As part of the 2025 Gai-mariagal Festival, North Sydney Council presents Weaving Sky Stories - a site-specific installation by Muruwari artist Dr Virginia Keft. The work spans two public sites in Ted Mack Civic Park: Inside Outside Sculpture Plinth and windows of the Ros Crichton Pavilion which will be on exhibition until 13 July.
Complementing the installation, Dr Keft will host two free community workshops on Sunday 6 July:
Imprints of Country - a hands-on printmaking session using native plants to create custom-printed tote bags.
Weaving Connections - a weaving and yarning circle where participants craft their own woven mirinj (star) while sharing stories and culture.
Dr Virginia Keft said: "The exhibition speaks to the core theme of the Gai-mariagal Festival - Legacies for Future Generations. It speaks to continuity and care of Country as a shared responsibility - to carry stories, to promote resilience and to uplift our voices as a guiding force for future generations."
The installation features two works:
Weaving Sky Stories: Madjam nguna (Flying fox sleeping) (2025), crafted from eucalyptus wood, fibre, wire, and mixed media, displayed on the Inside Outside Sculpture Plinth.
A window wrap on the Ros Crichton Pavilion showcasing Weaving Sky Stories (2025), made from synthetic polymer and raffia on canvas.
Together, these works honour First Nations cultural knowledge and deep connections to Country.
North Sydney Mayor Zoë Baker said the Gai-mariagal Festival exemplifies the power of partnership in celebrating First Nations culture:
"This festival highlights the power of collaboration – between artists, community and Council – to foster respect and understanding. Through Dr Keft's installation and workshops, we invite everyone to engage with the stories and traditions that enrich North Sydney's identity."
Dr Virginia Keft is a multi-award-winning interdisciplinary artist and a proud Muruwari woman based on Dharawal Country (Wollongong, NSW). Her practice spans weaving, textiles, sculpture, painting, and installation, focusing on themes of nature, home, and cultural connection. She is also the Producer of bangawarra Art Yarns: for older and Elder mob at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia.
The Gai-mariagal Festival runs until 13 July, offering free film screenings, workshops, art installations, and children's activities throughout North Sydney. Aligned with National Sorry Day, Reconciliation Week, and NAIDOC Week, the 2025 theme Legacies for Future Generations celebrates the enduring knowledge, creativity, and strength of First Nations communities.
