Details

A sweet tangle of double bass, looped tones, song, spoken word poetry and dance.

Embark on a journey of unity and healing with Rekindled Systems, the unlikely collaboration between Yorta Yorta artist Allara Pattison and Ukrainian-Canadian artist Olenka Toroshenko. In a serendipitous moment while cutting beets for borscht on Sviat Vechir (Ukranian Christmas) in 2020, the pair connected as descendants of genocide survivors. Calling upon the guidance of their Elders and ancestors with purpose and deep kinship to navigate the troubling reality of our current cultural paradigm and global state, Rekindled Systems serves as a ballad for the healing of the earth. This inspiring concert in the Primrose Potter Salon marks the culmination of a month-long regional tour celebrating First Nations creative traditions and cultural cross-pollination.

Employing skillful storytelling, the talented duo weaves a multidisciplinary and multicultural narrative with their sweet tangle of double bass, looped tones, song, spoken-word poetry, and dance. Joined by Culture Evolves and Monica Jasmine Karo, witness this powerful performance as they share the creative expressions of First Nations music, stories, and dance of their homelands. Don’t miss this celebration of cultural identity as Rekindled Systems inspires audiences to experience a life of meaning and consequence through art and expression.

With Special Guests

Mary Jasmine Karo
Monica Jasmine Karo, a proud Gunai and Gunditjmara woman, is a Melbourne-based poet, actor, singer-songwriter, and emerging playwright. Monica brings a raw element by infusing her strong cultural values and personal experiences of womanhood into her writing and poetry.

Culture Evolves
Culture Evolves is Brent Watkins (Gunaikurnai / Noongar Yamatji) and Sean Ryan (Kuku Nyunkal), together, they combine traditional dance, hip-hop, and music to share ancient stories and cultural history.

Micaela Sahhar
Micaela Sahhar is an Australian-Palestinian writer and educator. Her creative essays, and commentary have appeared in Cordite (2022), Overland (2020, 2023), ArtLink (2022) and the Griffith Review (2022) among others. Her poetry will appear in an upcoming Palestinian Global Anglophone Poetry Anthology (Haymarket, 2024). Micaela was shortlisted for the inaugural Ann Moyal Non-Fiction Fellowship (2023). She is a past Next Chapter Fellow (2021) and has received support from the Neilma Sidney Literary Travel Fund.

Caring for Our Community

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Artists & Set Times

Artists

Allara Pattison vocals, double bass, percussion
Olenka Toroshenko vocals, movement
Monica Jasmine Karo vocals, guitar, poetry
Culture Evolves vocals, didjeridoo, dance
Micaela Sahhar poetry

Set Times

6pm – 6.30pm: Welcome & Smoking Ceremony
6.30pm – 7pm: Monica Jasmine Karo
7pm – 7.15pm: Culture Evolves
7.20pm – 7.30pm: Micaela Sahhar
7.30pm – 7.55pm: Interval
8pm – 9pm: Allara & Olenka

Please note, set times were updated on Thursday 23 November. All run times are approximate and subject to change.