NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2020
Report of the Peace Festival Day by Rhiannon Irving
The Planetary Healing Artists “connecting hARTS, St Kilda Peace Festival” happened on the beautifully sunny day of December 20th at O’Donnell Gardens St Kilda to an amazing crowd turn-out.
(Image of Father Bob)
The event opened with a truly light-filled and inspiring introduction from Rabbi Gabi Kaltmann from the Ark Centre about how important it is to bring each other peace and light after the year of such separation that 2020 has been. This was followed by a soul-stirring moment from the awe-inspiring Reverend Robert Maguire about the importance of coming together in these times.
Next up we were honoured to have respected Boonwurrung Elder N’arweet Dr Carolyn Briggs AM deliver the Welcome to Country on behalf of the local custodians of the Boonwurrung land on which we met, and remind us all of the important message of first and foremost recognising the First Nations predecessors of our nation and raising their voices in bringing all communities together for Peace.
(Image of Caroline Briggs)
(Image of Caroline lighting Peace Candle)
Reverend Robert Maguire, N’arweet Dr Carolyn Briggs AM and Rabbi Kaltmann were then joined by Dilnaz Bilimoria representing the Zoroastrianism faith, Michael Wells from the Buddhist community and Rev Dr Coralie Ling a long time minister of the Uniting Church to light the Peace Candles and ignite the beginning of the event.
Following this, the wonderful and talented Breanna Lee, 15 year old local Indigenous artist helped welcome all attendees to the local Indigenous lands by singing Womenjika and Fire Twirling artists from Dreaming Space performed a fire dance.
(Image of Breanna Lee Singing)
(Image of Sudanese Children's choir)
Next up the Sudanese Children choir made a beautiful appearance before MC Kimmie Lovegrove, a Ngarrindjeri born comedian now living and working in Naarm (Melbourne) took the stage to introduce the acts for the rest of the day.
Breanna Lee joined us again to sing In The Arms of the Angels by Sarah McLachlan, She Used To Be Mine from the musical Waitress and Solid Rock by Goanna.
Then the crowd was thrilled and invigorated by the appearance of Te Hononga o nga Iwi..T’Honi, South East Melbourne based Kapahaka (Maori Performing Arts group) whose mission is to inspire unison, bringing together local people from all Maori tribes through traditional performance.
(Image of T'Honi)
(Image of Kee'ahn)
Following this Kee’ahn,Kuku Yalanji, Jirrbal and Badu Island songbird living in the Kulin Nations, gave us a stunning and inspiring performance of some of her latest works inspired by her personal journey and experiences.
Throughout the day the stilt walker the Aquariun Goddess made an appearance around the park, it was wonderful to see her using her talents to bring joy and movement to audience members young and old.
(Image of Aquarian Goddess with audience member)
(Image of Tim Mathers speaking)
During the break we welcomed the long-awaited dawning of a new 200 year Age of Aquarius era where Jupiter and Saturn meet in conjunction at 0° Aquarius, by showing a clip featuring the Age of Aquarius from the hit 1967 musical Hair.
Then John Lowndes from Park Towers Tenant Management Inc. helped open the Visionary Peace Art Exhibition, Lasanya Jayathilake spoke about the development progress of the soon to be opened Pride Centre on Fitzroy St Kilda, which will bring a new era of inclusiveness for the Australian LGBTIQ+ community and the new Arts Director for the Planetary Healing Artists Jacqueline Salvatore presented a digital showing of the local art works that are presented in this year’s Visionary Arts Exhibition available online through the Planetary Healing Artists website.
Ninna Martine then spoke about the Invisible Humans Project that aims to show society socially disadvantaged people who make art. And then we heard from TIm Mathers about his artwork in the Visionary Peace Art exhibition and his experience as someone recently diagnosed with ADHD and ASD.
We were so lucky to have the reggae band Black Roots come and perform and bring such joy and life to the audience on this wonderful summer’s day in St Kilda.
(Image of Black Roots)
After this CEO of Africause Youth and Community Services Berhan Ahmed spoke about the importance of including and involving Black and People of Colour in all aspects of society beyond the colour of their skin and valuing the contributions that people who have until now been underrepresented in society can make, and importantly in Australia to raise the voices and experience of First Nations people to the forefront in all aspects of society.
The aim of Africause is to “support, facilitate and engage African-Australian young people for better life outcomes”.
Adam Dunning then performed with Jorge Albuquerque and Scott Hay, inspiring peace and togetherness with his music inspired by the Sun, the Moon and Everything in between.
Finally we had a surprise visit from a special guest! Santa made the day of all the children attending by popping in for a break from his busy season to deliver gifts!
Visionary Peace online art exhibition 2020 – report by Jacqueline Salvatore
At the Connecting hARtS St Kilda annual Peace festival event
Exhibition reception:
On Sunday 20th December we celebrated together with the St. Kilda community the Summer Solstice event of the Connecting hARTS St Kilda Peace Festival, a multi-cultural music and arts annual event, supported by the City of Port Phillip and Love My Place initiative. The online art exhibition themed ‘Visionary Peace’ was kindly opened at 4:00pm by John Lowndes, from Park Towers Tenant Management Inc. Our organisation’s Secretary and Committee Member, Lasanya Jayathilake, also gave a wonderful speech introducing the Victorian Pride Centre, located on 79-81 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, which is a unique initiative that celebrates, protects and promotes the narrative of Australian Pride by bringing the LGBTIQ+ community together in a single, powerful space.
The online art exhibition was featured on a wide urban screen at the event, close to the right of the main stage and live-streamed as a feature of the event. The Victorian Pride Centre opened our online art exhibition with computerised renders of the exterior and interior plans of the building, images provided by Brearley Architects and Urbanists (BAU) and Grant Amon Architects (GAA). To open the exhibition leading with the Victorian Pride Centre was well-aligned with this year’s theme; the inclusion of underrepresented groups to inspire us to work together for peace in these Covid times, in positive, uplifting and inspired visions of peace. Connecting community together, artists broke down barriers exploring their visionary notions of what inner, community and global peace means today in our modern world. Subject matter ranged from the solar system, planetary eclipse and the Age of Aquarius, to Uluru, environmental issues and peaceful landscapes, as well as visions of the Creator or Supreme Divinity, to cross-cultural collaborations such as West African kora (harp) music, Dag Hammarskjold Peace Maker and the West Papuan’s Flag with the Morning Star. In total twelve artists were selected for the exhibition, showcasing 30 artworks. Many of the artworks are available for sale online; viewable on our website under our ‘Gallery’, subheading ‘Art Exhibition 2020’.
(Image of Jacqueline Salvatore speaking)
Planetary Healing Artists Association would like to give a sincere, personal thank you to all of the contributing artists in this year’s exhibition, including: images provided by Brearley Architects and Urbanists (BAU) and Grant Amon Architects (GAA), Silvana Benacchio, Nina Bove, Faye Gregson, Lee Hirsh, Maria Jevic, Timea Kiss, Reverand Albert Lange (Bhakta Dasa), Timothy “Frog” Mather, Roland van Olphen, Caroline Proctor, and Fiona Walshe.
Group Art Workshop:
On Sunday 20th September at the Connecting hARTS St Kilda Peace Festival, we engaged with the St. Kilda community in providing a group art workshop designed for children and adults alike, positioned just left of the main stage. The feedback we received was really positive as people and particularly children, enjoyed making Peace Pinwheels (which turn in the wind) in line with this year’s theme of ‘Visionary Peace’.
Our volunteers helped us on the day at the workshop tables, assisting the children and adults with how to construct the pinwheels.
Safety scissors designed for children and pin-less paper fasteners were used to replace traditional materials, in order to make the workshop suitable and safe for children of all ages. Children were encouraged to draw images and write text, of what they felt peace means in our current world today. Everyone was encouraged to and happily took their Peace Pinwheels home with them from the day.
Pinwheels for Peace is an art installation project started in 2005 by Ann Ayers and Ellen McMillan, who were art teachers in Florida, USA, as a way for their students to express their feelings about what’s going on in the world and in their lives. The project was quickly embraced by their students and the entire school community and by millions of art teachers, teachers, parents, children and adults who desire peace in our world. The first Pinwheels for Peace were installed on Sept. 21, 2005. Since then, the project has grown from 500,000 pinwheels planted the first year, to four million pinwheels in 2016!
Pinwheels for Peace are made every year on International Day of Peace, September 21st, as we create a visual public statement about peace all over the world.
Please check the YouTube videos here: