Floating Land festival program launched
Mayor Mark Jamieson was joined by artists, industry and guests today to celebrate the launch of Sunshine Coast Council’s 2013 Floating Land festival at Noosa Regional Gallery.
Mayor Mark Jamieson was joined by artists, industry and guests today to celebrate the launch of Sunshine Coast Council’s 2013 Floating Land festival at Noosa Regional Gallery.
Division 12 Councillor Tony Wellington said Boreen Point and satellite locations across the region will come alive from 31 May to 9 June to celebrate the seventh year of the award-winning Floating Land festival.
“This nationally recognised ‘green art’ festival will again make a significant contribution to the region. Attendees are expected to include local, interstate and overseas visitors,” Cr Wellington said.
“While international artists will converge on the region during the festival, a number of Australian artists attended the program launch. They provided a taste of some of the art installations and performances that will occur during Floating Land.
“One of those performing at the launch was local artist Linsey Pollak. He delivered an excerpt from his Cries Across the Water concert experience. This performance involved sound samples of endangered and extinct animals being delivered through a process of live looping.
“Linsey’s soundscape is a truly moving tribute to the natural world, raising awareness of the vulnerability of many animal species.”
Cr Wellington said members of the Gubbi Gubbi community also performed at the launch, delivering a customary welcome and displaying their Gun’doo Yang’ga’man Canoe Project Installation, which saw a traditional bark canoe launched into Noosa River.
“The canoe building project highlights the spiritual and historical importance of bark canoes within the Sunshine Coast region and provides a tangible cultural legacy,” he said.
“Overall, Floating Land explores environmental and cultural themes through creative art practice. It’s fantastic to see the local Aboriginal cultural traditions being revitalised and documented as part of the festival.”
Community Programs Portfolio Councillor Jenny McKay said the biennial festival hosted by council was one of Australia’s largest green art festivals and would include a dynamic program of local, national and international artists with more than 150 free community events over 10 days.
“This year’s artist line-up has taken the festival to a whole new level, with acclaimed sculptors, dancers, weavers, visual and digital artists coming from as far as India and Vanuatu to present their works,” Cr McKay said.
“Hailing from Vanuatu, the Leweton Cultural Group is just one example of the high calibre artists involved with Floating Land 2013 who will deliver highly engaging performances.
“The group will perform the Na Mao and Nelang dances and facilitate traditional weaving, singing, cooking, percussion and storytelling workshops.”
Floating Land Festival 2013 will incorporate a range of art forms, presentations and interactive activities, including written and spoken word, traditional and contemporary dance, film screenings, satire, visual art exhibitions, studio trails, storytelling, weaving workshops, poetry and concerts.
Background
Conceived in 2001 as an outdoor sculpture exhibition, Floating Land has firmly established itself as one of Australia’s leading ‘green art’ events. Green art is a term used to describe art activities which showcase and celebrate our environment.
As one of the early environmental art event programs of its kind in Australia, Floating Land has championed environmental awareness through the arts using materials and processes that avoid an adverse environmental impact.
With the theme of Nature’s Dialogue, Floating Land will bring the science of nature to the forefront and provide a powerful platform for creativity, science, technologies and culture to intersect.
Visit the Floating Land website for further information and to view the Floating Land program.