Community weave

Wool from a local farmer

“What started as art workshops became a powerful example of how creativity can create space for genuine connection, storytelling, and community care—transforming both the artwork and everyone involved in ways we never expected.”

In the tiny wheatbelt town of Carnama, known for its spectacular wildflowers and epic thunderstorms, Wren Richards and I partnered with DADAA and the North Midlands Project to run community weaving workshops that became so much more than we'd imagined.

Working on two large collaborative pieces—"An Aussie Storm" and "Wildflowers"—we invited community members to follow their intuition while creating art that reflected their deep connection to place. As hands worked the looms, stories naturally flowed. We heard about life in regional Australia, the challenges of accessing healthcare in remote areas, and the resilience that comes from living so closely connected to the land and weather patterns that shape daily life.

The most touching moment came when a local elderly farmer, recently widowed, invited us to visit his property and generously donated wool from his own sheep to incorporate into our weaves.

What started as art workshops became a powerful example of how creativity can create space for genuine connection, storytelling, and community care—transforming both the artwork and everyone involved in ways we never expected.