Amanda Jane Reynolds
Artist Statement
Gurawul, 2023-24
Sculpture, paper, eco-dyed raffia, LED lights
Guringai Yuin, Wandi Wandian and Noongar (Menang, Gitja, Wangai, Ballardong)
Sculpture, paper, eco-dyed raffia, LED lights
Whale Tail and bubble net weaving – our collaborative creation honouring the teachings of the Whale Elders.
The Whales are our Ancestors, our kin and carry important Lores for Sea Country. We learn so much from whales including the importance of collaboration through bubble net feasting; the relationships between big and little things by understanding krill; and significantly the importance of diplomacy carried by songlines as they travel their annual migration through so many clan estates.
Our collaborative Whale Tail installation was initially developed for Giiyong Festival 2023 on Thaua Country (south coast NSW) and inspired by the teachings of our Elders and custodians of Whale Dreaming. We wanted to create a space inviting people to listen, learn and have fun through our collaborative creativity and affirm our commitment to looking after Country and all species of belonging on land, water and sky.
Credits
Sculpture and weaving: Amethyst Downing, Wandi Wandian
Eco dyeing and weaving: Jodie Dowd, Menang, Gitja, Ballardong and Wangai
Concept and weaving: Amanda Jane Reynolds, Guringai Yuin
Remembering: Sister Trina (deceased) who shared traditional basket coiling with native grasses with us.
Originally commissioned for Giiyong Festival (2023) and we continue to share the contributions of all the visitors to our weaving circle.
About the Artist
Amanda Jane Reynolds is a Guringai and Yuin possum cloak-maker, multimedia artist, curator and storyteller who works with southeastern cultural traditions. Amanda lives on Yuin Country at Burrill Lake on the New South Wales south coast. She regularly travels to Sydney to maintain her cultural connections to Country and community. Her role as a traditional cloak maker began in her late 20s.
Amethyst Downing is a Wandi Wandian woman. Her kinship and ancestral ties are woven throughout the East Coast in so called Australia. Born and raised on Kulin Nation, now living on Country in the lands of Dharawal. She is a multidisciplinary artist, cultural practitioner, mother and scientist in training. Amethyst uses a wide variety of traditional and contemporary mediums, methods, knowledge, practices and techniques.
Jodie Dowd is a Noongar basket weaver, curator, and consultant belonging to the Menang, Gitja, Ballardong and Wangai nations of Noongar boodjar (Western Australia). Jodie has spent over 15 years working with First Nations knowledge holders and storytellers in museums, libraries, radio and film, and was selected for the inaugural Emerging Curator Program by Northern Beaches Council in 2023. Jodie was honoured to be working alongside First Nations artists, creatives and weavers to curate the 2024 ‘Keep the fire burning’ exhibition at the Coal Loader.
