Talking Difference Blog
23 May, 2012 14:52 by Sarah
On Monday 14th May Mandy Ord and I ran workshops with the very enthusiastic students and teachers from Hampton Park Primary School. Both Mandy and I were totally impressed with the quality of their ideas and comics. They were a real pleasure to work with and a huge thanks goes to Shilpa for her assistance and to Monica Rios for dropping in and giving us great feedback.
Hampton Park student
Image: Museum Victoria/Dylan Kelly
Source: Museum Victoria
Many Ord with Hampton Park student
Image: Museum Victoria/Dylan Kelly
Source: Museum Victoria
Hampton Park student with Shilpa
Image: Museum Victoria/Dylan Kelly
Source: Museum Victoria
Sarah with students
Image: Museum Victoria/Dylan Kelly
Source: Museum Victoria
Hampton Park student
Image: Museum Victoria/Dylan Kelly
Source: Museum Victoria
Hampton Park student
Image: Museum Victoria/Dylan Kelly
Source: Museum Victoria
Hampton Park students in the galleries
Image: Museum Victoria/Dylan Kelly
Source: Museum Victoria
Many Ord with Hampton Park student
Image: Museum Victoria/Dylan Kelly
Source: Museum Victoria
Sarah Firth and Mandy Ord
Image: Museum Victoria/Dylan Kelly
Source: Museum Victoria
Hampton Park student with comic
Image: Museum Victoria/Dylan Kelly
Source: Museum Victoria
Sarah with a Hampton Park student
Image: Museum Victoria/Dylan Kelly
Source: Museum Victoria
Hampton Park student with comic
Image: Museum Victoria/Dylan Kelly
Source: Museum Victoria
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23 May, 2012 11:39 by Dave
After over 1,000kms and five residencies in public libraries around the State, the Talking Difference Portable Studio is now half way through its regional tour.
We started in Shepparton in February where the studio was launched and linked in with community groups as part of VicHealth’s Localities Embracing and Accepting Diversity program and the Emerge Festival.
Shepparton Library
Image: Museum Victoria/Dave Henry
Source: Museum Victoria
Portable Studio in Sheppaton Library
Image: Museum Victoria/Dave Henry
Source: Museum Victoria
The next trip was a special outing for the brand new pop-up version of the Portable Studio at Cobram Library. The pop-up studio will be used for events and short residencies.
Pop-up Studio in Cobram
Image: Museum Victoria/Dave Henry
Source: Museum Victoria
After touring the Goulburn Valley, we headed to East Gippsland where I facilitated workshops with TAFE students from Bairnsdale, members of local Aboriginal Cooperatives and communities and Shire staff. At the moment, the Studio has a home in the foyer of the library in beautiful Lakes Entrance.
Lakes Entrance
Image: Museum Victoria/Dave Henry
Source: Museum Victoria
Portable Studio at Lakes Entrance Library
Image: Museum Victoria/Dave Henry
Source: Museum Victoria
Stay tuned for some of the amazing videos that have been created in the Portable Studio so far. And look out for more updates because next week we make the trip across the Horsham as part of the Art is… festival.
http://visithorsham.com.au/events-festivals/2012-art-is-at-waters-edge-festival/
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14 May, 2012 15:38 by Sarah
On the 7th of May Shaun Tan and I ran the second set of comic-drawing workshops with year 6 students from St Albans Primary School. The workshops were held in the theaterette at the Immigration Museum and students participated in a live reading of Shaun Tan’s story “Eric” and discussed themes of belonging, difference and identity.
Students then participated in both a comic discovery trail through the Museum and a cultural walk along Sandridge Bridge followed by comic-drawing workshops, where they drew their own stories.
Workshop introduction
Image: Museum Victoria/Rodney Start
Source: Museum Victoria
Workshop introduction
Image: Museum Victoria/Rodney Start
Source: Museum Victoria
Workshop introduction
Image: Museum Victoria/Rodney Start
Source: Museum Victoria
Workshop introduction
Image: Museum Victoria/Rodney Start
Source: Museum Victoria
Workshop introduction
Image: Museum Victoria/Rodney Start
Source: Museum Victoria
Workshop introduction
Image: Museum Victoria/Rodney Start
Source: Museum Victoria
Dave introducing the Immigration Museum Galleries
Image: Museum Victoria/Rodney Start
Source: Museum Victoria
St Albans student doing the Comic Hunt
Image: Museum Victoria/Rodney Start
Source: Museum Victoria
St Albans student doing the Comic Hunt
Image: Museum Victoria/Rodney Start
Source: Museum Victoria
St Albans students doing the Comic Hunt
Image: Museum Victoria/Rodney Start
Source: Museum Victoria
St Albans student doing the Comic Hunt
Image: Museum Victoria/Rodney Start
Source: Museum Victoria
St Albans student doing the Comic Hunt
Image: Museum Victoria/Rodney Start
Source: Museum Victoria
Shaun demonstrating cartooning
Image: Museum Victoria/Rodney Start
Source: Museum Victoria
Shaun demonstrating cartooning
Image: Museum Victoria/Rodney Start
Source: Museum Victoria
Shaun demonstrating cartooning
Image: Museum Victoria/Rodney Start
Source: Museum Victoria
Shaun with a St Albans student
Image: Museum Victoria/Rodney Start
Source: Museum Victoria
St Albans student and teacher
Image: Museum Victoria/Rodney Start
Source: Museum Victoria
St Albans student and teacher
Image: Museum Victoria/Rodney Start
Source: Museum Victoria
Sarah Firth with a St Albans student
Image: Museum Victoria/Rodney Start
Source: Museum Victoria
Shaun demonstrating cartooning for St Albans students
Image: Museum Victoria/Rodney Start
Source: Museum Victoria
Shaun discussing cartooning with St Albans students
Image: Museum Victoria/Rodney Start
Source: Museum Victoria
Sarah with St Albans students
Image: Museum Victoria/Rodney Start
Source: Museum Victoria
Sarah Firth with a St Albans students
Image: Museum Victoria/Rodney Start
Source: Museum Victoria
St Albans students
Image: Museum Victoria/Rodney Start
Source: Museum Victoria
St Albans students
Image: Museum Victoria/Rodney Start
Source: Museum Victoria
Shaun with a St Albans student
Image: Museum Victoria/Rodney Start
Source: Museum Victoria
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10 May, 2012 16:46 by Sarah Firth
On the 1st of May Adi Firth and I ran our first comic-drawing workshops with Bourchier St Primary School’s year 5/6 students. The children were energetic and enthusiastic and we had an excellent discussion with them about cultural issues and commonalities.
Us getting just a little bit excited about the day ahead
Image: Sarah Firth
Source: Sarah Firth
The students drew comics on subjects such as bullying, hobbies, belonging, losing family members and the value of friendship. I was particularly touched by one boy who bravely drew a comic about losing his father, and explained his subsequent bullying and emotional stress he is dealing with.
Sarah with the class
Image: Sarah Firth
Source: Sarah Firth
Adi and I would like to than Helen and Danny Ryan, and Tasman the dog, for having us to stay at their lovely house in Shepparton!
Student drawing at Bourchier Street Primary School in Shepparton
Image: Sarah Firth
Source: Sarah Firth
Adi Firth facilitating a comic workshop at Bourchier Street Primary School in Shepparton
Image: Sarah Firth
Source: Sarah Firth
Students Drawing
Image: Sarah Firth
Source: Sarah Firth
Mission Accomplished
Image: Sarah Firth
Source: Sarah Firth
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13 October, 2011 10:34 by Dave
“I was proud of my colour as long as I was in my place of birth … but then when I came to Australia in 2010 my daily experiences in the community has compelled me to think that there’s something wrong with this colour.” Ash, Talking Difference Portable Studio
Three-legged and felt covered, the Talking Difference Portable Studio landed in Sunshine in September. Ash was one of the people who stepped inside to record his thoughts about culture, racism and diversity.
Click here to watch this video with a transcript
Ash and other Sunshine library visitors created a series of beautiful responses spanning culture, language, music and all things in between.
The guiding questions were created by young people in Brimbank in a series of workshops with Museum Victoria. We dropped their work onto the touch screen at the heart of the Portable Studio and over two weeks visitors to Sunshine library could create audio, text, videos and drawings using the studio’s high definition camera. The results were startling. From beatboxing, to multilingual counting, Auslan signing, singing and couples reminiscing. And it is all just beginning.
Here's another example from the Studio:
Click here to watch this video with a transcript
If you would like to check it out and make your own work using the Portable Studio visit Sydenham Library during opening hours until 23 October. From there the studio tours Brimbank Libraries and the Immigration Museum between now and the end of the year.
Tour Dates:
10–23 October
Sydenham Library
Station Street, Watergardens Town Centre
Taylors Lakes
31 October–11 November
Immigration Museum
400 Flinders Street, Melbourne
14–27 November
Deer Park Library
Corner of Neale and Station Roads, Deer Park
If you would like to respond to the questions yourself, feel free to make a comment below or head to the Portable Studio facebook page to upload video or pictures.
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3 June, 2011 09:55 by Dave
VASS short film from Vessal Safaei on Vimeo.
Check out this great film made by Vessal Safaei with Victorian Arabic Social Services (VASS). It documents an amazing program VASS ran last year with young people from Arabic backgrounds.
Workshops in public speaking, art and rap all came together to build confidence and skills with incredible results.
It makes me wonder, when was the last time you did something that gave you more confidence to stand up for yourself? Feel free to post comments below.
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