This work is a multi-pronged creative and experimental WORK IN PROGRESS –
The Marri Tree-girl project is a regionally based creative collaboration, exploring ecology and art to raise awareness of local environmental issues.
STAGE ONE– funded by Regional ArtsWA, saw three Margaret River artists, Sky River, Danny Jennings and Kathi Meister, engage in a creative development period. They responded to research on tree based folklore and scientific research on the Marri Canker; a fungal disease affecting the South West Marri tree, using puppetry, story, paper cut and digital media. Weaving symbolic imagery, story and animation, the project aims to heighten awareness of the impacts and outcomes for the Marri while reinforcing the interconnectivity of all life.
STAGE TWO is an evolving full scale puppet-based theatre initiative. Puppets were constructed by Sky as part of her National Regional Arts Fellowship in experimental puppet making. Script development, additional puppet making, set design, digital media, shadow puppetry and soundtrack composition is supported by DLGSC. Exciting community engagement programs have included The Concrete Club, Hybrid Web film clip and puppet making project, puppet design with students from Margaret River Independent School and Artzability. The ambitious Marri Tree Girl project is gathering momentum and facilitating broad community engagement with the arts while creating professional development and employment opportunities for regional artists.
STAGE THREE will include creative development and future rehearsal/ premiere and touring outcomes planned for late 2023/24
