One River promotion
Tipping Point takes as its starting point the border land, the divide between two catchment areas, the Murray and the Murrumbidgee. In between these two rivers lies a subtle, sometimes invisible line. When rain falls on one side it flows into the Murray River, when rain falls on the other it falls into the Murrumbidgee. A few centimetres or a slight gust of wind could change the fate of the water’s journey and the impact on the lives in those in these catchment areas.
Tipping Point looks at these locations as actual, literal tipping points. It also explores the psychological, environmental and social tipping points of people living within these catchment areas.
By working with diverse cross sections of the community ranging from those involved in industrialised agricultural practices to those exploring newer sustainable models, we plan to explore the different viewpoints that exist within the regions whilst sharing stories of people’s special relationships with these waterways.
Outcome
This project resulted in a large scale site specific installation that brought to life a five story ruin of an old brewery. The creation of this work commenced in January 2013 with a local public outcome in April 2013. The work was then taken to Canberra in August 2013 to install it as part of the One River project at the Canberra 100 Year Centenary Celebrations.
One River
In 2013, we marked 100 years since the naming of Canberra, our national capital. The Centenary of Canberra offered an opportunity for Australians to revisit and re-imagine their national capital. One River offers the opportunity to investigate the phrase My River ‐ Our River – One River.
One River is informed by the notion that the rivers of the Murray-Darling Basin are a part of our common wealth and that no parts of this vast terrain ‐ including the national capital ‐ are as remote as we might imagine. One River connected the national capital with communities, towns and waterways throughout the Murray-Darling Basin.
Hear an interview on ABC Radio National between Vic McEwan, Robyn Archer and Donna Jackson
The local outcome in April 2013 coincided with the SesquiCentenary (150 years) celebrations of Narrandera.
On 20 April, everyone was invited to gather at Brewery Flats to watch the much loved icon, the old brewery ruins, come to life with video projections, sound, installations and celebrations all created from gathering stories about peoples connections to the river system.
The brewery ruins are over 25m tall and sit on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River. Having had their own interesting relationship with the River, the brewery has withstood numerous floods.
Given that the brewery is such an important historical landmark in the area, we hope that our project will contribute to the future telling of stories about Narrandera and become part of Narrandera’s lived history; living on in the minds of local people who might later share their experience with others.
The Location
This project was part of 'One River' a Centenary of Canberra event.
