Torres Strait weavers making history at CIAF

STORY & PICS BY CHRISTINE HOWES

Large scale, 3D works in coconut leaves – the Mura Kaymelan Bei Aurem (Coconut Leaf Project) – will form a striking display for visitors along the terrace of the Cairns Convention Centre at this weekend’s Cairns Indigenous Art Festival (CIAF).

The works show the artists’ traditional use of coconut leaf and weaving techniques to create contemporary artefacts.

Six master weavers comprise the project, which was a perfect fit for this year’s CIAF theme: Weaving our future; claiming our sovereignty

CIAF’s Curatorial Associate Teho Ropeyarn project managed the team, who have enjoyed more than two weeks of living and working together at a Tanks residency house near Cairns Botanic Gardens.

The weavers were: Aunty Mowe Billy, Yessie Mosby, Niki Mackie, Hans Ahwang, Aunty Emma Gebadi and George Kris.

“They each worked on their own project, so they’re putting together their own artwork, their own how they want to present and tell their stories,” Mr Ropeyarn said.

“There are six large-scale works, and then there’s also a group work with all of them bringing all their talents and creativity into one big masterpiece.

“Everyone has their own style, their own techniques, their own way of doing things.

“We built this cultural residency into the project to bring them together, to share knowledge and pass on different techniques and, I think, strengthen it.

“It’s the first weaving collective for CIAF.”

He said the weavers had participated in festivals before, but usually on the side.

“It’s a little public engagement thing and people come in, can sit and learn to weave,” he said.

“And I just felt it wasn’t taken seriously because you just saw it just on the side at big events.

“Then I saw Auntie Nancy Nona doing workshops throughout Torres Strait and at different festivals, showing all that culture, and I thought it needs to be a project, it needs to be an exhibition, and we need to celebrate it properly.

“Not just as a side thing, give it respect, it’s a craft, you will find all these different levels of significance.

“I think information and the importance of it, and it’s preservation, is all bubbling up through this process.”

He said the team was very excited, but also relaxed.

“They said, ‘we’ve got this, don’t stress about anything – we can set up a community hall within one night for a tombstone opening’,” he said.

“We did all the groundwork over the three months leading into this, so they’ve got a floor plinth, the base, and then some of them have got an aluminium backdrop frame where they’re going to do their arrangements.

“So now they’re just weaving and helping one another.

“They’ve done part of the work on the islands and it’s come down on the boat in very large crates, so they are just doing all the extra pieces and they will assemble it at the convention centre.”

Weaver Yessie Mosby said they had brought weaving to a new level.

“This has definitely brought it to a different level because we’re usually just weaving for traditional ceremonies up in the village, even island families who reside down south, we just weave for these tombstone, weddings and so forth,” he said. “But for CIAF to invite us to do this first time weaving, just for the public, has definitely brought it up to the next stage, and I’m so honoured to be a part of it.”

Mr Ropeyarn said he hoped this was a starting point.

“It will grow from here,” he said.

“For them, it was the first time that they brought a group together to connect and just to strengthen the practise of weaving, and I think bigger things will come out of this.”

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Ailan Kai Kai plays role at 2023 Laura

Dance festival

PICS THANKS TO INGRID NIELSEN

Torres Strait Islander businesses – especially the food stalls – played a big role at the 2023

Laura Quinkan

Indigenous Dance Festival last weekend.

Beatrice Sam’s Kakai Mayi and Florence

Schmunz’s Flo’s TSI Takeaway, joined Bina’s Kitchen, who took their van outside of Townsville for the first time, were all at the huge event attended by several thousand people. Bamaga Dreamtime, owned by Joanne Adidi, and Kaizi’s Coconut Oil also ran stalls over the three days.