Connecting to Country Woven Sculpture

Australia’s First Nations Peoples have a very strong connection to Country. They are caretakers of the land, waterways, and all the creatures that inhabit it. By learning about our First Nations history, culture, and traditions, we too can become caretakers of this beautiful country we live in.

In this activity, we will use a variety of materials and found foliage to create a woven sculpture that responds to the land and wildlife around us.

Step 1

Take a walk outside in your local area and observe the flora and fauna around you. Write down notes and take photos to use as references for your sculpture.

Step 2

Use Slicks to colour pieces of thin paper and leave them to dry.

Step 3

Using an A4-sized piece of card, fold it into a cylinder and staple it in place. Cut an equal number of notches into the top and bottom of the cylinder, approximately 1–2 cm apart.

Step 4

Use wool to attach your warp threads and tie off the ends.

Step 5

Begin weaving your materials onto the cylinder. Work in coloured layers and textures that represent the trees, birds, animals, and landscape around you. As you finish each section, press it down lightly to compress the materials. Continue weaving until there is no space left and you are happy with your design.