CREATIVE LEARNING – WHALE SONG
3 – 19 Nov
Free
CREATIVE LEARNING – WHALE SONG
3 – 19 Nov
Free
Celebrating students as creative citizens, Whale Song brings the next generation of voices and artists into the Fremantle Biennale.
Across 10 weeks students from Beaconsfield and East Hamilton Hill Primary Schools have worked with artists Jess Day and Alex Desebrock, alongside a host of Whadjuk Cultural knowledge holders, scientists and other creatives to co-design a series of new works and interventions for SIGNALS 23.
Alex Desebrock with Yr 5/6s of East Hamilton Hill Primary School has created Moodjar Forever. Alongside Noongar Cultural Knowledge holder Sandra Harben and Ecologists Viki Cramer, the students have learnt, listened and created a project getting to know the Moodjar tree. See their artwork Moodjar Forever on the facade of the Elders Woolstores.
Jess Day invited the Year 4 students of Beaconsfield Primary School to consider signalling between Wayalup (Fremantle) and Wadjemup (Rottnest Island). The students considered how they might wish to communicate over distance without the aid of technology. Students generated a speculative message to an individual of their choice, such as friends, those no longer with us, family, animals, or plants. The students expressed their messages through pictorial drawings, creating a series of flags, which became increasingly codified as students expressed themselves through survival symbols and their own evolving symbologies.
Date and Time
Elders Woolstores, Fremantle
3 – 19 Nov
24/7
Jess Day is an artist and writer based in boorloo, Perth. Day’s practice investigates the practical and imaginative application of wilderness concepts, prepping culture, conflict and othering, and non-linear narratives, often with sculptural outcomes. Day has recently completed a PhD at Curtin University in Fine Arts and has exhibited locally and interstate. Day has written for Snakehair Press (USA, Boston), Art Monthly (AUS, Canberra), NAVA (AUS, Sydney), and Semaphore (AUS, Perth). Jess Day continues to be inspired by the intersection of practical and imaginative modes of engaging with survival concepts, with particular focus on the low-cost, playful, and experimental ways in which sculpture can manifest these concepts.
Alex Desebrock is a facilitator, connector, artist & producer living in Walyalup (Fremantle). Her practice focuses on connection, elevating voices, big questions and public space. She works with multigenerational audiences and has presented work under Maybe ( ) Together (Small Voices Louder, Dear Hope St, The Future Postal Service & others) for over 15 years from her own street, to a hall in Tom Price, to Sydney Festival, Perth Festival, Dream Big, Commonwealth Games, Arts Centre Melbourne and more.
Alex completed Animateuring (VCA) in 2011 and was awarded the Barbara Manning Scholarship. She was the Australian representative for ASSITEJ’s Directors’ Seminar in Germany in 2015 & was an artist in residence at Arts Chiyoda 3331, Japan in 2016 and The ArtGround (Singapore) in 2019.
As a producer/curator, Alex co-founded FLOCK (2017-2020) & Shifting and Stirring (2020-2023). From 2021-2022 she was Associate Producer (Connect) at Perth Festival, developing arts sector initiatives.
- Elders Woolstores, Fremantle
-
Information
Event Information:
Shelter is limited, and the site is exposed to the elements.
The work involves a short walk to experience the work fully.
Drinking water will not be available so bring a water bottle. -
Getting There
Parking:
Woolstores Car Park
Westgate Car ParkTicketed street parking can also be found surrounding the building.
Public Transport:
Elders Woolstores is a 6-minute walk from the Fremantle Train Station, which is the final destination for the Fremantle Train line, as well as several bus routes.
Food & drink:
While food & beverages will not be available at this space, there are several fantastic hospitality offerings nearby. Clancy’s Fish Pub, a family-friendly seafood pub is just across the road. Just around the corner is The Mantle (a mostly-BYO food market), and a short walk further you can find restaurants such as Manuka Woodfire Kitchen (book ahead!). -
Access
Expect somewhat uneven terrain, but largely accessible to wheelchairs. Accessible portable toilets will be placed just outside the entrance to the Elders Woolstores. The nearest ACROD parking can be found at the Woolstores Car Park or Westgate Car Park.
-
Image credit
Photo: New Tides (Pip Lewi, Betty Richards & Students from Beaconsfield and North Fremantle Primary Schools), 2021. Commissioned by Fremantle Biennale for CROSSING 21. Photo: Duncan Wright.
- Elders Woolstores, Fremantle
-
Information
Event Information:
Shelter is limited, and the site is exposed to the elements.
The work involves a short walk to experience the work fully.
Drinking water will not be available so bring a water bottle. -
Getting There
Parking:
Woolstores Car Park
Westgate Car ParkTicketed street parking can also be found surrounding the building.
Public Transport:
Elders Woolstores is a 6-minute walk from the Fremantle Train Station, which is the final destination for the Fremantle Train line, as well as several bus routes.
Food & drink:
While food & beverages will not be available at this space, there are several fantastic hospitality offerings nearby. Clancy’s Fish Pub, a family-friendly seafood pub is just across the road. Just around the corner is The Mantle (a mostly-BYO food market), and a short walk further you can find restaurants such as Manuka Woodfire Kitchen (book ahead!). -
Access
Expect somewhat uneven terrain, but largely accessible to wheelchairs. Accessible portable toilets will be placed just outside the entrance to the Elders Woolstores. The nearest ACROD parking can be found at the Woolstores Car Park or Westgate Car Park.
-
Image credit
Photo: New Tides (Pip Lewi, Betty Richards & Students from Beaconsfield and North Fremantle Primary Schools), 2021. Commissioned by Fremantle Biennale for CROSSING 21. Photo: Duncan Wright.