Biennale Community Day

Overview

The 21st Biennale of Sydney has been taking place across seven galleries, museums and unconventional spaces since March 16. Immersive and thought-provoking exhibitions have popped up from the MCA to Cockatoo Island, the Opera House to Woolloomooloo and Haymarket's 4A Gallery to Carriageworks.

As part of this massive exhibition — which runs until June 11 — Cockatoo Island is hosting the Biennale Community Day on May 20 from 11am–5pm. A day of free talks, workshops, activities and performances, it's a chance for Sydneysiders of all ages to experience the festival without spending a cent.

Talks will be held in the Superposition Studio and include a discussion about the Indigenous history of Sydney Harbour by specialist librarian Melissa Jackson, an exploration of the Chinese philosophical concept of wuxing (the five elements and their energies) by scholar Shirley Chan and the environmental significance of mangroves with wetland specialist Jeffrey Kelleway.

Another highlight of the day is the collaborative sculpture making workshop with Marrickville's Reverse Garbage reuse centre. The workshop, which will be held in Building 137 fro 11am–3pm, invites participants to contribute to a giant community sculpture — or make a small sculpture to take home — using materials that have been recovered from landfill.

Cap the day off with a performance by the Sydney Sufi Ensemble at 4pm, who will perform ritual music from the Persian 'Sama' tradition that originated in Iran. While the performance is free, any donations given on the day will go to the Matthew Talbot Hostel and towards meals for the homeless in Woolloomooloo.

Images: Zan Wimberley