Six-Week Weaving Short Course: Making Mangi

Tuggeranong Arts Centre’s public art program Weaving Waters: Mangi the Murray Cod invites the community to learn about the Murray Cod, participate in the making of a giant Murray Cod sculpture through hand weaving, and enjoy a family friendly community fishing day and carp off.

TAC’s artistic vision, in conjunction with sculptural design by Steven Holland and the extraordinary engineering achievements of MAG Welding Services, has resulted in the creation of our 4-metre-long steel fish Mangi. And now, Mangi is ready to come to life. 

Be part of the making of Mangi. Using locally grown, harvested, and recycled fibre materials, learn weaving techniques with basket maker Ann McMahon. Participants will create small, coiled forms that will be joined together as patches for Mangi’s skin, contributing to a large-scale collaborative artwork. Alongside developing technical skills in coiled basketry, participants will gain confidence to harvest materials and continue weaving beyond the course. You will also learn about the Murray Cod’s conservation, habitat, and First Nations cultural significance through a program of guest speakers. Participants who complete the course are invited to continue attending community weaving sessions at TAC and help bring Mangi to completion ahead of its launch at Craft and Design Canberra’s City of Design Festival in November.

The Speaksers program:

Saturday 8 August: Memories of the murray cod with Glen Payne and the Lake Tuggeranong Plan to improve water quality with Plaxy McCulloch
Saturday 15 August: An introduction to public art projects with Steven Holland
Saturday 22 August: How the Fish Dreaming project is resorting and celebrating cultural fishing places and practices with Harry Davey, OzFish
Saturday 29 August: Murray cod ecology and its importance to the people of the Murray Darling Basin with Stuart Little
Saturday 5 September: Rethinking decision-making in water management with Andy Lowes; improving flows in the Upper Murrumbidgee
Saturday 12 September: Upper Murrumbidgee Demonstration Reach overview of fish monitoring and conservation in the ACT with Matthew Breitzel