Community Arts Inc.

Updates and News

2013 Bush Dance
In Stirk Park
Saturday 6 April 2013

2013 Festival will be
Sunday 27th October 2013

Black Chooks Music Sessions
Continue Wednesday evenings

| Contact Zig Zag Arts | Bush Dance Poster |

2012 Zig Zag
Community Arts Festival

Stirk Medieval Fayre
Sunday 28 October

Every year Stirk Park is filled with the celebration of the Arts in the Community. The Zig Zag Festival has established itself as the best community arts festival in WA; continuing its traditions of the highest quality in entertainment, arts, crafts, music, dance and performance.

In 2012 the festival theme was Medieval Fayre. You could see people in medieval costumes, performers on old and traditional musical instruments, ancient dances including the maypole and of course Morris Men.

The garland making was great for the children who dressed up in costume to match the medieval theme. There was clay pottery and wood work, and Hooked on Hessian was there making tapestries, and art. The Guides had their Balloon grotto, Michael Speranza and friends taught the gentle art of swordplay (with rubber practise swords!) and for those who would rather watch there were story tellers, and a Jester.

Markets
The arts and crafts market set new records, with more than fifty stalls ranging from Aprons to Vintage Jewellery.

Entertainment
Three stages of entertainment through the day mean there was something for everyone to sit down and watch and enjoy the special food you just bought. There were some stand-out acts last year as well as the crowd-pleasing favourites we ask back every year.

But something you won't see very often was a Massed Choir of over one hundred (that's 100!) primary school children from all the schools around the Shire of Kalamunda.

Ancient music group Trio Grosso payed medieval music on instruments you have probably never heard of - rebecs, crumhorns, hurdy-gurdy, viols, hammered dulcimer, and look out for the mirliton.
Maypole Workshops with Laurel de Veittri Pic (c)ZZCA2012

Maypole Workshops with Laurel de Veittri Pic (c)ZZCA2012

The medieval theme was strongly represented on the Zig Zag Sound Shell Stage with the ancient art of the Maypole - the Dancers have been schooled by world-renowned dance teacher Laurel de Veittri in workshops during the run-up to the Festival. (Picture taken during the workshops at Falls Farm Lesmurdie)

The Rotary Checkerboard Stage continues to present the wide range of traditional acoustic music - more than folk, it was World music. The various Celtic traditions as usual got the Aussie treatment. But this year there are two much more diverse bands - The Last Five Coins played older traditions including many from Eastern Europe - from Hungary to Russia, and Daramad brought you closer to the old Islamic sounds of Turkey, Armenia, and down into Persia. The Black Chooks hoped to exceed 20 players, arguably the largest folk ensemble in WA maybe even Australia! Irish, Canadian, Klezmer, modern, traditional, slow, fast, danceable, chaotic... HUGE!

Youth Village
The Youth Village was larger this year with a bigger marquee, Youth stalls, food nearby and a more intimate atmosphere. Healthway - Smarter than Smoking supported us to hold a series of Transform music workshops for young bands and musicians before the Festival. Bringing guitar legend Graham Greene and the band Gombo to Kalamunda to show how to switch from the loud and heavy style to more intimate, intricate, interesting music styles.

Also in the Youth Village was the modern dance by Hills Experimental Youth Arts - HEYA performance in the landscape explored space, and how we interact with it.

The Scouts Rope Bridge and other stalls in the Youth village were popular all day as well as the fantasy make up, HennaTattoos, sand art and hair braiding.

Official Announcement - Royal Visit
Attending the Stirk Medieval Fayre this year we were graced with the Regal presence of the King and Queen of Balingup who held Court in their official pavilion accompanied by courtiers and livery. They 'joined the promenade in the parade' as well.

The Festival Parade at 5:30 down Haynes Street.
The huge Festival Parade between 5:30 and 6:00 on Haynes Street, Central Kalamunda, brought Knights, Princes and Princesses, jugglers, tumblers and fools to escort our own local Fire Breathing Dragon to the sounds of Junkadelic Big Band and the Kalamunda Youth Swing Band.
Led by a Jester , accompanied by the Sambanistas in costume, the parade made its way down Haynes Street from the Centro Car park in Railway Street.
This was a big parade with a huge float at the end. Six kids inside the Dragon made it walk down the street so realistically people gasped!

Festival Finale 6pm till 7pm - Ensemble Formidable
The Zig Zag Sound Shell Stage had one of Perth's hottest dance bands - Ensemble Formidable to play until the close.

This band had been attracting a lot of attention, and they played infectious rhythms that had the whole crows jiggling and dancing.

The food stalls stayed open until late.

We had a great time!

About Zig Zag Community Arts Inc.

We are a not for profit group run by volunteers to promote the arts and community action in the hills and foothills communities roughly within the Shire of Kalamunda. We are an incorporated group, (registered as deductable gift recipient for GST).

The Kalamunda Zig Zag Community Arts Festival began in the early 1980's as a local Shire initiative. During the first 10 years of its existence, responsibility gradually shifted to the community, until 1993 when the Festival Committee became a separate entity as a community-based non-profit incorporated group.

Between 1994 and 1998, the focus of the Festival Committee was on events and activities for the one-day festival. Since then, there has been an increased emphasis on events across the year, and on gaining input from youth. Zig Zag Community Arts has taken on a broad community development role with extended programs that involve many sectors of the community. These have included projects that extend throughout the year and other significant events. The change reflects the recognition of the value of the Festival and the Arts as tools for addressing social and community issues.

The committee consists entirely of volunteers. They are community members with a broad range of skills including community development, project management, music, teaching and youth work. Throughout the year project teams coordinate art and music workshops that involve both professionals and gifted amateurs.

The Aim of Zig Zag Community Arts is to involve the community in the appreciation of, and participation in community arts.

In 2012 the Famous Zig Zag Festival will be on Sunday 28th October - our annual celebration of community creativity and a showcase for the community's arts and cultural achievements.

The 2012 Annual General Meeting of Zig Zag Community Arts Inc.
was held at 7:30pm on Thursday 15 March 2012
at the Zig Zag Cultural Centre, Railway Road, Kalamunda.

Zig Zag Community Arts Inc.
ABN 31-717-398-345 (Registered for GST)

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