Many writers have a second life – a side-project, another medium, the thing they make when no one is watching. A novelist who paints. An academic who crochets. A poet who moonlights as a silversmith.
Join Australian-Māori (Te Rarawa) poet, weaver, editor, producer and educator Anne-Marie Te Whiu in a workshop of exchange and ideas-building as she shares her creative side-hustle and invites you to share yours, forming connections between artists and artistic practices across form and process. Discover what happens when we let go of creative silos and let one artform spark another.
Participants are invited to bring along a sample of work produced alongside their poetry, such as ceramics, painting, photography, knitting and jewellery making. Participants will leave the workshop with drafts of two new poems and connections to other artists in the community. If participants wish to bring photographs of their side-hustle creations instead, they're welcome to do so.
Anne-Marie Te Whiu (Te Rarawa) is a freelance poet, editor, cultural producer and weaver. Her central praxis focusses on artistic collaboration and platforming the sovereignty and amplification of Indigenous and POC artists. Anne-Marie has produced and curated festivals and events for over 20 years including the Queensland Poetry Festival which she co-directed from 2015-2017. She has guest edited multiple poetry collections and journals including the Woven anthology, Whisper Songs by Tony Birch, Solid Air: Australia & NZ Spoken Word and most recently the Cordite Journal: 116 Remember alongside Palestinian scholar and writer Micaela Sahaar. Mettle is her debut poetry collection published with University of Queensland Press.
• The Varuna Reading Room is a wheelchair accessible venue • This is a seated event. • Parking onsite is limited to 11 cars, including 1 fully accessible spot. If you have access needs, please email varuna@varuna.com.auto request a suitable parking spot. • View an on-site map for parking and directions to Varuna and the Varuna Reading Room. • Drivers can drop-off their passengers onsite and then move to the recommended parking area. • Recommended parking is kerbside on Cascade St (not Sherman Ave) and walking to Varuna's main entry on Cascade St or alternate entry on Sherman Ave. • Varuna's driveway, car park and gardens are uneven and care is recommended when accessing the property at all times. • If you require T-loop, closed captions, Auslan interpreters or accessible parking, please contact Varuna directly on varuna@varuna.com.au or call 02 02 4782 5674 to speak to Erin English.