Whispers from the Canopy: Opening event
A fantastic opening at Hazlehurst Art Centre, featuring the beautiful, skilful and thought-provoking works from 26 members of the Tree Veneration Society.
For the opening speech by Penny Simons, and photography by Miho Watanabe please see below.
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!
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We ask members of the Tree Veneration Society
‘What was your favourite thing about your weaving experience at Rising Tide?‘
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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“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