Lest we forget

For me the eleventh of November has always meant a minutes silence on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.  I think my most moving experience a couple of years ago  was outside Flinders Street Station, Melbourne, when in the heart of a busy city  the traffic stopped,  the people stopped, silence fell,  a soldier played the Last Post, then there was total stillness for a minute, Reveille was played and life went on as usual. But, people just for a moment people had remembered lost lives, lives changed and a world changed.  I always remember from the first World War  my grandfathers and great uncles, my husband's grandfather and great uncles.  We were very lucky, they came back, but two carried injuries all their lives.

So today  its  time  to reflect  on the Poppies for Peace project - the poppies created for Harmony Square in Dandenong for Anzac Day now watch over the grassed lawn in Harmony Square.  

(apologies, reflection makes  a good photograph difficult)

Just to get the context - above is now where they look down, below is last Anzac Day.  The message has not  changed.

I think this photo says it all.  One of my favorites is this one below , taken just seconds after the poppies were planted in the lawn last April.

Just to give you an idea of scale here are some photos of creating the last installation. 

Backview of the poppies as Margaret works on attaching them to runners on the ceiling so that we can roll them along into the gallery space

Looking back from my end of the gallery to the top of the ladder where the poppies were launched from

Looking back down from the ladder to my end of the gallery and Harmony Square in the background - and yes it was a narrow vertigo scary  type of space - but it was perfectly safe and  far too exciting to think of anything but how the poppies were going to look. 

 We are very proud of what we've achieved with this project.  It became quite an emotional experience and gave us insight into an amazing community.  It has travelled to five  venues and had  real meaning for so many.  We worked with many wonderful people  throughout  the City of Greater Dandenong and without the Arts & Culture Department at the council none of this would have been possible.  Thanks, Guys you've been fantastic to work with.

After a some  time and perspective, and a great deal of editing,  I will put a separate page telling  the whole poppy story  on the home page of the blog - meanwhile if you're curious there are rather a lot of old blog posts. 

   

On the Move, again

Yup poppies are on the move again.

After their lovely appearance at the Drum Theatre in Dandenong we will be bumping out on Tuesday and will reappear as a ONE DAY ONLY exciting installation elsewhere this Sunday,

                                                                                        more on that later...........

The Poppies for Peace community project in Dandenong was designed to be versatile, each installation adapted to each location so the community who helped create them can continue to enjoy them.

The Drum Theatre in Dandenong is a fantastic location - lends itself to all sorts of ideas.  In fact our imagination has run riot with future possibilites, BUT for now its poppies.

First of all a trip from Dandenong back to base for some floral arranging........

The squishing into the car for the journey back to Dandenong.......

The exploding out on arrival

We've always wanted bigger and better 3d opportunities,  several hours later and this chandelier just about satisfied our joint megalomania........for now

Now I'm terrified of heights so once again I was delighted to hide behind the camera whilst  Margaret braved the lift and made a few adjustments  

Stewart from the Drum was inspired and found some lovely red led lighting........ 

Now for the walls.......

by day......

By night...... 

From above......

From below...

So our megalomania was encouraged.......... and it was so very, very much fun!!!!!!

And next, well here's a little photo of a test to see how to attach a couple of  poppies to a well known balustrade........before we install FORTY!

Yes folks, Montsalvat is our next floral arrangement - for ONE DAY ONLY - come and see it, and more,at the inaugural Montsalvat Arts Festival this Sunday, September 13 , lots and lots of art and activities - have a look on 

www.montsalvat.com.au 

A Community Remembers........

A  story of how the community of the city of Greater Dandenong remembered this Anzac Day by creating and then planting a garden of giant "Poppies for Peace"