Categories: General Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2018 Title: Liquid Architecture: Mangrove, Casuarina, Cotton Tree, PalmHOME OF THE ARTS (HOTA) 135 Bundall Rd, Surfers Paradise Qld
From Liquid Architecture website:
(Why Listen?)
The Gold Coast is home many difÂferÂent plants which thrive in the unlikely enviÂronÂment of saltÂwaÂter ecosysÂtems. ManÂgrove comÂmuÂniÂties supÂport milÂlions upon milÂlions of lives. CasuarÂiÂnas – also called she-oaks – spread their needle-shaped scale-leaves in a fine carpet to smother other vegÂeÂtaÂtion, vitally supÂportÂing the healthy balÂance of wetÂlands by keepÂing other plant encroachÂment in check. She-oak nuts are also the only food that black cockÂaÂtoos feed upon. Cotton trees – beach hibisÂcus – also grow in the interÂtidal zone, where their bark has traÂdiÂtionÂally been used for string, their roots hold sandÂbanks together and their canopy shields and proÂtects aquatic life. Palm trees are another limÂiÂnal species, symÂbolÂisÂing the Coastal dream of waterÂfront propÂerty ownÂerÂship but also the evicÂtion of old, unruly garÂdens for an aspiÂraÂtional aesÂthetic of manÂiÂcured shadeÂlessÂness.
Far from being silenced, these quinÂtesÂsenÂtially Gold Coast plants are actuÂally very vocal, speak to sysÂtems beyond botany – wider ecoloÂgies and narÂrower economies – acting as symÂbols to spark our diaÂlogues about plant-human relaÂtions on the GlitÂter Strip. Through a series of co-operÂaÂtive perÂforÂmances, open conÂverÂsaÂtions and tea-drinkÂing, this proÂgram of plant-lisÂtenÂing unfolds over an afterÂnoon at Home of the Arts.
Dr Mary Graham will speak about plants within indigeÂnous perÂspecÂtives and phiÂlosÂoÂphy.
Libby HarÂward, who is a Ngugi woman from the QuanÂdamooka, will give an artist talk and lead a kayak lisÂtenÂing tour with LA’s Danni Zuvela, through sites of occuÂpaÂtion and botanÂiÂcal subÂjecÂtivÂiÂties.
The world’s leadÂing plant bioaÂcoustic sciÂenÂtist, Monica Gagliano (Perth) will give a readÂing and thoughts from her latest book, the phyto-biogÂraÂphy Thus Spoke the Plant (North Atlantic Books (released NovemÂber 13, 2018).
Leah BarÂclay will respond to Monica’s book with a locaÂtive sound instalÂlaÂtion explorÂing the acoustic ecolÂogy beneath the surÂface of the soil. AccesÂsiÂble by mobile devices, the instalÂlaÂtion will include live streams with microÂphones buried (‘planted’) deep in the ground beneath the Home of the Arts site.
David Spooner’s queerÂing of plant disÂcourse will conÂsider domÂiÂnatÂing enviÂronÂments; vegÂeÂtal-human abunÂdance; visÂiÂbilÂity, audiÂbilÂity and masÂculinÂity; and what it might mean to grow in the wrong conÂtext, or flourÂish in balÂance.
ThroughÂout the day, Mutual Making (Caitlin FranzÂmann and Dhana MerÂritt) will genÂerÂate a space for conÂverÂsaÂtion and the creÂation and sharÂing of plant wisdom and expeÂriÂences, includÂing tea drinkÂing, divÂinaÂtion readÂings and talkÂing.
This event takes place on the sovÂerÂeign lands of the YugamÂbeh people.
Co-presented by Liquid Architecture and HoTA Supported by the Regional Arts Development Fund