Sunshine International Arts and Circus Solarus have more in common than both incorporating ‘the sun’ in their names, since Tricia Cooney from Circus Solarus first worked with SIA on costumes for the Notting Hill Carnival in 2001 during her Churchill Fellowship tour, there has been a regular exchange of visits and projects in 2002, 2003 and 2004.
The carnival costumes designed by artist Ray Mahabir of SIA derive from the tradition of the Trinidad Carnival, 3 and 4 metre high backpack costumes which are animated as the performer moves, each movement enlarged by the flexible structure and light fabrics in the sculptural frame.
An invitation arrived this year for Tricia to work with Ray Mahabir from SIA this August on the carnival parade in Liverpool for the European Capital of Culture 2008 and on decorating costumes for the Southwark and Notting Hill Carnivals in London and the excitement is building as the day of departure nears.
Circus Solarus were commissioned by Wollongong City Council to create a live game show complete with theme music, spinning wheel and comic presenters. Initiated by Sand Hall, Community Development worker, the idea was to provide a fun, yet informative event where residents from Warrawong could connect with services such as Centrelink; the Illawarra Ethnic Communities Council and Healthy cities Illawarra.
School children from the Illawarra were the first to enjoy our latest adventure game; Race Against Time, held in the grounds of the beautiful Wollongong Botanic Gardens on World Environment Day. Race Against Time is an adventure game with a sustainability theme. Participants follow an obstacle course incorporating large colourful props while carrying out such tasks as rescuing the frogs, watering the talking tree, putting the veggie scraps in the compost bin and sneaking past the crocodiles. Three colourful game leaders organise the teams and a stilt walking ‘talking tree’ encourages them on. The children dress up as lizards in either the yellow or the green team. It’s bright, colourful and educational.
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City workers enjoying their lunchbreak were met by Percival P Paper and Ruthy Recycle at Martin Place in Sydney recently.