Australia Day 2006
Thursday, January 26th, 2006After picking up our first portable Match Box Gallery on 25 January, 2006 we toured the gallery through thea 2006 Australia Day Celebrations on 26 January. Australia Day is a day we come together as a nation to celebrate what’s great about Australia and being Australian. In communities across the nation, Australians take to the streets, parks and backyards to celebrate our land, people, heritage, diversity and freedom. Througout the day we werebeing filmed by Tokyo TV for a story on the Australia Japan Year of Exchange. 2006 is the official Year of Exchange between Australia and Japan, in commemoration of the 30th Anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship and Co-operation between the two countries.
Our days movements including welcoming in Australia Day at the Indigenous Performance at Farm Cove, Watching the Harbour events on the media boat, HMAS Gascoyne, and introducing the project to new members of the Sydney Japanese community and inaugural volunteers of Match Box Projects.
Welcoming in Australia Day at Farm Cove.
Each year, Australia Day begins with the Woggan ma gule Morning Ceremony. Performed in the Royal Botanic Gardens, sacred land of the indigenous Gadigal people, the ceremony honours the past and celebrates our future.
Leanne and I with Kinuyo and the Gascoyne crew on the media boat. Sydney Harbour is always full of activity with many boat races, competitions, even a Surfboard Challenge when hundreds of surfboards launch into Sydney Harbour from the Sydney Opera House, paddle under the Harbour Bridge and sprint to the other side.
We have invited 3 Sydney artists who have explored Japanese influences and culture in their own practice to join us on our journey of exchange, Simon Cooper, Zoe MacDonell and Jennie Tate. Their works are exhibited together with Leanne’s on Side B of our Match Box Gallery.
Leanne on the Gascoyne introducing the Match Box Gallery. Works on top row by Leanne Shedlezki, and
bottom rowL-R by Jennie Tate, Zoe MacDonell and Simon Cooper.
Above 2 photos by Tony Egan. See http://www.australiaday.com.au/For more details.
Introducing our first Match Box Gallery with the History of the Project in Nagoya Gardens, Hyde Park