Mortlake 'wish' project starts
3rd March 2010
LOUNGE AROUND : Wishes From a Travelling Chair is a small community project that asks the people of Mortlake and district to participate in a wishing exercise.
Inspired by Enid Blyton’s 1937 novel about a magical wishing chair, Lounge Around will attempt to engage and excite the community by inviting them to anonymously write and post their wishes, hopes and dreams to form part of what will eventually become a special community exhibition.
The centre piece of the project is a battered old armchair that was recently liberated from the dark confines of a dilapidated garage. Over a number of months the chair will be repaired and transformed in a process that is sure to inspire all who come in contact with it. During this period of restoration participants will be encouraged to sit in the chair and respond to the process through writing, drawings and poetry when the chair ‘travels’ to their community groups, schools, service organisations and landmarks around Mortlake and district. Participants in the project will assist in transforming this tired, once loved, armchair into a comfortable receiver for hopes, dreams, thoughts and wishes that may live on as a permanent town fixture.
At the end of the project the results will be installed in an exhibition where people will have an opportunity to view and absorb the ‘wishes’ of their community.
stay tuned for more updates on the project over the coming weeks
This is a Moyne Shire project in partnership with Terang and Mortlake Health Service (for more information contact Jo Grant on: jgrant@rav.net.au / 5568 0560)
Member Comments
My childhood relived
Tracey
(): 3rd Mar 10
An inspiring and highly emotive project to bring to the community. I look forward to seeing the development of ideas and the restoration of both the chair and hopes and dreams of the Mortlake and district community.
Trace
wishing chair
Jeanette Toller-bond
(): 3rd Mar 10
I loved the stories of the wishing chair when a child - what a wonderful idea. I wish for the Mortlake community a chair full of good vibrations and exciting messages. The "re life" to a chair and renewed energy within the district.
Awesome!
Joe
(): 3rd Mar 10
This is a wonderful project idea - what a great idea to take a simple thing like a couch and make an art form of it!
I look forward to seeing the wishes of the community on display as well.
Exciting for everyone involved I'm sure!
Hope your wishes come true ...
Trevor
(): 3rd Mar 10
What a great community project for Mortlake and surrounds. I hope i can catch it during its travels and maybe make my own wish.
Sensational
Susie
(): 3rd Mar 10
What a wonderful project idea from a creative community. The wishing chair is inspirational, I cannot wait to see the chair placed amongst us and what our responses will be.
Can i borrow the chair?
steve
(): 3rd Mar 10
I hope the chair will move around Moyne Shire and all have a chace to be part of this exciting project. We need to make sure we document the project well from start to finish and beyond............
We need more wishing chairs
Kate
(): 3rd Mar 10
Love this idea. Wouldn't it be great if we could have this happen in a few very different communities and then bring the chairs together to see the diversity and commonaility of wishes.
Bringing the Community together
Judie Irving
(): 5th Mar 10
What an excellent and fun idea for all. May all the wishes come true and may everyone working on the project grow in understanding and health.
I think a small story should be written about the journey of the chair, from the chairs perspective when the project is finished and the chair finally comes to rest.... Where?
well sprung
Deb
(): 9th Mar 10
This project resonates strongly for me. I loved the story in my childhood and love the concept now. A comfy armchair to dream upon - what could be better? Wishing you all a well sprung well spring of hopes and dreams.
beautiful idea
Heather
(): 11th Mar 10
What a great project, sure to unlock all kinds of creativity in the Mortlake community, look forward to seeing more....
Lift-off
Faisal Grant
(): 16th Mar 10
The chair is a wonderful way to launch the expression of aspirations. Anyone within the community has as much opportunity as anyone else. I hope the results provide a very rich resource for all.
Beautiful
Susie Lyons
(): 17th Mar 10
What a beautiful concept Jo. The creative minds of small communities never ceases to amaze. I look forward to seeing the chair and hearing the stories.
brilliant concept
erin
(): 2nd Apr 10
congratulations on a fabulous concept... I await news with bated breath and just a couple of wishes...
LOUNGE AROUND: wishes from a travelling chair
Kim Schoenberger
(): 2nd Apr 10
Truely an inspiring concept! The old chair would of eventually be discarded no doubt... now finds itself on a journey of love, warmth and wishes, so beautiful.
A bit scary for a small town
Lesley Sutherland
(): 6th May 10
I used to live in Mortlake. It's a small town and district. I'm afraid the "wishes" are likely to be a bit constrained with people fearing that others might identify them.
fantastic
Barry
(): 26th May 10
Great intiative Jo, the strength of any community is based on the hopes and dreams of all those that make it up, young and old alike.
