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ILLUMINART PROJECT CASE STUDY: THE RIBBON

The Ribbon: Memories and stories by Murray Bridge residents, mapped onto the historic Town Hall for the June 2010 opening of the Murray Bridge Cultural Precinct.

ABOUT THE PROJECT:

The Ribbon, an architectural projection art show presented during the Burke Urban Sound and Light Show to celebrate the opening of the Murray Bridge Cultural Precinct. The show was presented on the 4th, 5th and 6th of June 2010, on the Murray Bridge Town Hall, Sixth St, Murray Bridge.

The audiovisual story depicted memories and stories contributed by Murray Bridge residents, mapped onto the historic town hall building. Directed by projection artist Cindi Drennan of Illuminart, the segments included an illustration of the Pondi (Murray Cod) by local artist Nellie Rankine, brought to life by animator Luku. Other segments featured animation by Danica Wells-Heitmann and Guy Jamison, representing words by local poet Juan Yang, and stories of the Murray River and settlement. The name "The Ribbon" represents the connection between people and river, the ribbon cutting for the opening of the Cultural Precinct, and the red tape entwining the river management. The segments also included a compostion of characters animated by local young artists, at workshops run by Carclew Youth Arts.

THE STORY WITHIN THE SHOW

NGARRINDJERI ANCESTRAL STORY (Part 1)
Ngarrindjeri dreaming story, Illustrated by Nellie Rankine and animated by Luku Kukukuku. The Pondi (Murray Cod) is chased by Ngurunderi. Pondi swims away from Ngurunderi, carving out the path of the Murray River as he escapes. When Ngurunderi threw his spear after Pondi, he missed... and the spear became Long Island (Lentiel), an island close to Murray Bridge town.

RAIN (Part 2)
Poetry by local artist Yuan Yang, animated by Danica Wells-Heitmann and Cindi Drennan. The ripples image celebrates the 2010 Ripples year (Murray Bridge SA is the Regional Centre of Culture in 2010) and represents community knowledge about the essence and necessity of water for the life of the river and the town. Juan's poem:

Raining
Finally you are coming, wrapping inside winds, both of you dancing all your way,
attentively hugging this dry anxious land.
You gently and softly kissing the leaves, the flowers,the plants....

I could hear your twittering to them:
" here i am, here i am,...."

the trees, the plants, the flowers soaking them self into you,
stretching relaxed in your twittering.

WE REMEMBER SWIMMING IN THE RIVER (Part 3)
Local elders remember swimming in the river before the river levels dropped. Children were connected to the river as a place to play, catch fish, swim. The children run and splash, the splashes become paisley. Animated by Danica Wells-Heitmann, Luku Kukuku and Cindi Drennan.

CAPTAIN PROUD AND THE LIVING SPIRIT OF THE RIVER (Part 4)
Depicting the historical period where boats used the river as a thoroughfare to travel and transport goods, and the deep love that the boat people have for the river. Animated by Danica Wells-Heitmann, and Cindi Drennan. Words by Juan Yang: "It must be fate that made us met" from "Accept and Respect".

OUR RIVER IS ENTWINED BY RED TAPE (Part 5)
The ribbon is an analogy for the river, and for the relationship of love and romance. The entwining ribbons represents love between people, the history of humans connecting to the river, and to the red tape that people describe as entwining the river. Many local people said that they felt that most Australian's did not understand or know the state of the Murray River, and that bureacracy (red tape) was not helping to save the River.

OUR MEMORIES OF THE DAYS GONE BY (Part 6)
Thanks to the support of the State Library of SA we were able to include historic photographs of the town of Murray Bridge, and the river in flood. A giant grandfather clock winds backwards as images are revealed apon the walls of the Town Hall. Animated by Cindi Drennan.

THE FIRST BRIDGE CROSSING (Part 7)
The first train bridge is sketched apon the building by a large hand. The arched windows of the building become the pillars of the Murray Bridge, and a steam train crosses. Animated by Cindi Drennan.

ACCEPT AND RESPECT (Part 8)
Poetry by Juan Yang, describes the pain of a broken relationship. Bricks fall to reveal two stone hearts. A ribbon connects the two hearts as the metaphor of hope and of healing. Animated by Guy Jamieson and Cindi Drennan.

Accept and Respect

Must be fate made us met
I got the message from your eyes
I sense the cold and detached
from your gesture

Can not blame you
if i am in your shoes
I would do the same

close your heart
because I am a looking different to you
But I will leave my heart open
that you could step in any time
If you feel to.

Isolating only make the gap wider
we need a chance to show each other
That we are not allies to each other

wrap off the sympathize
wrap off the deign
Let's be objectivity
Give our hands to each other
Then the hearts will open

Next our eyes will shine with
accept and respect

 

EVERYONE WANTS THEIR SHARE (Part 9)
Based on local stories and comments, that as industries upstream take from the river, there is less left for the natural cycles of the living river downstream, and that this is killing the mouth of the Murray. One comment was: no-one screams for the river, but when the taps stop flowing, they will all shout. Once again, red ribbon represents the red tape. Pipes, taps and outflows are mapped to the shape of the building, and the ribbon crossing stops the wasteful flow of water. Animated by Danica Wells-Heitmann and Cindi Drennan

CUTTING THE RIBBON (Part 10)
Representing cutting of the ribbon for the opening of the new cultural precinct, and also a visual play on cutting the red tape. The theatre curtains open to reveal a playful and colourful vision of butterflies, fountains and paisley, suggesting there is hope for the future with vision and commitment. Composited by Cindi Drennan

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
An orange ribbon acknowledging the support and sponsorship of Burke Urban, and the contribution of Country Arts SA, Rural City of Murray Bridge, Carclew and the State Library of South Australia.

MURRAY BRIDGE CHARACTERS
Animated characters created by local young artists, romp playfully over the building. Composited by Luku Kukukuku. Artists: Liam Altschwager, Joanne Frost, Mitch Hearn, Santos Plessing, Madison Self, Reece Waltrovitz. Animation Tutors: Luku Trembath, Danica Wells-Heitmann

For further information contact illuminart.

 

 

 

THE RIBBON SHOW VIDEO
is available in the following formats:

The Ribbon is a projection art story in light and sound, presented as the Burke Urban Sound and Light Show. This project was commissioned for the Rural City of Murray Bridge by Country Arts SA. The artist, Cindi Drennan ~ Illuminart, has developed the story in consultation with residents of Murray Bridge, and would like to acknowledge and thank the many people who have contributed, in particular:

THANKS:

Clyde Rigney Jr
Nellie Rankine
Juan Yang
Eli Ash
Sandy Wilson
Greig & Vesna Donaldson (Captain Proud Cruises)
Tahlia Lloyd
Jo Pike, Di Gordon and the team at Country Arts SA
Faith Box and the team at Murray Bridge Council
Bridget Briscoe (Ripples Office)
Russell Duncan (ETSA Utilities)
The team at Burke Urban and Martins Integrated
Jeremy & Robyn at Balcony on Sixth

PROJECT CREDITS:

Projection Artist/Director: Cindi Drennan
Illustration of Ngarrandjeri story: Nellie Rankine
Poetry: Juan Yang
Animators: Luku Kukukuku, Danica Wells-Heitmann, Guy Jamieson, Cindi Drennan
Camera: Mark Andersson
Composer: Samantha Ray with TomNTum
Music Riff: Eli Ash
River spirit: Elise Anthony
Historic Photographs: State Library of South Australia for images and video of Murray Bridge and the Murray River, from the SA Memory project
Carclew Animated Segment: Animated artworks created by local artists through workshops run by Carclew Youth Arts, with the financial support of Country Arts SA. Artists: Liam Altschwager, Joanne Frost, Mitch Hearn, Santos Plessing, Madison Self, Reece Waltrovitz. Tutors: Luku Trembath, Danica Wells-Heitmann
Production: Dave McLean, Craig Williams and the team at Mosaic AV