Completion of the first
Yumi Olgeta: Crafting a More Inclusive Democracy Quilt

Photo Credit: Robert Wagner

We have done it!  Five years (2019-24) in the making, the first quilt of the Yumi Olgeta: Crafting a More Inclusive Democracy collaboration is finished.  There were 57 participants in Australia and USA who took part, many attending three workshops held in Canberra and Sydney during that time.  Three traditional weavings were commissioned with the Napen Napen Custom Women of Port Vila, Vanuatu to represent the close ties and ongoing impact of blackbirding on the pacific islands.

The quilt is now in Sydney with the Australian South Sea Islanders Port Jackson to be showcased at the 30th Anniversary of Commonwealth Recognition Event on Friday 25th October 24 and also at SugarFest in March 2025.  After these events, the quilt will be donated to the Museum of Australian Democracy in Canberra, where this collaboration began.

From my point of view it has been a great honour to coordinate this powerful project and humbling to witness the generosity and good will behind it right from the start.  I thank all participants and supporters and look forward to celebrating with you over the next 6-9 months as the quilt enters the next stage of it's journey to bring greater recognition to Australia's Slave Trade history of Blackbirding.

 

New Public Artwork in Sunbury

It is with great excitement that I announce the installation of my mural at Tulsa Drive Reserve, Goonawarra in Sunbury, Victoria.  Part of the Hume City Council 2022-23 Mural Program, this public artwork is located in the thriving community hub in Goonawarra.  It is next to a sports field and playground, at the back of the local primary school and close to the neighbourhood house, community hall, child care centre, day hospital, medical centre, dentist, chiropractor and other services and shops.  When I first visited this site I was inspired by the sense of connection and community cohesion along with the intense bird song overhead.  

Here's a pic with other Hume artists in the project: Maggie Maclean, Bree Morrison, Lisa Buckland (John Patten was unable to attend).  Funded by Hume City Council, this public artwork is the first of five to roll out in the Hume area. 

Thank you to the team at Hume City Council including Anna Clabburn, Gavin Menzies and Helen Santinis. Also, thanks to Winslow Infrastructure for the invitation to attend their free Community Day at Tulsa Drive Reserve, Goonawarra to thank locals for their patience with the local roadworks.  It was a fun and generous event.  I enjoyed meeting local families while handing out free postcards of my two artworks on the mural.  Just drop me a line if you would like me to send you some.

 

Sydney Yumi Olgeta: Crafting a More Inclusive Democracy Workshop

Artist Helen Fraser and Councilor Emelda Davis with her gift from Vanuatu of a tradition woven mat.

It was a great pleasure to run the third Yumi Olgeta: Crafting a More Inclusive Democracy workshop at Green Square Library, Zetland in Sydney on Saturday 19th August, 2023.  As part of the weeklong recognition week in the lead up to Australian South Sea Islander Recognition Day on August 25th, the workshop focused on the history of blackbirding; the kidnapping, coercion and trading of pacific islanders to work in the NSW whaling and pastoral industries.  Scottish entrepreneur Benjamin Boyd was the first to bring 65 men to NSW to his enterprises in Eden NSW during 1847.  Participants were provided with nine new motifs created in response to this history and our second quilt project - a quilt for the City of Sydney about the NSW history - was launched.  We aim to complete this second quilt by 2025-26.


My collaborator Councilor Emelda Davis attended with her daughter Binette Diop and they spoke candidly about this history and its impact of their families and descendants today.  They also spoke about the Seasonal Workers Scheme and the importance of ensuring the rights of workers are protected.  They bought along three traditional weavings in addition to one above, which we commissioned in 2020.  They are created by the Napen Napen Custom Women of Port Vila, Vanuatu.  We were able to lay out the the weavings on top of the front of our first quilt which gave a sense of how the finished quilt will look.  It was inspiring to see what we have all been working to achieve over the last four years.  This first quilt will be donated to the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House, Canberra in August 2024.
 
Special thanks to the City of Sydney for providing such a stunning venue and for funding the event.  We would love you to join our second quilt project.  

Click here to download Embroidery and Applique Motifs and Factsheet. 

 Panel discussion hosted by The Art Hunter at Fortyfive Downstairs Gallery

As part of Marco Luccio's current exhibition Cuorosensa: A Reverse Archaeology at Fortyfive Downstairs Gallery in Flinders Lane Melbourne I was part of panel discussing the positive impact of art on our lives.

The event was hosted by the incredible David Hunt, otherwise known as The Art Hunter.  Panelists included Marco Luccio - Artist, Guy Grossi - Chef, Neil Stonnel - Architect, Dr Ian Summers - Emergency Physician and Helen Fraser - Artist, Psychologist and Psychotherapist.


It was a pleasure to talk about how art has transformed and healed me and give examples to inspire the audience to start or keep creating.  

Follow Marco Luccio Artist at www.marcoluccio.com.au

Photo credit Robert Wagner Photography

 

Interview on Joy 94.9FM Sunday Arts Magazine