Get hands on at Fusion15 this Saturday

12 October 2015

For immediate release

Get hands on at Fusion15 this Saturday

From ham radio to giant building blocks, Fusion15 is giving the community the chance to get hands on with a wide range of artists.

This year’s multicultural street festival will again feature eclectic performances, mouth-watering food and pop-up shops – plus free interactive creative art activities.

Fusion15 will be held on Saturday, 17 October from 4pm to 9pm in the Civic Centre Precinct. For more information about this year’s festival, visit wagga.nsw.gov/fusion.

Fusion15 is proudly funded and presented by Wagga Wagga City Council and Multicultural NSW in partnership with Multicultural Council of Wagga Wagga, Riverina Community College and St Vincent de Paul Society NSW.

The Wired Lab – EventWorks public art commission

Roll up to the Global Communications Radio Club (GCRC) and experience the luck, skill and thrill of worldwide communications via technologies of today and yesteryear.

GCRC is a participatory ‘live’ artwork providing Fusion Festival goers with the opportunity to experience amateur AKA ‘ham’ radio culture while contributing to a socially generated artwork that will evolve and grow throughout Fusion15.

GCRC is supported by Wagga Wagga City Council’s Public Art program WaggaWorks and is a collaboration with The Wired Lab.

Sione Falemaka

A triple citizen of Polynesian descent, artist Sionemaletau was born in Niue and now lives, studies and works in Sydney.

He produces work based on traditional weavings learned from his grandmother and passed down the generations. His designs shift in scale and involve beads, feathers, seeds, yarns, dyes, textiles and other recycled materials like celluloid film that weave their way into his work.

For Fusion15, Sione has created the House of Plenty, using celluloid film to weave sides of the shelter and will be inviting people in to teach for Rourou (food bowl) Traditional Maori, Niuean and Polynesian weaving workshops.

Heidrun Lohr

Heidrun Lohr has been photographing Sydney’s performing arts community for more than 25 years and across that period has photographed some of Australia’s best known actors.

Heidrun captured Fusion14 and returned to Wagga last month to photograph a number of the community performers as they went through their rehearsals in preparation for Fusion15.

These images will be installed at Fusion15 in a 10-metre long installation as well as projected on to the Civic Centre building facing the Wollundry Lagoon.

Heidi Hoops, Tina Green and Benny B

The circus is coming to town!

Come watch Heidi the Ring Mistress as she cracks whips and spins hoops while being amazed by Benny B with his impressive club juggling and death-defying balance stunts atop a two-metre free-standing ladder.

You can also marvel at Tina Green with her incredible crockery catching skills on her six-foot unicycle.

When the sun goes down, the three will light up the night with a spectacular LED light circus show featuring gorgeous synchronised hula hoops, elegant juggling and mesmerising light trails.

If you caught these three at the recent Little Big Day Out, you know this is a show not to be missed.

Kyle Pearson – The Bootleg Screen Press

A screening press in a van?

Kyle Pearson will be bringing his rolling screen printing studio The Bootleg Screen Press to Fusion15.

The press is capable of printing four colour designs on demand, with Kyle opting for vibrant colours, much like a candy store or milk bar.

The characters he paints are usually food brought to life, such as the ice cream on the van called Gerald.

“I am not serious about much, just my work, my food and my high fives,” Kyle said.

James Farley – FUSION Tower Game

Wagga-based artist James Farley has an interest in global warming, regional culture and our place within the environment.

He is currently enrolled in a PhD program at Charles Sturt University, where his research explores the potential role of photography in fostering a movement towards ecological stewardship in the face of global warming.

For Fusion15, James has created a series of tower building games that will be positioned throughout the event for festival goes to play. James said his intention was to create an accessible activity where people of any age and background could come together share the benefits and enjoyment of play.

Kurrajong Waratah Industries supplied reclaimed timber for the game, with the Wagga Men’s Shed helping construct the 500 game pieces.

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Contact Josh Lang 6926 9190/0437 385 892 or media@wagga.nsw.gov.au or follow us on Twitter - @WaggaCouncil