Baluk Arts is presenting a five-day residency on Millowl with award-winning, Aboriginal artist Mitch Mahoney (Boonwurrung/Barkindji) creating a traditional stringy bark canoe on country.

The public will have the chance to interact with the residency during the school holidays, 10am-2pm daily from September 26 – 30.

Hosted by Sheltered Glamping, participants will need to park at Phillip Island Village School car park to access the residency site.

The public is invited to come down to see the artist at work and have a yarn on country. Some lucky visitors may have the chance to assist the artist as he builds a stringy bark canoe using traditional methods that Aboriginal people have used for countless generations.

Stringy bark canoes were used by Aboriginal people to access the island in years gone by.

Mitch Mahoney is a proud Aboriginal artist and cultural educator with a passion for sharing culture and teaching the public about Victoria’s rich cultural history.

“All of the work I do is about the revitalisation and celebration of South-Eastern Aboriginal Culture and practices,” Mitch said.

“I try to create works that are designed to spark interest and educate people.”

Mitch’s works are held in the public collections of Melbourne Museum and the Koorie Heritage Trust.

The workshop is presented by Baluk Arts, an Aboriginal owned and led community arts centre and gallery, the only of its kind in the southeast of the state.

Based in Mount Eliza, the centre supports artistic, career and audience development for Aboriginal artist members from the southeast and wider Australia.

Baluk is a local Bunurong and Boonwurrung word meaning ‘many’ or ‘group of people’ and reflects the diversity of the artists and their work.

This residency has been supported and is delivered in partnership with Bass Coast Shire Council.

Thanks to Randall at Sheltered Glamping for hosting the residency.

September 26 – 30 at 493 Berrys Beach Road, Ventnor.