MMeets
Skywhales: Every Heart Sings
Free!
All visitors over the age of 12 must show their COVID-19 vaccination certificate as a condition of entry.
For full details on staying COVIDsafe at MPavilion 2021, read our Covid-19 Safe Plan
This event is now complete. If you want to revisit the talk, visit our Library, or subscribe to the MPavilion podcast via iTunes, Pocketcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever else you get your podcasts.
Patricia Piccinini’s Skywhalepapa is a monumental sculpture in the form of a hot-air balloon and a new companion piece to Skywhale—together they form a Skywhale family. Following flight events in Canberra, Adelaide & Albury, the sculptures are heading to Melbourne for the first time as part of a National Gallery touring event throughout 2021 and 2022.
Join us for the inaugural Melbourne flight as we gather at dawn at Corben Oval to watch the Skywhale family fly over the heart of Melbourne.
SCHEDULE
6am: Gates and coffee carts open
6.15am: Skywhales inflation commences
6.55am: Welcome to Country by Wurundjeri Elder Uncle Ringo Terrick
7.05am: Patricia Piccinini speaks
7.15am: Jess Green (aka Pheno) performs We are the Skywhales
7.22am: Skywhales launch at sunrise
what to bring
Come armed with picnic blankets (or seats) and torches. Look out for marshalls who will help guide you to where you can watch all the magic unfold—and inflate!
parking
Car parking will be available at Studley Boathouse Carpark, Deep Rock Road, and Yarra Bend Road. Please allow 5 to 10 minutes to walk from the car parks.
Accessible parking is available on Yarra Bend Road around Corben Oval. Please inform traffic management staff on arrival, and they will direct you to the designated area.
Parking is limited—if you’re driving, we strongly encourage you to carpool with family and friends wherever possible.
food and drink
Coffee carts will be available onsite for your early morning caffeine and pastry fix. BYO food and drink is also welcome.
leave no trace
We are so fortunate to be experiencing this monumental public artwork at Corben Oval in the natural surroundings of Yarra Bend Park on Wurundjeri Country. We kindly ask that all visitors respect the site and leave no trace by taking all rubbish away with them.
The story of the Skywhale family is told in Patricia Piccinini’s new children’s book ‘Every Heart Sings’, while an exhibition in the Tim Fairfax Learning Gallery at the National Gallery of Australia brought together studio drawings, 3D models and an interview with the artist to look at the development the Skywhales. An accompanying online learning resource for primary students look at concepts of love, care and responsibility in relation to ourselves, families, and other living beings. Musician Jess Green (AKA Pheno) has created a song, ‘We are the Skywhales’, and keen knitters can make their own Skywhales from a pattern developed by a local Canberra knitter.
Skywhales: Every Heart Sings is a National Gallery Touring Event, supported by Principal Partner The Naomi Milgrom Foundation and Visions of Australia. Skywhales: Every Heart Sings is the third instalment of The Balnaves Contemporary Series and is a Know My Name project.
This event is free and no ticket is required. Sign up below to express your interest in attending the launch event and stay up to date with important event information and weather updates.
Register your interestPlease note: this event will occur at a CORBEN OVAL, in Yarra bend – not at Mpavilion.
In collaboration with