The Crossing Project

Up Toonumbar, up Green Pigeon, over Tabulam, Wiangaree, Old Cob o’ Corn and Brown Knob. Round Bonablo, through Upper Horseshoe Creek. Forrest Tops, Brindle Creek, the Lost World, and the Big Hole. Hanging Rock. Billen Cliffs, the Old Gonpa. Round the back of Ettrick. Past Daley’s. Down by the Bowlo and watch out for the flying foxes. Lapping at the IGA carpark.

Kyogle and its surrounds is cut through by a thousand creeks, rivers, streams, springs, flood waters and trickles. Some are here for the long haul, some come and go like the XPT up to the Big Smoke.

We don’t think about how fresh our water tastes until we go somewhere else.

We live in rainforest country which keeps its three millennia-old Antarctic beech trees and red gold close to her chest.

This rich landscape has been taken care of by the Nations of the Bundjalung people for tens of thousands of years. Their ancestors are still here, straddling ancient and modern lives. They are joined by other First Nations people from around Australia who have made a home here.

Europeans have turned some of this country into a farming and timber country. Generations of people who wear their local status like an original sin, bowed at the altar of hard work and rugby league.

Do you drink at the Top or the Bottom Pub?

They are joined by more recent arrivals from every corner of the map, with funny ideas like books, art and new festivals.

We all pass over these waterways, through this country every day, on soon-to-be-replaced wooden bridges that xylophone under our tyres as we pass. Stopping for a swim. Over to the neighbours on a Saturday night for a bonfire, Kendrick Lamar blaring.

The Crossing Project is a place- and time-based collaboration between ten very different local creatives, and urges us to reconsider these places, where our lives intersect with our waterways as both transitory and important.
This project was initially planned to debut at the festival; unfortunately, floods happen, and the release date has been set back until June 2022.
We will, however, be hosting a teaser event at the Roxy Gallery during the festival. You can find details in the program.