For three weeks, Shaye sat on a busy intersection with her mending wagon (running on a deep cycle battery) and used mending as a way of connecting with stangers. The premise was free mending in exchange for a story or a chat.
The conversations had while mending were so diverse, people have shared stories about their favourite things, their feelings about living or working in Nambour, how they met the love of their lives, their greatest achievements, their recent bereavements, their religious veiws, their sewing tips, their memories of their mothers sewing when they were children and so much more. When space opens up to have a chat, you never know where the conversation will lead.
The Keeper Project is a vibrant public art initiative showcasing 11 local artists over 33 weeks. Each artist brings their distinctive creative flair to the streets of Nambour, enriching the community with their unique talents. Each ‘keeper’ will reflect on their practice, values, curiosities and connections to Nambour, developing the final ideas with mentors Jason Maling and Martin Coutts from Field Theory, a Melbourne-based arts collective that created the concept.
The Keeper is produced by Red Chair in collaboration with Field Theory, and supported by The Sunshine Coast Council, Arts Queensland and Creative Australia.
