easterlySWELL 2023 Community Art Project
Where the Wildflowers Grow with parthenopi
Parthenopi has a magical way with found plastics, turning them into beautiful blooms and grasses to tell the environmentally critical story of single use plastics. The master crafted blooms represent endangered Queensland plant species, flowers, grasses, seed pods and more.
These will be curated onto a series of stunningly picturesque archways that will create a wonderful walkway experience for visitors to enjoy, take photos and immerse in.
The community is invited to craft their own blooms to add to the installation, collectively creating a unique visual spectacular.
Sections of this installation will then be re curated at SWELL Kids Elements at Currumbin Beach in September to educate the audience about the critical situation with single use plastics and the environment and endangered flora species of Queensland.
When | Thursday 31st August to Sunday 3rd September
Time | 9.00am – 9.00pm
Where | Chevron Island Park, 75 Thomas Drive, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217
Cost | FREE
You are invited to collaborate with parthenopi and fellow community!
Watch the installation come to life, with thousands of hand crafted blooms coming together to create ‘Where the Wildflowers Grow’. Parthenopi and her team will be running free workshops to teach attendees to make wonderful blooms from found single use plastics. Workshops are for all ages. Everyone is welcome to join.
When | Thursday 31st August to Sunday 3rd September
Time | 10.00am – 3.00pm
Where | Chevron Island Park, 75 Thomas Drive, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217
Cost | FREE
EasterlySWELL is supported by Cr Darren Taylor, City of Gold Coast Division 10.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
parthenopi has branched out from her career as an events florist to take on the challenge of creating sculpture in a different medium. She has drawn from her knowledge of making large sculptural floral installations for special events and used that to work with discarded materials; bringing everyday household and industrial plastic waste to life.
parthenopi relishes in experimenting with bold colour, striking texture and dynamic form and injecting a sense of fun into her work to delight audiences while also inviting them to contemplate a deeper message. She is endlessly inspired by the tenacity and unique beauty of Australian flora and fauna and its plight against plastic pollution. Another key element of her practice is assembling her sculpture in situ and being inspired by her surroundings; altering the artwork to honour the landscape and create a conversation between the two.
IMAGE: Instagram @parthenopium