SEASONS in Blak Box was presented at the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Melbourne Gardens in March 2020.
SEASONS in Blak Box is a multi-part sound work that explores the integral role of plants in the Kulin seasonal calendar. Through the time-honoured practice of deep listening, SEASONS invites audiences to experience climatic and seasonal variation, less as a weather event and more as a cultural phenomenon.
Presented in Blak Box, an award-winning sound pavilion designed by renowned architect Kevin O'Brien, SEASONS is curated by respected Aboriginal broadcaster and radio journalist Daniel Browning. Key Indigenous artists Parbin-ata Carolyn Briggs AM, Isobel Morphy-Walsh, Aunty Joy Murphy AO and Justice Nelson along with featured artists Fay Stewart-Muir and Mandy Nicholson weave story, language and anecdote in a deeply moving evocation of country. SEASONS features new music by composer James Henry and lighting design by Karen Norris.
Presented by Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria.
SEASONS is a work that is well suited to people who are blind or vision impaired as it is a listening experience in which the audience can experience music, spoken word and song from First Nations artists.
To find out more, and visit the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria website here.
"My visit was overall inspiring and rejuvenating. I travelled to the Gardens to participate in the Seasons in Blak Box event. Arriving early I had thechance to walk around the gardens a bit - the scents arising, the coolness and calmness that comes from being around vegetation creating a sense ofcalm within. Fantastic. Seasons was an amazing experience on many levels. The venue was appropriate; the structure, lighting, sound quality allamazing and high quality. I feel honoured and fortunate to have heard the voices and listened to the stories of the six women artists who were thefoundation of the event; the music was powerful. Thanks for hosting this event.’’
"Like climbing into the womb of our land and awakening to its history and culture through story and sensory experience! Fantastic concept, wellexecuted, highly recommend!’’
"Beautiful immersive audio installation, the deep listening experience was engaging and memorable. Loved it. Thank you for sharing local Indigenousstories and connecting us with country.’’
"Peaceful; a wonderful learning experience and again I marvel at how much we can learn from our indigenous brothers and sisters. I am so pleased to have been present as now I read that it will need to be closed due to COVID19. More Indigenous experiences like this please.’’
Curator: Daniel Browning
Architect: Kevin O'Brien
Lighting Designer: Karen Norris
Composer: James Henry
Lead Builder/Installer: David Hawkes
Cultural Producer: Genevieve Grieves
Key Artists:
Parbin-ata Carolyn Briggs AM
Isobel Morphy-Walsh
Aunty Joy Murphy AO
Justice Nelson
Contributing Artists:
Mandy Nicholson
Fay Stewart-Muir
Sound Engineer: Jack Prest
Sound Recordist and Engineer: Darius Kedros
Sound Effects Artist: Martin Peralta
Production Manager: Julie Blyth
Installers: Neil Hawkes, Lucas Barcelo Ibarra, Toni Javor, Jason Ofaolain, Luke Taylor Lighting Crew Nick Maloney
Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Melbourne Gardens
6 Mar – 16 Mar 2020
Tue – Sun, 6pm & 7.15pm (50 mins)
Fri & Sat, 6pm, 7.15pm & 8.30pm (50 mins) $22 Adult, $15 Conc
12+ years
SEASONS in BLAK BOX is presented by Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria.
Proudly supported by the Australia Council for the Arts and City of Melbourne. Presented as part of Melbourne Design Week 2020, an initiative of the Victorian Government in collaboration with the NGV.
Blak Box is supported by NSW Governmentand the following Project Sponsors:
Australia Council for the Arts
SPONSORED BY
MEDIA PARTNER
Sidney McMahon