Sculpting young hearts and minds in the Garden

Image: Ms Saunders leads a group of primary school students on a unique outdoor poetry and art workshop at Wollongong Botanic Garden.

The rain held off on the morning of Tuesday 28 March, as a group of Year 5 & 6 students from Keiraville Public School gathered at the Garden to explore the Sculpture in the Garden exhibition.

Led by proud Gunai Woman and award-winning multidisciplinary artist and educator Kirli Saunders OAM, the group toured several pieces, including her own submission, titled ‘We don’t Cry, We don’t miss’. The students engaged with Kirli at the site of her work where they were encouraged to develop meaning through art and words inspired by her artwork. Kirli spoke about her artwork’s themes and encouraged the children to imagine during the 90-minute workshop.

The day aimed to help nourish early engagement with art, promote independent and critical thinking, and create an appreciation for art in public spaces. Aboriginal-identifying students and their friends attended the workshop, where theyenjoyed poetry and visual art exercises with supplied materials and expert guidance from Kirli – a trained primary school teacher.

Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM said that it was an excellent chance to get children to connect with the beauty of the Botanic Garden and spark important conversations.

“The Botanic Garden is a place for young people to enjoy and to be immersed. I’m sure that participating in the yarning circle and workshop, surrounded by the Garden’s lush tree canopy, hearing the whipbirds calling, and learning from Ms Saunders’ strong connection to Country, was a special experience,” Cr Bradbery said.

“The Botanic Garden is a lovely place for young ones to be immersed in. To support families wanting to explore the exhibition for themselves, Council has prepared an interactive kids guide to the Sculpture in the Garden. There’s still plenty of time to enjoy the free workshops and events that are happening, too, so look on Council’s website.”

Ms Saunders is an experienced workshop facilitator, First Nations languages advocate, writer, and visual artist. She was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 2022 for her contribution to the arts, including four books, and was named NSW Aboriginal Woman of the Year in 2020.

Her sculptural poem features lettering which reads “We don’t cry. We don’t miss.”, a phrase told to Kirli’s mum by ‘carers’ in the children’s homes after she was taken away. The work confronts the historic and continued forcible removal of First Nations children from family and Country.

“I’m thrilled to be exhibiting my work as part of Scultpure in the Garden, and to be leading workshops for Keiraville Public Students on Dharawal Country. It’s important to me that we acknowledge and learn from our shared history, so that we can move forward together and support the self-determined actions of First Nations communities, to care for Country,” Ms Saunders said.

While there’s room for interpretation with most art, Ms Saunders shared some insightful words about her artwork and the change she hopes to inspire.

“More broadly, I hope that through my work, audiences will feel connected in their eco-grief and join me in rallying for change. It’s time for policies and practices that result in youth incarceration and forcible removal policies to be addressed and changed,” said Ms Saunders.

“We must ensure that our children are able to learn from Elders, and that communities can care for Country as they always have.”

You can enjoy much of Ms Saunders literary works at Wollongong City Libraries.

Joining Ms Saunders’ sculpture are 22 other finalists from local, national, and internationally acclaimed artists. The record number of contributions make this Wollongong Botanic Garden’s biggest exhibition yet. Local artist, Deborah Redwood, won the 2023 Wollongong Acquisitive Sculpture Award for her work ‘Banksia’, which will be on display permanently for our community to enjoy.

• Families are encouraged to take a free, self-guided tour through the Garden to discover this artwork and many more.
• Free guided tours via buggy are available for ages 3+.
• Mobility scooters are available for free hire in the Garden.
• There is a Sculpture in the Garden Kids Guide and Catalogue available online or as free as printed copies on site.
• There’s a program of free events coinciding with the 6-week exhibition.

The exhibition closes on 30 April. Learn more about Sculpture in the Garden.

Remember to Vote in the People’s Choice Award for your favourite sculpture and you could win $100.