MAREE CLARKE’S ART TRAM AS PART OF RISING FESTIVAL

Maree Clarke is part of Rising Festival’s new art trams series that honours Ancestral connections, shared histories and First Peoples women as connectors of cultural practice. See Maree’s Tram, Barerarerunger – now you see me – seeing the invisible, on routes 48 and 109.

This year, First Peoples curators, convened by Senior RISING Curator Kimberley Moulton (Yorta Yorta), have nominated artists from collections and archives across Melbourne and regional Victoria. They’ve searched institutions and community art centres and chosen vivid works, spanning over more than a century, to be emblazoned on trams and take route through the city.

“Over two months in the Histology Department at the University of Melbourne, I examined river reeds under a microscope, looking at the structures within these cultural materials. This informed my work now you see me – seeing the invisible, a series of 397 microgram images of river reeds magnified. River reed necklaces were traditionally gifted to those passing through Country for safe passage and friendship. In this spirit, I hope that travellers encountering my work feel a sense of welcome and protection on their journey.”

Featured artists: Maree Clarke, Kelly Koumalatsos, Jennifer Mullett, Patsy Smith and a collaborative work with Elders Laurel Robinson, Amy Briggs, Cynthia Hardie and Rochelle Patten.

The trams are on the tracks for the next 12 months.

First Peoples Melbourne Art Trams are presented as part of RISING, in partnership with Public Transport Victoria, Yarra Trams and Creative Victoria.

Image: Maree Clarke beside her Art Tram, Barerareungar – now you see me – seeing the invisible. Routes 48 and 109. Image courtesy of Rising Festival Melbourne & James Morgan.