A Celebration of Impermanence : The Ephemeral Festival, Panboola Wetlands, NSW Australia

Jen Mallinson Metal Bird over Tips, Panboola Wetlands Pambula NSW Australia.

Public Art – Local Heritage – Public Space
The tones of a rusty metal bird in flight compliment the grassy wetlands of Tips Billabong and the weathered boards of The Old Bar in the background.

It was a glorious Autumn day.

The mood of the participants at the annual Ephemeral – a one day festival celebrating the ever-changing light and landscape of the Panboola Wetlands – was one of gratitude: gratitude for the weather, which was allowing us to wander and workshop outdoors in comfort; gratitude for the space, which is protected by its Environmental Organisation status; and gratitude for the community, whose members had managed to remain in good cheer, and had come together to commune, educate, and entertain.

It has been a long couple of years in this section of the country – as it has in many parts of the world. The festival was cancelled last year because of the Covid lockdowns, and for many months before that, communities in the area were battling unprecedented fires. In the weeks before the festival, many locals were again cut off: this time by flooding caused by well-above-average rainfalls that pummelled us for days. And, while fluctuating water-levels are be expected in a floodplain, the waters swept through at such a damaging rate that even heavy benches were moved.

Fortunately, the Panboola Wetlands are supported by an army of volunteers who swung into action as soon as the rains abated, and by the time the festival was upon us, the walking tracks and open spaces winding around 82 hectare-space looked wonderful. When I arrived on the day, shortly before the festival was due to open up to the public, yarn art and origami cranes decorated the trees, and the artists and crafts-people and volunteers were already busy setting up.

Since my first visit to the Wetlands in 2013 (see: The Pinnacles and Panboola), I’ve become a volunteer – albeit not a very regular or conscientious one. But, I’m happy to spend a few weekly hours cleaning pathways, or counting flying foxes, or weeding out invasive plant species. There is something about these lands: every time I walk onto them, I feel a lifting of my spirit.

The Ephemeral festival is a collaboration between the Lonely Arts Club Pambula and the Pambula Wetlands and Heritage Project. Through various grants from State, Regional and Local governments, it show-cases local talent and draws the community in to celebrate this unique landscape.

In years past, I’ve been away while the festival has been on, so I was looking forward to wandering with my cameras this year.

It did not disappoint!

Colourful umbrella and people, Panboola Wetlands, Pambula NSW Australia.

Preparations
In the cool of the morning, crafts-people and workshop facilitators are already setting up their spaces when I arrive.

An artist and his muse in the grass, Panboola Wetlands, Pambula NSW Australia.

A Painter and his Muse
Origami cranes – part of the Community Peace & Harmony Installation – flutter from the trees as local artist Lachlan Barratt sits with a blank sheet of paper and a view he likes.

Sculpture around Tips Billabong
Award-winning sculptor Jen Mallinson has a number of her beautiful, flowing metal sculptures installed on the site.

Jen Mallinson and Aqueous
Later in the morning, I came across the artist talking about her metal sculpture to some interested visitors.

Coffee and Chat in the Shade
A coffee and a catch-up with friends is always popular. Hay bales are colourfully covered in fabrics to make temporary seating areas.

Julie Krone
New Zealand-born, local-resident artist Julie Krone conducted two popular nature-inspired block printing workshops.

Spinning with Tabitha Bilaniwskyj-Zarins
Meanwhile, Tabitha Bilaniwskyj-Zarins from Tabandy Farm in near-by Candelo, talks to workshop participants about spinning yarn and creating textiles.

Making “Postcards from Panboola”
All around the grounds, workshops have started …

Keeping an Eye on Proceedings
… and Michelle Richmond, Panboola Project Coordinator can take a breath, knowing it is all under way smoothly.

Hilary Peterson
The workshop conducted by visual artist and Bega Valley resident Hilary Peterson …

“Postcards from Panboola”
… starts with participants exploring the textures and colours of the nature all around them.

Panboola Volunteers
With coffees and smiles, volunteers sell products and hand out information.

Artist and Educator Sharon Stevens
Several workshops target youngsters, including Botanical Drawing …

Author Gabbie Stroud
… and Youth Writing.

Orbs by Tharwa Valley Forge
The midmorning sun over Tips Billabong is a sparkling contrast to the beautiful rough textures of the iron orbs, donated and installed by the Tharwa Valley Forge, Canberra.

Flowered Orb
Some of the metalworks are on dry land – where we can examine them more closely.

Industrial Derevolution
Sculptor Mark Thompson installed his latest work (on loan) along side Tips Billabong.

Bush Poetry
Reciting the works of ‘Banjo’ Paterson, Phil Inn entertains …

Phil Inn
… among the gum trees.

Botanical Drawing Workshop
Trained arborist and botanical artist Ge Warburton gets her participants ….

Banksia – Botanical Drawing
… to really look at their specimens as they practice drawing.

Women Drawing

Children’s Botanical Drawings
The children’s finished artworks are quite lovely – and the kids were rightly proud.

Stencil Stamping
The group making folded postcards have finished their base painting, and are ready to overlay contrasting shapes …

Postcards from Panboola
… using beautiful stencils that Hilary Peterson has pre-cut of creatures found at the wetlands.

Wreaths and Bouquets
Working with natural materials that the Wyndham Basket Weavers have brought along, anyone interested can spin, or weave, or create wreaths or bouquets.

“Echo-Location”
Performances punctuate the morning. A group of children: y-fLiNG & Flux of Fling Physical Theatre, represent the creatures and moods of the wetlands.