hatchlings

There are seven species of sea turtle in the world; six are found in the Great Barrier Reef.

The Flatback sea turtle is particularly special because it only nests on northern Australian beaches. Some sea turtles nest on The Strand, which is a lucky sight as it is estimated that only one in a thousand sea turtle hatchlings survive to reproduce.

Below are some threats facing our turtles today:

Threats

Boat strike (being struck by a boat)

Fishing hooks, getting tangled in fishing nets

Eating rubbish, or getting ensnared in rubbish

What you can do to minimise the risk

Slow down when boating, especially in areas where you know there are turtles

Fish responsibly, take all of your equipment away with you

Put your rubbish in the bin. Safely pick up any rubbish you see and put it in the bin

Eating plastic bags (they look like jellyfish!) Use reusable bags instead of plastic bags

Getting confused and wandering onto the road

People disturbing turtle nesting grounds; this might include dogs digging up nests, people trampling the area, or people camping in the wrong spot

Turtles are attracted to light, so avoid having lights near turtle hatching areas

Talk to your friends and family about turtles and help them understand what they can do to help look after turtles

Think about what you can do to help sea turtle survival. Talk with your family and friends to see what positive changes you might make.

If you see a sea turtle in trouble, you can help by ringing 1300 ANIMAL (1300 264 625)

Photo Frames

Take some photographs on The Strand!

Photography

There are a number of interactive elements along The Strand as a part of Strand Ephemera! Take some time to capture the moment at the interactive photo frames. Will you choose to photograph the landscape, an artwork, or maybe a friend?

Did you chose to photograph an artwork? If so, consider entering the Strand Ephemera Photo Competition! Details at strandephemera.com.au

Want to share your photo on social media? Use #StrandEphemera

Sketch a few of the view, or maybe some portraits, on The Strand in the empty frames.

Drawing Grids

Artists often use drawing grids to improve accuracy and to help sketch in proportion.

Archaeologists also use drawing grids to help accurately record the location and details of artefacts. Astronauts use grids to map out the surfaces of planets and moons.

Locate the Drawing Grids on The Strand. Take your time to sketch the view, square by square, into the grids provided.

Have a go drawing the views at different grids along The Strand.

Story Fridges

Fiona Quin

Share your stories on the #storyfridges #StrandEphemera

Think about the importance of social media in contemporary art. Why do you think this artist has used hashtags with their artwork?

Compare and contrast the process of story writing at a typewriter versus using the magnets on the Story Fridges.

Share your thoughts below:

you dazzle me with your brilliant smile

Fiona Quin Story Fridges, Refrigerators, magnets, wood, paper, plastic, acrylic paint, dimensions variable

Artwork Adjectives

Choose an artwork on The Strand. Write down some words that describe the artwork. Write down as many as you can think of in two minutes.

Haiku is a form of Japanese poetry that relies on syllables for its poetic structure. Count the syllables in each of your descriptive words. Write a haiku by choosing words to fit the structure below:

First line: 5 syllables

Second line: 7 syllables

Last line: 5 syllables

If you speak a different language at home, you can do this activity in your home language.

Incarcerate!

Jan Hynes

Artists often incorporate symbols into their artworks. These symbols convey meaning to the viewer.

Have a look around The Strand. What symbols can you see? These may be in artworks, Strand signage, restaurants, and more. Sketch the different types of symbols you can see below: Discuss the use of symbols in the following contexts:

The Pacific

Townsville is home to people from many different places, including islands in The Pacific. Do you know anyone with family members living in The Pacific? Have you visited any of these areas?

How many places can you identify on the map below?

Languages in the Pacific

Look at the words for bird and star in different Pacific languages. Can you see that these languages are related?

Tongan Samoan Tahitian Māori Hawaiian manu manu manu manu manu fetu’u fetu fetia whetū

The Language, the Wind and the Tides Toni Rogers

People have been sailing around the Pacific Ocean for thousands of years.

As people travel, they take their art and their languages with them.

Why do you think the artist has chosen coconuts as a material for their artwork?

hōkū

Toni Rogers, The Language, the Wind and the Tides, 150 painted coconuts with Pacific designs. Dimensions variable. Photograph: Andrew Rankin Photography

Pacific Patterns

Patterns are used as a way to communicate information and lots of patterns have specific meanings. Throughout the Pacific, patterns are used in painting, carving, and tattooing and are often inspired by the natural world.

Research patterns from different parts of the Pacific. Can you see where the inspiration for the pattern comes from in the natural world?

Create your own patterns and symbols in the box below. Think about what meaning you would like to convey.

Thongaphone

How does a thongophone make sound?

When you slap a pipe, the air in it vibrates at a rate that matches the pipe’s ‘natural’ vibration rate. Long pipes have slow natural vibration rates, giving low sounds. In short pipes, the air vibrates more quickly and makes higher-pitched sounds. These pipes were cut to lengths that give the notes of a musical scale, like a piano. We hear a different sound from each pipe because hitting the pipes causes the air to vibrate and produce different sounds through different lengths of pipes.

How can we use our senses to explore and test new ideas?

Play with sound as you create music with Thongaphone. Here are some tunes to get you started. Can you recognise them?

Follow your curiosity and bring out your inner scientist with Thongaphone and other exciting interactives in Sciencentre at Museum of Tropical Queensland.

Sweet Barrier Reef

Ken + Julia Yonetani

This artwork was developed in collaboration with scientists at the Australian Institute of Marine Science in Townsville, and variations of this work have been shown in major galleries in Australia and overseas. This is the first time this work has been constructed for display in Queensland.

What does the ephemeral nature of the material used bring to the artwork? How might this artwork be affected by it’s surroundings on The Strand?

Sweet Barrier Reef investigates the relationship between industry and the environment. Take some time to explore the significance of the artwork and its location.

Ken + Julia Yonetani, Sweet Barrier Reef, Campbelltown Arts Centre, Sydney, 2010.

Patterns in the Sand

As a group, use the rakes and stamps provided at Strand Park Beach to create a large scale design in the sand. Consider whether you would like to include your footprints in the design.

Take a photo of your finished design and share with #StrandEphemera. Don’t have a camera? Sketch your completed design below:

16,615

Sharon Goodwin

This artwork represents the number of days the artist has been alive. Each day the artwork is on display, the number will increase to accurately reflect the artist’s age. How is this artwork especially ephemeral? This sculpture consists of two dimensional parts. What makes it a three dimensional artwork?

Sharon Goodwin, 16,615, Painted marine ply, 15 pieces; dimensions variable, approx. 200 x 240 cm each

Counting the days

Are you able to figure out the artist's birthday just from knowing how many days she has been alive? Why or why not?

Can you calculate how many days you have been alive? Have you passed 5,000 days? How did you calculate your age in days?

Future Astronomers Illuminated

William Ross State High School

This artwork focuses on viewing constellations.

When you look up at the stars, you are looking at positive and negative space.

Future Astronomers Illuminated Metal, wood, acrylic, solar light circuitry, fabric 300 x 500 x 500 cm

Have a look at M. C. Escher’s artwork to the right and how elements of the image change in positive verses negative space.

Indigenous Australian cultures have long had complex knowledge of the stars. In some cases, it is the dark spaces that have names, rather than the bright spaces. Do some research to find out more about Indigenous astronomy.

William Ross State High School

Photograph: Andrew Rankin Photography

M. C. Escher Sky and Water I 1938 Woodcut print 43.5 × 43.9 cm

Fluid Air John Nesirky

There are lots of different ways to become an artist. Can you see how Nesirky has used his skills as a boat builder to create a unique kinetic sculpture? Design your own moving sculpture in the box below.

John Nesirky, Fluid Air, Laminated timber, marine ply, silk, brass, copper, leather and copper fastenings, 450 x 90 x 230 cm.

Photograph: Andrew Rankin Photography

Rectangular Composition

Tijn Meulendijks

This artist has created a rectangular prism out of plant materials. Do you think this would be easy or difficult to do? Why, or why not?

Rectangular Composition

Plant Material, Hyptis suaveolens (bush mint)

Dimensions variable, approx. 75 x 120 x 360 cm

Can you transform these 2D shapes into 3D in the space below?

Take some time to add tone to your 3D shapes.

Tijn Meulendijks

Tangental Growth

Victoria Lees

There are many forms of textile art, most of which have their origins in traditional handcrafts such as weaving, sewing, and knitting. Many of these handcrafts were created almost exclusively by women, and are often thought of as craft rather than art. Contemporary textile artists challenge these assumptions by presenting textiles in new ways.

This artwork takes the traditional handcraft of crochet to create a large scale installation piece. The long crocheted funnels of this artwork mimic the dangling roots of the fig trees.

Is there a difference between art and craft? How would you define both terms?

Victoria Lees Tangental Growth Crocheted acrylic wool, fishing line

All Voyagers

Carla Gottgens

This artwork is about journeys through life and how sometimes these journeys are smooth while other times they are rough. Have a look at the artworks floating on the water. How are boats and water a metaphor for life in this artwork?

Carla Gottgens, All Voyagers, Hand-folded digitally printed spunbonded olefin fibre. Multiple pieces; 20 x 35 x 18 cm each. Image courtesy of the Artist.

How to fold a paper boat

Fold your own boat with any A4 sheet of paper or use the back cover of this book!

1. Start with an A4 sheet of paper and fold in half lengthwise. Now unfold to make a center crease guide.

2. Now ‘mountain’ fold the sheet in half (and don’t unfold).

3. Fold the top corners in to touch the center crease.

4. Fold up the paper edges on either side of the triangles to make a ‘hat’ shape.

5. Open up the inside of the ‘hat’ and flatten the ‘hat’ so that it is a now a ‘diamond’.

6. Fold the bottom corners of the ‘diamond’ up to touch the top front and back corners.

7. Similar to step 5, open up the triangle and flatten it so it is a ‘diamond’. Flatten so that the sides are now the front.

8. Pull the top flaps outward like you are opening a ‘flower’.

9. Flatten the fold and open the final shape of your boat!