Join us and the Friends of Wanniassa Hills for a special collaborative event as part of Living City: People, Plants and Place. Experience the Plant Sensibilia Machine, a large-scale, hand-operated textile dyeing device that brings the creative process from the studio to the public realm.
Presented by Dr Lucy Irvine, Dr Rebecca Mayo and Professor Mitchell Whitelaw at Tuggeranong Arts Centre.
What to Expect
TIME: 11:00am: Welcome to Country & Event Launch
11.30am - 1:00pm: Plant Sensibilia in action
DATE: Saturday 23 May 2026
LOCATION: Tuggeranong Arts Centre, 137 Reed St, Canberra
This is a free event, no registrations required.
Light refreshments provided.
Visitors will have the opportunity to watch as a bespoke printed textile design is revealed through the Plant Sensibilia Machine using the colours of locally collected plants. This collaborative textile artwork features contributions from Friends of Wanniassa Hills Landcare group - photos of the Weaving with Weeds workshop by Lois Padgham and haiku by Tim Metcalf - and incorporates hapazome designs by young artists from the Tuggeranong Art Centre’s Messengers program. Further textures and details trace the use of digital tools and physical rubbings (frottage) used to identify plants and see the living environment from different perspectives.
- In the event of extreme weather, the event may be cancelled or postponed. For updates, please check for updates before attending.
For any questions regarding accessibility please contact admin.somad@anu.edu.au.
Tuggeranong Arts Centre offers visitors a host of activities with free exhibitions across three gallery spaces, a regular program of events, a range of workshops and classes and lots more.
Acknowledgments
We extend our sincere thanks to the following individuals and organisations for their generous support and participation:
- Friends of Wanniassa Hills
- ArtsACT for funding this project
- The rangers from Canberra Nature Park South, especially Sharon Woods,
- Tuggeranong Arts Messengers Group
- Tuggeranong Arts Centre
- Program facilitators: Dr. Lucy Irvine, Dr. Rebecca Mayo and Professor Mitchell Whitelaw
- Program assistants: Isaac Kozlovskis, Beth O’Sullivan, Talia Pienaar, Niko Gray
Living City: people, plants and place is a three-year visual arts and design program working with Canberra’s suburban communities and many urban natural environments. The program encourages accessible and inclusive, art-based engagement with urban spaces while addressing climate change, urban biodiversity, wellbeing and conservation.
This program is funded by ArtsACT and the ANU School of Art & Design.
Location
Tuggeranong Arts Centre, 137 Reed St, Canberra
Contacts
- ANU School of Art & Design