After the week in Melbourne, we took an hour-long train ride to Geelong, still in the metro Melbourne transit area. For five days we’d be in this coastal town for the biannual syposium of the Mosaic Artists of Australia and New Zealand. This is what inspired coming to Australia from the beginning. When I learned the organization was hosting its first in-person event in five years, I decided it was time to go! Especially after learning who all would be coming to be presenters and workshop instructors. It was a stellar lineup of artists I admire from several continents.

It was a fantastic experience, and Bob enjoyed himself quite a bit as well.

Sights around Geelong

The National Wool Museum

This museum is where the International juried exhibition for the symposium was installed. Geelong had been the center of wool processing in Victoria and this museum was incredible. So many displays of machinery, describing the processes from shearing sheep making yarn and thread to weaving and knitting fabric, and weaving rugs with cool interacive tableaux of life of the people and workers in this industry.

The Jacquard Loom in the Museum

We were really lucky to have a demonstration for us! The operator shared some history of the factories in Geelong and his 23-odd year career beforet he mills closed. He’s employed now by the museum to maintain and demo this Jacquard loom for visitors. I put a video together of parts of his demo. It’s on YouTube with this link. It is 11 minutes long… just warning! video link

Making Sandwiches for the 30:30 Exhibition Reception

The 30:30 exhibition is a non-juried member show in conjunction with the symposium. There were 74 pieces in the show: a very good participation of members. Each work had to be 30 x 30cm, otherwise no other theme. To keep catering costs down, were were part of a volunteer team to make a lot of traditional English-Australian finger sandwiches. It was a lot of fun!

MAANZ Symposium

Exhibitions, social events, presentations and workshops filled five days in Geelong. So much great content! The presenting artists gave varied talks on many aspects of mosaic-making. They came from several places around the world. I have the pleasure of already knowing many of them, which was the big draw to travel to Australia to attend. It was SO worth it!