Wizards of the Wire Tight wire Workshops for Indigenous young people, Lismore Quad Fri 16 June 2023

‘Can you stand on one leg & then close your eyes?’

That’s the question I hear ringing out, as Simone takes one group of young people through the warm ups before wire walking and in particular, Funambulism - the art of walking on a wire, strap or rope with a balance pole. Almost 50 students from the River Secondary College Widjabul Wia-Bal Leadership team are here for the day, giggling and jostling, but keen to try this new challenge.

They are split into 3 cohorts, and I’m here with the wire walkers: ankle and arm warm ups, planks on the grass, safety talks done. Now they must hopscotch on logs, balance on round and square poles, then progress to the actual low wire, using a steel pole for balance for funambulism. “Be there if she needs you, but don’t hold her arms,” guides Simone, as students help each other explore their budding wire skills. 

A second group is in the Visual Arts area, collaging and painting to help make bunting and paste up pictures using black and white Con Colleano images for the performance area.

A third mob sits high in the Conservatorium building above the Quad, exploring some of the beats and sound samples being used by local Indigenous composer Blake to make the show’s soundtrack.

Every 30 mins a bell clangs, and the three teams rotate to the next workshop. The sun is shining, with the sky a glorious winter blue; Uncle Gilbert has opened the day with his Welcome to Country, and in the background of all this creative activity, wire walkers are practicing their craft, while curious onlookers pause and watch for a while.

We hand out postcards about the upcoming show, explaining our intentions: to make Lismore’s very own Con Colleano a household name, while nurturing agency in the young people to do that themselves too, for they are the Con’s of tomorrow.

After a BBQ lunch, a few students choose to be photographed in Con’s iconic costume cape, being used in the spectacle July 8-9, while the performers demonstrate their skills on the tight wire 3 metres high and 60 metres long. PICS

Fresh beats from the music composer give an inkling of the atmosphere that will encircle the show. The day ends with a gift for each student of a ‘Wizards of the Wire’ cotton beanie, so that the students become Wizard of the Wire ambassadors to spread the word about Con Colleano, the original Wizard of the Wire.

The Seed Arts team have worked hard- it’s been a big week- and their ‘pats on the back’ circle is well-earnt.

Lismore’s Quad feels alive and pulsing. Passers-by can see how hard artists work to make their Art, moving between different areas of need, as the process itself becomes the living breathing project. It’s as though the wire rig is a giant creature’s skeleton, coming to life before us… next week is Creative Development, when the bones will be fleshed out for real… see you again soon, GG

This project has been supported by: Australia Council for the Arts, CreateNSW, Regional Arts Australia, Lismore City Council, Lismore Quad, Northern Rivers Conservatorium, Arts Northern Rivers