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MELBOURNE
BRUNSWICK
BUNDOORA
FISHERMAN’S BEND
POINT COOK
HAMILTON
HO CHI MINH CITY
HANOI
So many apologies woven into one
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s National Apology to the Stolen Generations inspired
RMIT University student and Alphington resident Dominique Plumanns’ innovative
use of tapestry weave to create a coolamon basket.
“I wanted to create a way to contribute to the sentiment of the National Apology,”
Ms Plumanns said. “Many people were touched by the speech. By setting up a
large tapestry loom in a very public place and inviting volunteers to weave strips of
tapestry I created an interactive work of art.
“More than 100 people came to weave and several hundreds more witnessed the
weaving process,” the School of Fashion and Textiles student said.
The result of this public interaction, a large coolamon basket in the colours of the
Australian landscape, will be exhibited where it was woven – in the Atrium at
RMIT’s Brunswick campus, from 5 to 14 November.
It will later feature at “Unfold”, a show of work by final-year students at the
Counihan Gallery, Brunswick Town Hall, from 27 November to 17 December.
Ms Plumanns said the creation of the tapestry had involved a warm community
atmosphere. “People from all walks of life – students, teachers including our own
Vice-Chancellor, other artists, pensioners and children – shared a communal belief
in the power of saying sorry.”
Phillip Doggett-Williams, General and Life Drawing Teacher, said of the project: “It
is a very interesting and unique concept that works at the grassroots level.
“Dominique’s innovative way of working was to create a gentle and unchallenging
opportunity for people to contribute to the National Apology.”
School of Fashion and Textiles colleague and weaving teacher, Cresside Collette,
said: “What made this project unusual was to focus it on a specific issue of interest
to a whole community.
“It was a challenging and very ambitious thing to do and Dominique managed very
well. It was a resonant success and I am looking forward to see where it will go.”
High-resolution images are available on request from Ms Plumanns.
For interviews or comment: Dominique Plumanns, 0425 778 253.
For general media enquiries, RMIT Media and Communications, David Glanz,
(03) 9925 2807 or 0438 547 723.
30 October, 2008
NEWS 
