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Staying home under the doona is tempting in winter but the result is often isolation and a lack of stimulation, which only makes you feel colder.
‘Stimulating curiosity is one of the arts’ most important functions, and curiosity in turn stimulates not only the brain – but puts some heat into the rest of the body as well,’ points out arts luminary Robyn Archer, curator of The Light in Winter festival at Melbourne’s Federation Square.
The heat generated by summer festivals and exhibitions may be behind us, but from 1 June to 17 July, The Light in Winter will draw us outdoors with a warmth that can only be generated through music, performances and exhibitions.
‘There’s something physically energising about the arts,’ said Archer. ‘The Light in Winter keeps up the heartbeat, keeps the city warm, in times when otherwise only those devoted to the arts would benefit from the warmth the arts bring,’ said Archer.
Projections by artist Reko Rennie in Fed Square during White Night. Image: supplied
Importantly, the arts provide an opportunity to connect as a community. ‘The cold months can be isolating for many people. The Light in Winter’s 24-hour-a-day campfire offers a warm gathering place… Just sharing art and culture, with the people there at the time around the fire, is a beautiful thing for anyone feeling a bit lonely in winter,’ said Archer.
The public programs have an important role in reminding participants how the arts add value to their everyday lives. ‘Free programs, out in the open air, highly visible, are just the ticket for that kind of open invitation and understanding.’
Warming the city
Now celebrating its tenth year, The Light in Winter was inspired by a perception that the winter months lacked focus.
‘Melbourne’s cooler climate meant people were more inclined to stay in during the colder months , to do things like reading … However, this led to a feeling that not much was happening during winter in Melbourne,’ said Archer.
‘This was never true, of course, because there’s always an enormous amount going on in Melbourne, whatever the weather. But the big space of Fed Square was feeling a little bleak and windswept, which is why then CEO Kate Brennan and I cooked up the idea of something in the arts and culture realm to warm up the square.’
‘From the very beginning, The Light in Winter set out not only to commission the best of the world’s lighting artists, but to pay tribute to the culturally diverse communities that have made Melbourne the great city it is today.’
Now Federation Square comes to life with The Light in Winter. ‘Statistics prove without a doubt that thousands more people now occupy and move through Fed Square, including its huge open spaces, during June, because of The Light in Winter.’
Around the campfire
This year the campfire will burn continuously and host a weekly line up of music, stories, performance, workshops, morning meditations and Friday night concerts.
The opening ceremony will take place on Thursday 2 June with the lighting of Leempeeyt Weeyn’, an Indigenous Campfire designed by Vicki Couzens for the very first The Light in Winter ten years ago.
There will also be live performances on the main stage by Archie Roach, Lou Bennett and Emma Donovan, as well as the switch-on of Reko Rennie’s light projections, last seen during White Night 2016.
A central focus of The Light in Winter is the Campfire. Image: supplied
On Thursdays, Footscray Community Arts Centre will host entertainment around the campfire including storytelling with Elder in Residence Uncle Larry Walsh, as well as performances by classical and contemporary Indian dancers Govind Pillai and Raina Peterson of Karma Dance.
In the lead up to the Solstice Celebration, every Friday Protest + Survival will showcase some of Melbourne’s best live musicians, spoken word artists and DJs.
Hear from Melbourne’s finest female hip hop and soul artists on Friday 10 June, or spoken word artists and DJs, including Carroll Karpany, Jaydyn Lilliyst, afro-soul singer Ajak Kwai, and DJ James Henry throughout the program.
For the visual art aficionados, there will be the world premiere of a giant inflatable dome, The Sonic Light Bubble, created by award winning art and design practice, ENESS.
Inspired by Melbourne’s unique climate, artist Tanja Beer will bring together flora and fauna of past and present to create a bush refuge – a ‘Refugium’. Don your gloves and create your very own kokedama (an ancient Japanese technique of wrapping plants in moss and string) at a series of free workshops in The Atrium.
The Light in Winter Solstice Celebration. Image: supplied
The program culminates in the Solstice Celebration on Saturday 18 June. Marking the longest night of the year, traditionally the winter solstice sparks new hope and the celebration of increasing light. It promises to be a night of music, roving performances, installations, and pop up food cars and will feature new work created by the Luminous Lunas as well as a new performance about global warming by Australia Pacific Arts Network.
River Rink in Fed Square will also launch on solstice and will run daily from 10am – 10pm until 17 July. Pre-booking your spot is highly recommended, and for those who feel a little rusty on the skates, assistants in the form of 70cm high penguins are there to help. Visit fedsquare.com/riverrink for more details.
Artists shine the brightest
What Archer cherishes most about The Light in Winter is the connections and friendships it has enabled. ‘I’ve been privy to so much creative talent, and so many remarkable stories I would never have encountered if not for this festival. We’ve seen community members gain confidence through this festival, and many have now moved upwards and onwards with their creative work.’
After all, it’s creative work we need to value. ‘It has been proven for more than twenty years now that successful cities are creative cities, and that the presence of artists and creatives are essential to the wellbeing of all citizens.’
The arts are not the optional leisure add-on, concluded Archer. ‘They do really keep the heart of a city pumping at the human scale.’
Winter in Fed Square
Daily in Federation Square
1 June to 17 July, 2016
