Orange fibre artist Lanny Mackenzie was in Forbes recently teaching a number of enthusiasts how to transform willow branches into decorative lanterns for the upcoming Kalari-Lachlan River Arts Festival.
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The lantern weaving workshops were held at the festival headquarters in Rankin Street and were co-hosted by Yoorana Gunya and members of Orange Fibre Artists Group.
A number of Forbes volunteers attended the workshops and learnt valuable skills which they will now be able to share with other members of the community to expand the lantern display for the coveted lantern parade.
“Hopefully we’ll be able to part to Forbes residents how to make lanterns and they’ll be able to teach more people,” Ms Mackenzie said.
Ms Mackenzie learnt the skill of basket weaving 10 years ago when she was living in Condobolin by Aboriginal artist Bev Coe.
Ms Mackenzie created the centrepiece for the Australian Pavilion in the Derbyshire Ecocentre in England, during the Wirksworth Arts Festival.
She and a dozen other Central West Artists, including president and founder of the River Arts Festival committee, Merrill Findlay, participated in this festival in September 2013 as part of Arts OutWest’s cultural exchange.
The process of weaving involves stripping willow branches of their leaves which can then be weaved into baskets, or in this case lanterns of different shapes and sizes.
The willows used in the lantern weaving are weeping willows and tortured willows which were collected on Carolyn and Larry Towney’s family farm.
Ms Findlay wants to thank Carolyn for collecting a trailer load of the willows and Larry for delivering them.
Everyone who participated in the workshop said they enjoyed it and learnt a lot.
“This is the first time I’ve stripped in my life, I’m leaving it a bit late I fear,” said 86-year-old Dorothy Findlay of the process of stripping the willows.
“I love doing anything from the natural fibre to the finished product.”
