Small Voices Louder's Part 3: giving back to the community

Following the 2018 regional tour of Small Voices Louder (Part 1) and the dissemination of the soundtracks via radio and podcast (Part 2), Performing Lines WA commissioned local artists in Karratha, Albany, Esperance and Broome to create visual response works for Part 3.

In consultation with Maybe ( ) Together’s Alex Desebrock, each local artist worked on their own interpretation of the soundtracks with local children to create a series of installations, events and video animation. This process provides another layer of ownership of the project and extends the Small Voices Louder story in these communities.

“I have loved seeing how the different artists have responded. Each has listened deeply and responded with or for their community of children. They have used the knowledge and skills to find the best opportunity (which we would never know about!) and also has allowed the work to be more than a “tour” which is what I’ve always wanted.” says Alex Desebrock

“The ripple effects of these children’s words makes me so excited. Like the times we’re in now, children’s voices are rising.”

In Karratha, local artist Megan Wood-Hill from the Kurrajong Collective worked with young people aged 7-15 to create a feel and peep box installation to accompany the soundscapes.

“Although the outcome of the feel and peep boxes was fantastic, the real value was in the devising and making-process” explains Megan.

“The children’s continual return to the environmental theme and their concerns for our earth’s future health, across the various questions, clearly demonstrates how important this issue is for them. It became increasingly obvious that this is their number one priority and now that we are hearing this, it’s time for adults to take really take action.”

Photos by Megan Wood-Hill

Photos by Margaret Bertling

Photos by Bob Symons

In Albany, we partnered with Emma Davis and Ben Davis from the Vancouver Arts Centre to deliver a series of workshops where more than 50 participants work on a large-scale installation featuring a whale and a princess for the Albany Entertainment Centre lobby space where it is currently on display. Visitors are invited to sit inside the Whale’s mouth to listen to the soundtracks.

“It was an excellent opportunity for our arts community to engage with young people to help them create something special while learning new skills.” says Emma.

“The final whale (affectionately dubbed “Charles the Prince of Whales” by participants) was created while engaging the children in conversations about their world and their hopes for the future. The project was uplifting and engaging as we saw children who had initially intended to only attend for one session come back, again and again, to see the layers of paper maché slowly grow until finally Charles was painted to perfection, embedded with the stories each child wanted to share.”

In Broome, local artist Chrissy Carter created bright and playful listening stations for each soundtrack for wanderers to stop by and listen to.

“As an artist, the installation process was a challenge as I really wanted an engaging setting to encompass each station and the voices of the children. I thoroughly enjoyed both the process of creation and the delivery and particularly watching the faces of the kids as they heard themselves” shares Chrissy.

Photos by Abby Murray Photography

In Esperance, digital artist and educator Kim Maslin engaged with primary-school-aged students from Nuslen Primary School to create stop-motion photographs that she then turned into a short video animation featuring one of the soundtracks about what children worry about.

Congratulations to Megan, Emma, David, Chrissy and Kim for all their hard work and dedication to making Small Voices Louder’s Part #3 a truly awesome community experience. We couldn’t have done it without them!

Find out more about Small Voices Louder Listen to the soundtracks

All three phases of this project were funded by the Regional and Remote Touring Fund through the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries.

Small Voices Louder’s Part 3: giving back to the community

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