Sextillion Ways to Kneel and Kiss the Ground
Made by more than 250 people over three joyful months in 2023, this installation is a sacred space in which diverse people of Alice Springs/Mparntwe have contributed part of themselves – their labour, laughter, creativity and care – to a process of collective making.
Emerging in a series of free weaving workshops and drop-in weaving spaces for ages 4 to 84, it explores the potential of making to nurture the profound magic of human connection. Weaving across generations, stories, languages and beliefs, it celebrates the deep meaning of mutuality in our everyday lives.
The title reworks Rumi’s suggestion that there are 100 ways to kiss the ground by gifting the world what we love, and reflects the delight when one young weaver discovered the bigger number ‘sextillion’ and filled the workshop with his wild giggling – one of many joyful moments embedded in this piece.
Made in collaboration with collaboration with the students of Yipirinya School and Arjay Prior, Christa Lingen, Lily Fowler, Willow Prior, Luna Prior, Declan Baxter, Edan Baxter, William Lewis, Cherie Gibbons, Cindy Walters, Riley Flutey, Marie Berryman, Haya, Cath Lynton, Azalea Shanahan, Emma Anderson, Bridy Baney, Lillyana, Tunisia Ford, Hannah Lewis, Emma Randale, Kieren Shepherdson, Mihira Arya, Shivank Arya, Rakhi Kumari, Julia Vallespir, Laura Hartmann, Veronica Mazur, Emma Warldron, Robyn, Marie, Nina Annand, Blim Blolan, Bec Lampard, Emily O’Connor, Sherice Ansell, Tarisha Peters, Katherine Waite, Bianca Walmsley, Majida, Kate Reckord, Bradley, Franklin Hatches, Phyllis, Sharon, Belinda, Zarah, Alicia Hutchinson, Nic Jobson, Laura Jones, Tracy Puklowski, Veronica Hagan, Kerrie Sankey, Annie Bleakley, Vicki Crowley, Rosemary Swao, Alison Lionel, Stanley Lionel, Annie Lionel, Kate, Cassandra Ling, Shelley Mik, Michelle, Anthea, Xavia Nou, Clarissa Follayttar, Luke Follayttar, Meghan Pfeiffer, Catherine Clucas, David Clucas, Alex Butler, Rainbow, Jude Mapleson, Nevaeh Maharajan, Ayla Innuan, Abby, Srimati Poudal, Lainie Cann, Michelle Brown, Pesala Brown, Lewis Gould-Fensom, Jessica, Bev, Wendy, Jo, Elkie, Gabrielle Wallace, Wendy, Jules, Amanda, Melody Zuo, Chanel Lambert, Hannah Kastenholz, Lauren Young, Iris Bendor, Denise Cusack, Emily Whalan, Jandra Kelly, Kundai Jamela, Maita Gara, Marcella Casillas, Lilyth Casillas, Marissa Munti, Gayatri J. Shaikh, Tamara Burlando, Lucien, Matthea, Sharon, Therese, Claire, Bronwyn, Mia, Chelsea, Zane, Kate Murphy, Lucy Green, Melinda, Keith Jordan, Helen Jordan, Laura Jordan Bambach, Doug Jordan, Danial Bambach, Jacqui Edmondson, Rosie Abbott, Hayley Rothbrown, Alemelu Ganesan, Chris Mitchell, Ekamai, Ookala, Dion Temu-Evans, Ella Hando, Nicole Hando, Ambrie Tracy, Molly Tracy, Kate Wilde, George Beueau, Julie Legven, Shinta P. Putri, Katja Koskela, Michelle Knynenburg, Christabelle, Peter O’Reilly, Katherine Gouliart, Bron Field, Beck Tyler, Katrien Depraetere, Kaidi Lehtla, Ti Herrison, Aleta Rowling, Maryjane, Anna-Maria, Dierdre Martin, Hannah Hueneke, Eilis Fitt, Alison Mapleson, Emma Snare, Felipe Segura, Matt Penguin Hill, Brooke O’Connell, Aurore Hislen, Jessie Longmuir, James, Monica Li, Bethan Rees, Polly Dymond, Kitty Brak, Narieta Tinaikulabu, Toni Facer, Angela Andrews, Asinate Verekawa, Charlee Facer, Megan Brown, Jeanette Jackson, Vivian Rowney, Rebecca McLean, Lara, Rachael Bailes, Anthea, Mieka Longmuir, Graham Longmuir, Mary, Sue Morrish, Malcolm Hingston, Ron Mangohig, Luke, Zoe, Cornelia, Siri Omberg, Hannah Janssens, Sanju Chintalaphani.
With thanks to Central Craft, Alice Springs Public Library, Epilogue, Red Kangaroo Books, East Side Community Garden, Ininti Gallery, Anna-Marie Harding, Mental Health Association of Central Australia, Yipirinya School, Todd Mall Markets.
Image credits: Brenton McGeachie.
This project is made possible by the Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund, which supports the arts in regional and remote Australia.