Wrapping Up

The Biennale is coming to a close this week, and with it, my internship. Having been involved in some way since November, it feels like a long relationship! But I've had a great time, had some awesome experiences, and met some great people. As a way of ending my Masters degree, this has felt like the perfect wrap up - using many of the skills acquired during the degree, gaining some industry experience, and probably the best thing about the degree.

What began as fortnightly seminars about the theme of the Biennale and the artists, including some research of my own, turned into helping out however I could in the office, writing education material, a crazy opening week, then weekly tours on the island. In terms of variety, I couldn't ask for more.

The tours have definitely been one of the highlights. I discovered a passion for talking about works I loved, introducing people to new concepts, watching their engagement with works, and interacting with people interested in similar things as me. And I suppose I can forgive those people who drove me nuts - all part of the package!

The opportunity to interact with artists and industry professionals was amazing. I learnt so much just being in the same room as some of the curators and critics, while airport pickups and drinks with artists was certainly an experience I won't soon forget!

I would like to thank Nisa and Dougal for their support during the Biennale, and their guidance through the ups and downs, and letting us interns get in on the action. Thank you to my fellow interns, and the other tour guides, for making this internship worthwhile and so much fun. I shall miss the Biennale, but am looking forward to what comes next!

Gitter Station for Kids Days

For three Saturdays in July, the Biennale is holding Kids Days on Cockatoo Island. Armed with a map of 'Prison Island', hoards of screaming children follow a route that leads them around the island. They begin by making an origami hat outside the old Military Guard House on the top of the island, along to the Glitter Station (where I was for Day One) where the kids make glitter glue paintings that link to Reuben Patterson's gorgeous glitter works, down to the Turbine Hall for some blow painting next to Cai Guo-Qiang's exploding cars, then back towards the ferry to collect a balloon on the way out.

I can't say much for the other stations, but glittering is a messy business. Armed with glitter glue and a stencil, the kids were able to make images of cockatoos, leaves, moons and suns, then add more loose glitter on top. Now since some kids don't know the meaning of 'STOP' when it comes to pouring out glue, and the loose glitter had to be applied by shaking the bottle that had a hole in the top, plus it was super windy, it was basically glitter everywhere!!

But the kids enjoyed it, and some of them were hilarious. Like the 8yr old boy who had counted each spoke on the sun wheel, and carefully explained to his sister how many spokes should be of one colour in order that no colour be repeated; or one of the Louis Vitton-clad twin girls who declared to her father, 'No Daddy, I am going to do one more!'

So maybe I will be moved to the blow-painting next week or the hats next week? Let's just hope that it is just as sunny, with less wind, and I am definitely wearing my 'getting messy' clothes!