
It was a wonderful experience continuing our margin-to-margin collaboration with the Bridge to Nowhere Arts Association in Port Pirie, Australia. Researcher and artist Melanie Sarantou initiated this contact some time ago through workshops and discussions about the dreams and future aspirations of the Bridge to Nowhere artists. These interactions included face-to-face meetings and discussions on Facebook, leading to workshops focused on creating mandalas of life woven into an old gate that was given a second life through the collaboration of international artists. The Artists Association prepared natural and textile materials for weaving into the gate. Melanie, Sherrie Jones, and I worked together on this gate project. Our collaboration with Sherrie began earlier in Fowler’s Bay and in the Helinä Museum through workshops and exhibitions. We spent three days working on the gate, starting by creating a mandala from natural materials around a nearby dam. The intent was to reflect on one’s lifecycle by forming this design in the shape of a mandala, serving as an ephemeral installation that could naturally fade over time. In the following days, the mandalas took shape as we wove and attached them to the gate, which was constructed from recycled and textile materials. The finished gate was installed in the community for six weeks. Mandalas represent the weaving of repeating balanced patterns in harmony. By allowing the mind to find peace and focusing on the craft with rhythmic handiwork, we created a welcoming space for each other’s small stories and fostered friendship. The experience of weaving together, sharing stories, and collaborating creatively was truly amazing with the Bridge to Nowhere Arts. Thank you to all the local artists for their contributions.
