ERA YALOVATA NA MARAMA

A program for women in Western Sydney of iTaukei heritage using Indigenous Fijian culture to connect the past, present and future with our experiences of Australia, Fiji and beyond.

The Veiqia Project has been in residence at Campbelltown Arts Centre from 2017, using the space to explore new artistic conepts for future works while engaging with women in the Fijian communities of Western Sydney to share cultural knowledge.

Presented in partnership with Campbelltown Arts Centre, Era Yalovata Na Marama (Fijian women gathered together) workshops were held every 2 months. Participants worked with female artists and cultural knowledge holders, hilarious aunties and other women like them. They learnt about culture, contemporary arts and cooking. 

PAST WORKSHOPS

MASI & MAGIC

Saturday 12 – Sunday 13 May 2018, 11am – 3pm
Learn how to mark your own masi with master artist Joana Monolagi (Serua) and discover why masi is such a Fijian treasure with Dr Tarisi Vunidilo (Kadavu). Both Joana and Tarisi come to us from Auckland, NZ.

Leaders Dr Tarisi Vunidilo, Joana Monolagi,  Arieta Vai (Kadavu), Donita Hulme (Nadroga-Navoha), Dulcie Stewart (Bua).

VOSA & VISUALS

Saturday 7 – Sunday 8 July 2018, 11am – 3pm
Share your stories, hope and dreams using visual and sonic poetry with contemporary artist Salote Tawale (Rewa) and Hip Hop artist MC Trey (Bau) as we explore the power of our oral traditions and history of design in the everyday.

Leaders Salote Tawale, MC Trey aka Thelma Thomas, Arieta Vai, Donita Hulme, Dulcie Stewart.

SALUSALU & SONG

Saturday 8 – Sunday 9 September 2018, 11am – 3pm
Make salusalu with fashion designer Bayvick Lawrence (Bau) using recycled materials in recognition of the impact climate change is having on our Pacific Islands as we explore the evolution of salusalu and learn cheeky songs of celebration with Joana Monolagi. 

Leaders Bayvick Lawrence, Joana Monolagi
Arieta Vai, Donita Hulme, Dulcie Stewart.

QELE & QALU

Sunday 11 November 2018, 11am – 3pm
Get your hands ‘dirty’ with Seinileva Huakau as we use modern clay and traditional processes to represent the women in our present lives and past family. We will also learn to make qalu with Aunty Arieta.

Leaders Seinileva Huakau, Dr Tarisi Vunidilo,  Arieta Vai, Donita Hulme, Dulcie Stewart.

SISI & SASSY

Sunday 17 February 2019, 11am – 3pm
Create amazing body adornments with contemporary artist Luisa Tora (Kadavu) that honour, highlight or even hide (lol) who you are.

Leaders Luisa Tora, Donita Hulme, Dulcie Stewart.

” I know a lot but I never spoke about it because I didn’t think it was important until today. “

Workshop participant
(In her 60s)

This program is funded by