Please help Aunty Ellen and Jelina - ICON Project

Hi, my name is Jelina Haines, and I am Aunty Ellen Trevorrow. We seek the support of friends, colleagues, and family to complete the FIRST STAGE of the '2025 JamFactory ICON: Aunty Ellen Trevorrow—Weaving Through Time' project.

Project Description

The JamFactory ICON: Aunty Ellen Trevorrow - Weaving Through Time commemorates the remarkable life of Aunty Ellen Trevorrow, a respected Ngarrindjeri Elder with over forty years of dedicated work in preserving the art of Ngarrindjeri weaving. Aunty Ellen's exceptional weaving skills and storytelling testify to her people's cultural wealth and resourcefulness. Through weaving, she upholds the Ngarrindjeri tradition while highlighting the significance of environmental stewardship. Each reed she used and weaved is a homage to Aunty Dorothy Kartinyeri (nee Gollan), who imparted the knowledge of weaving to her at a workshop in Meningie.

Celebrating and paying tribute to the enduring legacy of an icon

In collaboration with Jamfactory, who initiated and manages the ICON project, we will showcase Aunty Ellen's evolution from creating traditional pieces like baskets and fish traps to her latest foray into large-scale sculptures and wearable art. This exhibition is a rare opportunity for enthusiasts of Aunty Ellen's work to witness the climatic point of her career as she intends to slow down, making it possible that this may be the last collaboration between Aunty Ellen and Jelina after 21 years. The exhibition is a documentation of the lifetime impact of Aunty Ellen's work, both locally, nationally and internationally, providing an appreciation of the cultural significance of her work and leadership.

Kondoli: Keeper of Fire - woven sculpture is now permanently displayed at the South Australian Museum.

Weaving through time...

The forthcoming exhibition will feature the collaborative endeavours of two highly skilled artists, Aunty Ellen and Dr Jelina Haines (Filipino-born Australian). Aunty Ellen is a master of Ngarrindjeri weaving techniques. Concurrently, Jelina has been mentored and taught by Aunty Ellen and dedicated 21 years of her life working alongside Aunty Ellen at Camp Coorong as a visual art designer, cultural weaver and academic, overseeing 5 major projects, 52 minor programs and 3 international projects from 2004 to 2023. Her cumulative voluntary contributions to Ngarrindjeri projects at Camp Coorong amount to an impressive 16,112 hours. Together, they will present a unique combination of weaving, textile and fibre wearable art and never-before-seen works, emphasizing cross-cultural and mutual shared learning practices. Their collective oeuvre will offer a visually captivating, innovative, and intellectually stimulating experience that underscores the potency of artistic synergy and cross-cultural collaboration. The exhibition presents an exceptional opportunity for aficionados of art to behold a splendid and thought-provoking wearable art exhibition, inspiring creativity, innovation, resilience, and tenacity while promoting social inclusion and cultural diversity.

As First Nations Engagement Coordinator and Assistant Curator, Carly Tarkari Dodd will curate the 2025 JamFactory Icon Project: Aunty Ellen Trevorrow: Weaving Through Time at JamFactory and organize touring exhibitions.

Aunty Ellen and Ely

Your support will be used to implement the FIRST STAGE of the Icon Project.

First Stage Expenses (March to June)

Your support will allow Aunty Ellen and me to create the design ideas, source & purchase the materials, and travel. food and accommodation allowance.

1. Artist Fees (Aunty Ellen and Jelina) = $3,000.00

2. Materials (Textile, wool and fabric paints) = $ 2,500.00

3. Pickers (family members who are picking the weaving rushes

for us) = $2,000.00

4. Travel Allowance (Petrol, Food, accommodation) = $ 2,500.00

Total: $10,000.00

Why Donate?

Your Donation Makes a Difference!

Funds will directly support:

Please help us, and thank you in advance. Your support, no matter how small, will significantly contribute to the first stage of the JamFactory Icon Project: Aunty Ellen Trevorrow: Weaving Through Time project.

Sincerely,

Aunty Ellen and Jelina