‘Unity Web’ at Purpose Conference, Carriageworks

At Purpose 2023, the new work ‘Unity Web’ will launch as a collective legacy artwork made by First Nations weavers.

Unity Web harnesses the method and medicine of weaving circles globally and throughout time, creating a vital, embodied and organic space for people to connect, learn and share. In the context of Purpose Conference's hard truths, Unity Web is a space for healing. 

Featuring collaborators include:

• Karleen Green: Bunjalung, Mununjali, Kgari (Wonapinga Weaving)

• Coral Foley: Boorloo,Ballardong/Whadjuk, Noongar, living in Boorloo Noongar Boodja (Culture Weave)

• Nadine Foley: Boorloo, Ballardong/Whadjuk, Noongar, living in Boorloo Noongar Boodja (Culture Weave)

• Amethyst Downing-McLeod: Wandi Wandian (Ngardi Amethyst Design)

• Tegan Murdock: Barkindtji, Yorta Yorta (Ngumpie Weaving)

• Terase Kelly: Mirning, Kokatha, Kaurna, Narrunga (Minyamumma Weaving)

• Kym Dobby: Wiilman Noongar, Boorloo/Perth

• Melissa Gilbert: Descendant of the Mununjali Clan of the Yugambeh Nation from South East Queensland with links to Quandamooka.(Unite_Play_Perform)

Purpose conference community will be invited to take a guided journey through the First Nations collective contemporary artwork “Unity Web”. They can listen to an audio work of the weavers telling stories and interact with the ‘Unity Web’ through shared contribution.

Participants will follow a sequence of prompts and invitations and experience the UPP Methodology (Unite_Play_Perform).

Beyond ‘Unity Web’ activating the foyer of Carriageworks, Melissa Gilbert has designed an interactive performance work for the conference ‘Symbioscene’ that prompts the entire Purpose community (1000 people) to move collectively and become part of the collective work.

You can also join Guest Speakers Warren Roberts from Yarn Australia, Tegan Murdock from Ngumpie Weaving and Amethyst Downing-McLeod from Ngardi Amethyst Design as they join Melissa in a gentle heart led conversation on Day 1. 

This legacy work and public activation was conceptualised, curated and facilitated by Melissa Gilbert and presented by Unite_Play_Perform.

This project was proudly supported by City of Sydney.