A new art project is encouraging community groups to explore the concept of nesting.
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Mother and daughter team Jenny and Meri Davies are behind The Nesting Project, which will end as a human-sized, nest-like structure in The Railway Room at The Mill.
The project aims to show the desire to belong and to create safe and supportive spaces for ourselves and our loved ones.
Castlemaine local Jenny has a keen interest in the stories that shape lives and develop our sense of place.
"In Castlemaine we value our community connections," she said.
"There are lots of groups and groups within groups, each with their own unique dynamics and stories.
"The Nesting Project is an exploration of the people that make up these groups and their interactions with and relationships to the broader community."
From March 13 to 15, community groups are invited to collaboratively weave their own materials into the giant frame structure made from contorted bike rims, spokes bicycle tubes.
Meri is hoping individuals’ own found, treasured, discarded or recycled objects, along with their stories, are woven into the nest.
"We hope that the act of weaving objects into the nest is a cathartic process for some participants. That they are able to honour those objects and the stories they hold," she said.
"Perhaps they will even be able to let go of them, allowing them to become part of the bigger story of who they are as a community."
Participants are encouraged to bring along items that may have significance in their lives but they are reluctant to throw away, items that are associated with stories they wish to share.
"I'll be placing my contribution, which is a copper pipe from my dad's house that will be the rim of the nest," Jenny said.
"We have got good feedback and anything could be weaved. We're hoping get a good cross-section of community along."
The completed Nesting Project will be launched at The Mill on Sunday, March 17, at 3pm and be on display during the Castlemaine State Festival.
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