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This is what The ACRE Project is all about - artists and farmers coming together to share their knowledge, culture and understanding. Margie Mackay and Suzanne Connelly-Klidomitis were due to work on the Woorinen farm of Peta and Mick Thornton. As the residency approached, there was a COVID outbreak in Melbourne and restrictions were enforced. It meant we had to change this residency up a little. There was no TWIG event due to gathering restrictions. But we invited videographer Mitchell Barkman to join as a third artist in residence. (His work will be shown at the Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery in October.) The artists and farming family enjoyed a small ritual ceremony to mark the end of the week, a culmination of Margie, Suzanne and Mitchell's week together.

A few little laughs in this clip from the Tragowel TWIG, with artists Margie Mackay and Esther Kirby. Thanks to our farming hosts Ron and Chelle for being so welcoming last week and for being good sports in this video. And watch out for the cameo from Lois, Tragowel's newest resident emu 😉 Margie and Esther had spent the week with Ron and Chelle, sharing stories, talking water, visiting nearby Boort and touring neighbouring farms. The elements of fire and water were the focus of a ritual ceremony held on the last night of the residency with the Reynolds family and their neighbours. Holding saltbush and having their hands washed in Murray River water, they walked through a beautifully decorated hay feeder to a fire. Aunty Esther performed a smoking ceremony and Margie invited everyone to write down something they wanted to let go of and to release it by burning the words in the fire. They were asked to carry the flame across to the Reynolds’ home where they met Lois the emu – a beautiful creature made during the residency and with eggs from the neighbouring emu farm. Esther told stories of the emu and the night sky. A lovely residency, as part of ACRE21 thanks to Gannawarra Shire Council and Regional Arts Victoria. Video by Mitchell Barkman.