Conference of the Birds
Based loosely on the Sufi poem by 12thC poet Farīd ud-Dīn Attār Conference of the Birds art-walk is conceived of as a processional night -time pilgrimage along the Boolarra-Mirboo North Rail Trail.
The story in brief
Being without leadership &in a time of chaos - all the world’s birds gather to discuss the crisis they face. Together they decide to go in search of ‘the answer’ but to do so must embark on a perilous pilgrimage travel through 7 differently themed valleys.
The Valleys are:
1. The Valley of the Quest
2. The Valley of Love
3. The Valley of Independence, Pride & Detachment
4. The Valley of Deprivation, Poverty and Death
5. The Valley of Insught into Mystery
6. The Valley of Wonderment, Astonishment & Bewilderment
7. The Valley of Harmony & Unity
When the birds reach their destination, a wise bird tells them that the answer to their Quest can be found by looking into a nearby
mirror-like lake .
On doing so, the birds find it is themselves – the collective reflected– who hold the answers to survival to building a sustainable future with Harmony & Unity.
Boolarra Pop-Up Library, Railway Park Artwork by Abbas Mehran
Coming soon!
Conference of the Birds
currently has 2 stages of development.
Stage 1.
In 2024 the very first Valley - The Valley of the Quest will take place in Centenary Park in Boolarra on the 25th May.
Stage 2.
In 2025 the final valley will be created at a special site along the Rail Trail - The Meadows. The Valley of Harmony & Unity is the finale to the art walk.
Stage 3.
It is intended that in time the project will grow & become a biennial event with all 7 valleys presented along the rail trail.
DISCOVER WORKSHOPS & OPPORTUNITIES
To be involved
About The Event
An open & inclusive processional art-event, Conference of the Birds will bring together locals from villages & towns in the Latrobe valley & Strzelecki ranges. Participants come from all walks of life - diverse community groups, schools, visual and performing artists - all ages, cultures, genders and abilities.
Conference of the Birds celebrates the natural environment & the region's First Nations community, our cultural diversity and artistry.A series of ritual-art installations & performances embedded in landscape 2km along the Boolarra-Mirboo North rail trail will enchant audiences as they walk from dusk into night. Fire & light installations / projections & sound-scapes light the trail to a grand finale event at 'The Meadows'. Currently the very beginning of the art-walk is being created in collaboration with Gunaikurnai Elders & community to create The Valley of the Quest & will take place on Saturday 25th May 2024 in Centenary Park Boolarra.
The Broader Project
a biennial art-walk
This cross-artform ritual performance both tells a story & manifests it - an experience of community inclusion building strength and wisdom in each other. Cradled by a collective love & commitment to 'care for country' the entire project is guided by & created in collaboration with Gunaikurnai elders & community. Funding is currently being sought to further support the realisation of the project as a whole. This will enable the creation of each of the 5 remaining valleys. Local artists will each interpret one of the valleys from the text using cross art-forms. ‘Conference of the Birds’ has potential to become a biennial contemporary artwork. As a ʻritual processʼ this durational & participatory event will nimbly respond to the requirements of the times, & in both form & content be a reflection of where we find ourselves in these uncertain times.
photo: courtesy Africa Centre