Aotearoa Festival 2017, Immigration Museum
Category: uncategorized
A few of my faves from the exhibition:
- Stories of the Sea Kathryn McGovern
- Home from the Sea Bill Nix
- Rift in the Heavens #2 Gabrielle Courtenay
- Eternal John Orlando Birt
- Calling the Watch Ian Hansen
I have walked into the woods, off the muddy, many-feet-trodden path.
It is very windy and the susurrous of the trees carries a muted roar with it. I suppose it could bring branches down yet I am not afraid.
I walked to this place as surely as if I had somehow known to come here.
All that is of the world is left behind. There is only me. And You. And the magic in the woods.
Those I used to play in as a child around Erskine College had this feeling also. As though anything might Happen.
I cried as I walked to the place where I now sit.
The silence speaks to me and I want to hear it. I wish I could always hear it.
I like the word “collaborator” – it puts me in mind of a smarmily gleeful rubbing together of hands, maniaical laughter and petting long-haired white cats but, funnily enough, there was none of that taking place at the recent Australian Collaborators in Feminist Theologies Network Launch… this is a group of women and men who want to see something built up not taken over or taken apart.
I didn’t really take notes so much as quotable quotes – I’m tidying as I go so while this might not be exactly what people said it quite probably captures some of what they meant and we can’t let the truth get in the way of a good story…
Cath McKinney
“The most subversive thing you can do is enquire.
It recognises the otherness of other people.”
“It is subversive to take care of yourself –
there are lots of people who would love you to burn out (be quiet).”
“Patriarchy is limiting to both genders.
Everyone should be acknowledged and validated
for the contribution they have to offer”
Serene Jones
“80% of religious practitioners are women,
keeping things going for spiritual reasons…
Not exercising any political agency
but doing what we do with love and prayerfully”
“We think of Mamie Till whose 14 year old son was kidnapped and murdered in 1955. Till insisted on an open casket for her son, for 3 days people queued, more than 10,000 people – and the opportunity to witness became a turning point in disparity of justice for black people in America. Only this morning we hear of this woman, Diamond Reynolds, whose husband is shot in front of her and her son – and she has recorded this on her phone… we can see the political ramifications of women choosing to act. [word-play of the poetry of Adrienne Rich] – ‘their power came from the same source as their wounds’. These women had no great power of their own – only persistence.”
“We need to acknowledge that we approach any issue
from a space of ‘implicated resistance’ – we are resisting against
but also implicit in the structures ourselves“
“Sometimes I cry when I’m speaking.
Shutting down that part, shuts down others and my voice”
“How you speak and live, when that’s poetic, communicates more.
How you carry your body… how energised you are…
all speaks more loudly than your content.”
Trees planted by the river, drinking grace – bearing fruit in due course.
May the Source of All Life nourish us and bind us together,
May the Wisdom of the Holy One enlighten us and enable our sharing,
And may the Courage of Holy Fire inspire is as a network of love and freedom
today and always…
And we the people say: Amen
There was prayer, singing, dancing, dreaming, round table discussion, portrait pictures, sharing, storytelling, liturgy, affirmation, celebration and collaboration –
you can join in the journey on the Facebook page.
At the end of myself let me find You.
At the end of myself let me be found.
Show me what love is.
Amen
I am on the 5.08pm train to the city – dusk sees the city lights hang suspended against a purple-grey backdrop of condolence. I go into this space with high hopes and low expectations I think, but I hope I see love. I hope I see love poured out. It can be so hard to find safe spaces where you feel accepted, welcome, safe to express all of who you are. I hope there is a sense of welcome for everyone who comes tonight… including me!
Somewhere, over the rainbow, way up high
There’s a land that I heard of once in a lullaby
Somewhere, over the rainbow, skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true
Someday I’ll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Away above the chimney tops
That’s where you’ll find me
Somewhere over the rainbow, bluebirds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why then, oh why can’t I?
…I have that moment we all have. Should I come here? Am I intruding on a private grief I have no right to?
I find a friend I know on the edge of the crowd.
“Thanks for coming.” she says.
“It’s important. I’m sorry it took something like this to bring us together”. I answer
It only needs to matter to one person. It’s not really about how it matters to me. For all those times you felt alone, you felt sad, you felt despair – can my standing with you now make up for those times? No… but it doesn’t follow that it’s insignificant now.
“May we be inspired to live differently because of our tears”
– Simon Holt
Forty-nine people have died and fifty-three others have been injured in the latest mass shooting in the US… plenty of Muslims and Christians are praying and acting in solidarity and support – these issues are engaged globally more and more. Born, raised, educated, armed in the US… can you call it an Islamist attack? SOme of my grief is with the perpetrator who must have been desperate indeed to feel belonging somewhere. But it’s the stupid idiot pastor that’s quoted as saying: “I woke up to a world with 50 less homosexuals in it and I was glad” that will be what goes viral, spreading hate and fear and violence in its wake. It’s not the the good news that is shared so often as the bad.We have a conscious choice about what we’re spreading but it seems something used more for evil than for good… what of courage and encouraging? hope and joy? We pray for those weighed down by grief – today and “all the days before”
Thanks to Westfield Airport West shopping centre for hosting us for some Mothers Day (birthday… baptism…) gift wrapping fundraising yesterday – whether flowers and chocolates, craft supplies, the box pack of Downton Abbey or “something from the dog… we never did have kids”. It’s a pleasure to share with folks in their hard times and celebratory ones; in your acts of love and kindness to one another. Your generosity supports us in acts of love and kindness to community members in need here in Footscray.
Shoot us an email if you’re interested in making a gift towards our work or volunteering with us. Although we’re responsive to the changing needs of our neighbourhood, to give you a gist at the time of posting, support would be used towards sustaining transitional housing for asylum seekers and refugees, food parcels, weekly community dinner, and maintaining our sport, music, craft and community gardening projects.
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PRAYER OF SAINT CATHERINE OF SIENA (used at our house chat tonight)
In your nature, eternal Godhead, I shall come to know my nature. And what is my nature, boundless love? It is fire, because you are nothing but a fire of love. And you have given humankind a share in this nature, for by the fire of love you created us. And so with all other people and every created thing; you made them out of love. O ungrateful people! What nature has your God given you? His very own nature! Are you not ashamed to cut yourself off from such a noble thing through the guilt of deadly sin? O eternal Trinity, my sweet love! You, light, give us light. You, wisdom, give us wisdom. You, supreme strength, strengthen us. Today, eternal God, let our cloud be dissipated so that we may perfectly know and follow your Truth in truth, with a free and simple heart. God, come to our assistance! Lord, make haste to help us! Amen.
itellyouarise 