Current Exhibition: Whispers from the Canopy
Whispers from the Canopy, 23 January to 10 Feb. OPENING: 25 January 2pm – 4pm, Broadhurst Gallery, Hazelhurst Arts Centre, 782 Kingsway, Gymea NSW, Australia
TVS Newsletter 7th Dec ’25
For TVS Activism, Workshops, Exhibitions and Other Tree News, please download our most recent newsletter!
________________________________
We ask members of the Tree Veneration Society
‘What was your favourite thing about your weaving experience at Rising Tide?‘
________________________________
Seeing the delight on the faces of the people who rocked up keen to learn how to weave and contribute to a collective aspirational artwork. I loved being able to weave the T-shirt ‘yarn’ that I had made from the T-shirt used in the first campaign of one of our teal MPs (now in her 3rd term). Two young women from the Australian National University who got weaving were delightful, and enthused by their involvement in this hopeful project and the commitment of TVS, and all the people at the event to ensure their future! Here is a picture of them. I was very heartened and proud to be a tiny contributor to an impressive and lovely TVS initiative and effort. Thank you! Xx
Amanda E Hunt
____________________________________________
Weaving the wave of change
was far more than weaving fabric —
a quiet art of
weaving words to share our stories,
weaving dreams to keep hope alive,
weaving laughter to twine new friendships.
Audrey Egan
Artivist
____________________________
My favourite thing about the weaving experience weaving, “The wave of change” at rising tide,
Were all the people that came to weave with us.
4 generations: little children, crazy teenagers with hair the same colour as the blue fleece we wove with, young primary school teachers, mother’s, grandmother’s, elders, strapping young men, scientists, artists, and poets… all weaving, chatting, telling their stories and bringing their hearts and minds to the weaving.
It has all their characters, and the joy and love of a heart for community that came together with a shared mission of caring for our planet within it.
The most fun and hilarious moment was when we all collapsed with exhaustion onto the finished tapestry and laughed with collective tiredness and the wonderment of how well we worked and got to know each other through the process.
Penny Simons
Botanical Artist
Insta: @penny_simons
_________________________________
My favourite thing was the response to our little corner of the tent. It was a hub of colour and shape. People would express their delight and hours later would appear back to marvel at the progress.
There was a general relief throughout the whole event, something like a calm assurance that for a time we could all let our guard down, pause the worry, hold off on the dread, everyone here understands.
Hobart
____________________________________
I had very little to do with weaving “The Wave of Change” and it was all but finished when I arrived at the Protestival on Saturday 29 November 2025. But my favourite thing was walking into that tent – on the land of the Awabakal and Worimi Peoples – and being immediately struck by the presence of the weaving! It was SO impressive.
I was drawn to and delighted by its intrigue and beauty, and grateful for and extremely proud of that small, core group of TVS members who worked so hard to make it happen.
The undulating lines, sumptuous colouration, the protruding woollen bits, rough knotted bumps, neat perfectly woven patches, right across the three panels, coalesce to make something quite incredible – it’s almost like you are witnessing “community” in a weaving!
Auds, Vanessa, Penny and Hobart, and anyone else who played a part in making this happen – thank you for creating such a wonderful thing!
Paula Broom
Visual Artist
https://environmeanttobe.wordpress.com
____________________________________________
“Living with Biodiversity Conservation” by Margaret England
Tree Veneration Society member Margaret England was visited recently by fellow member Adrienne Hunt at her rural Biodiversity Conservation property. Here, in response to Adrienne’s questions, Margaret explains what is involved with being directly engaged with the natural world as an advocate and custodian.
Urban Forests – Documentary by Clare Press
#UrbanForest a fantastic documentary by Clare Press https://www.instagram.com/reel/C60kcKwvFLY/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet
Posted by Tree Veneration Society on Friday, August 23, 2024
TVS artists finalists in the North Sydney Art Prize
The Tree Veneration Society have several artists involved in this year’s art prize. Please come along and show your support from 11th May.
Rally For Native Forests
On Sunday 24th March 2024, communities came together in rallies across the nation in solidarity as defenders of native forests, and in objection to their ongoing destruction.
Exhibition Opening: Tree Tales, 1st November, 2023
TREE TALES reflects individual responses to the contemporary condition of the natural world, especially trees and their ecosystems, and includes film, photographs, sculpture, painting, drawing, printmaking and installation.
CURATED BY Bernadette Smith, Sue Stevens and Jan Garben
FEATURING WORKS BY Louise Nade, Louise Fowler-Smith, Jan Garben, Bernadette Smith, Sue Stevens, Zorica Purlija, Terhi Hakola, Kit Hoisington, Amanda Farquharson, Elizabeth Gervay, Jane Green, Danja Derkenne, Jade Gunn, Hobart Hughes, Jude Fowler-Smith, Penny Simons, Mark Elliot-Ranken, Marie Geissler
2 – 12 NOVEMBER 2023
OPENING: 6 – 8 pm Wednesday 1 November
CHRISSIE COTTER GALLERY: 31a Pidcock Street Camperdown
GALLERY HOURS: 11am – 4pm, Thursday – Sunday
The Tree Ven Society at Nan Tien Temple Tree Day
Members of TVS were excited to be invited to participate in a Temple Tree Day at the Nan Tien Temple, the largest Buddhist Temple in the Southern Hemisphere, on Saturday 7 October
The Tree Creatures workshop with Amanda Farqhuarson and Elizabeth Gervay
Temple Tree Day
A day of nature and artistic celebration!
Whether you’re a nature enthusiast, a garden lover, or simply looking to explore the Nan Tien Temple, this event offers a range of nature inspired activities and workshops that are fun for the whole family. Lots of free events for this tree – mendous day 🌳
Highlight: Buddhist Tree Blessing ceremony | Free to attend or you may wish pay $10 to receive your Buddhist blessed bottlebrush native seedling to take home to plant.
Program Details & Timetable
Nan Tien Temple has teamed up with the Tree Veneration Society artists to bring you Temple Tree Day. Immerse yourself in a day of tree celebration. Take time out to create a day for Buddhist practice to honour trees and your creative well-being at the largest Buddhist temple in the Southern Hemisphere. By taking home your Buddhist blessed tree to plant, together we will create a ‘Field of Commitment’, an interconnected expanded art practice originated from Emerita Professor Shelley Sacks, UK.
Details on the day
You will love this day if you are:
- Nature lover, gardener, bee protector
- Looking to learn more about Buddhism for daily practice
- Conservation supporter
- Health and wellness enthusiast
- Families with children
“Our collective commitment ensures we are a catalyst for change”.
Louise Fowler-Smith, President & Artist, Tree Veneration Society, Sydney.
Tree Day Activities
1. Buddhist Blessing Tree Ceremony – Main Shrine | Free – $10 | 🪴
Join us for a monastic-led short ceremony. Free to attend or pay $10 to receive a Buddhist blessed native tree seedling (bottle brush) to plant at home and has a yellow band symbolic of your commitment to nurture nature. Experience the expanded art practice called ‘field of committment
2. Tree Veneration Society Temple Garden Tour | Free | 45 min 🌳
Part storytelling, part performance, join this informative guided walking tour with professional artists and committed conservationists from the Tree Veneration Society. Sharing their expertise, you’ll discover the secrets behind the symbolism and significance of the designs within a Chinese Buddhist Garden.
3. Giant Bodhi Tree Chalk Mural | Free | Drop in 9am – 4pm 🎨
Work alongside artists from the Tree Veneration Society to help draw the giant mural of a Bodhi Tree. Perfect photo opportunity and great creative fun. Soft matts provided.
4. Tree Meditation | Free | 45 min 🧘🏽10am – 10.45 am
Tree Meditation is a profound practice that involves immersing yourself in the presence of trees to cultivate a deep connection with nature, the wisdom of trees and absorb their tranquil vibrations. A very grounding experience. Join us amongst the tranquil grove of trees and bird songs
5. Tree Creature Workshop + Listen to the recorded inner sounds of a Tree| Free | Drop in 9am – 2pm 🌱
Bind, weave and twine interesting tree elements to assemble imaginative creatures with Tree Veneration Society artist Amanda Farquharson. A workshop suited to all ages (< 12’s with parents). Listen the recording of the inside of trees with headphones.
6. Backyard Beekeeping with Rachel Peedom from BeeInspired | Free | Drop in 9am – 2pm 🐝
Take another step towards sustainability and help the natural world thrive. Planting trees helps our pollinators. Why not take the next step to becoming a backyard beekeeper. Highly educational and hands on, you will see inside the hive and learn loads more about this delicious hobby.
7. Mindful drawing classes with Kathy Karas | $10 | 11am – 11:45am 🖼️
Enjoy another form of meditation and experience the temple gardens in a new way. Take your pencil for a walk. You will learn new techniques and approaches to produce several sketches of the gardens. Experience the temple gardens in new ways.
8. Tai Chi | Free | Drop in 9.30-10.00am
Start the day with the gentle movements of Tai Chi, one of the most effective exercises for a healthy mind and body. Join the group at the Nan Tien Health & Wellbeing Markets, Nan Tien Institute side.