By Tanya Steele
Birdsland Reserve in Belgrave Heights recently had reports of a mysterious yellow artwork that was being installed at the park over social media in the last week of September.
Yarra Ranges residents reported the appearance of a bright yellow sculpture sitting alongside the beautiful bush and lake area where many enjoy a daily walk.
The new temporary public artwork “ Carabiner Bench – (Nature found no fault with me) ” was co-designed by 12 queer youth from the Yarra Ranges and launched by Burinja Cultural Centre in Upwey.
The artwork represents a 6-month long creative design and development process led by Tay Haggarty, reflecting on what it means to be a young queer person in 2023.
“You can’t miss it when you are walking up to the first lake, it’s so yellow and vibrant – the work is about celebrating queerness,” they said.
Haggarty came in to work with the Queer Arts Collective (QAC) at Burrinja in a series of workshops designed to explore being young and queer.
“it turned into a series of workshops where we worked through different activities, we brought in affirming objects, we did queer world making with collage,” they said.
The workshops allowed the group with members aged from 17 to 25 to express their queerness artistically but also get to know each other.
“Along the way, we created a really sweet little micro-community,” Taggarty said.
“I was blown away and have a lot of comfort, knowing that these young minds are going to be out in the community, thinking and creating and thriving,” they said.
The sculpture is bright yellow and forms a large carabiner shape split into three sections – people can weave in and out of the sculpture or sit and enjoy the Birdsland Reserve.
A QR code is printed on the artwork where people can learn more about the project and the local young artists that were involved.
Haggarty said the powerful symbol of the carabiner gives a nod to queer history while inviting people to sit and reflect at the bench.
“We thought it was a really beautiful, strong symbol to say thanks to all of the amazing queer people that have done so much to get us where we are today,” they said.
“The format of the bench allows for future connections, conversation and even just a place to read and reflect.”
The group decided on a warm colour palette, using the sun as a metaphor for queer joy and the warmth of being seen and being held with unity.
“As a whole, I think it’s just about being visible and celebrating queerness, particularly out of the main city environment – which I think was really important to the group,” Taggarty said.
The Queer Arts Collective (QAC) runs regular events at Burrinja and is funded by Vic Health, the collective invites queer people to explore the intersection between queerness and art.
CEO of Burrinja, Gareth Hart said that the QAC is about looking at life and art from queer perspectives, with a focus on cultivating creativity in a safe and open space.
“Facilitated by queer people, for queer people – It is a project very close to my creative heart, knowing first-hand the lack of these spaces and opportunities in the outer eastern community I grew up in. “ they said.
“Burrinja is thrilled to partner with VicHealth on this project – mental, social and community health are some of the more ‘unseen’ aspects of health, open unspoken ones.’
Participant in the QAC Lachlan Wyness said that they can’t really fully put into words the value of QAC.
“I’ve connected with peers and learned so much about not only myself as a non-binary individual but also the nuances of those around me – fellow artists, who all have their own perspectives and ways of creating,” they said.
“It was super cool and surprisingly jazzy like the whole process felt loose and improvised but also meticulously curated and with purpose,” they said.
Haggarty thoroughly enjoyed setting up the project in such a beautiful space and getting the chance to create a ‘little safe bubble’ for queer people to come together.
“It was really healing and quite special, I’m very proud of all the young people who came together,” they said.
“They were so incredibly vulnerable and generous with everything that they shared.”
Burrinja will officially launch the artwork on Sunday 8 October, 1 – 2 pm at Carabiner Bench, Birdsland Reserve lower car park, Belgrave Heights.
The artwork launch will feature live performances, speeches and the formal launch of the Carabiner Bench and will remain on display until 15 December, 2023.
Later in the month there will also be a live poetry event on Saturday 28 October from 2 – 4 pm, at the Carabiner Bench.
