Showcase Victoria 2024 :: Memetica's support materials :: Wild Birds
Wild Birds :: Bush Turkey & Cassowary
:: Wild Birds
Cassowaries, the most feared wild beasts of Australia are now among us!
Reported as more a dangerous than spiders and sharks, these ancient
royalties of the bird world demand respect and inspire admiration. And
yet there is one you can touch and play with…. if you dare!
The giant
Cassowary and its friend/foe the Bush Turkey freely roam the streets of
festivals and towns spreading the reach of wilderness in the most
unlikely of environments, and nobody can predict how they will adjust!
:: Roving
Duration: 20 to 25 minutes
Breaks: minimum 30 minutes between outings
Minimum call: 4 hrs
Maximum call: 6 hrs
Calls of 8 hours or longer to be evaluated on a case by case basis
First roving is at least 30 minutes after the beginning of the call time
:: Technical requirements
Dressing room
Size: minimum of 3×6 mt
Access: door to dressing room min width 1.2mt and 1.8 height
Storage: puppets to be stored in weather proof condition.
:: Costing
Daily rates:
Half day (4hrs call) = $2,300 +GST
Full day (6hrs call) = $3,200
Weekly rates:
5 days = $9,500
All above costs are inclusive of puppets’ and staff’s transports for events in the metropolitan Melbourne area only.
PRESENTER RESPONSIBILITIES and or associated costs: freight, security, additional crew, onsite storage, travel, accomm, per diems, ground transport
Please click here for more images and videoclips of Memetica’s Wild Birds
Intro to Memetica
Memetica has international and extensive expertise in delivering captivating roving shows featuring giant puppets, designed to entertain and astonish audiences of diverse cultures. It also specializes in community-based workshops, offering immersive experiences for all generations or specifically tailored for children, that foster their creative and performative abilities.
The impact of the Memetica’s experience extends beyond the public presentation of the artwork created during the workshops, leaving a lasting social and cultural resonance within the community.
Embracing the natural flow of the memetic process of culture, which involves replication, inheritance, and variation, Memetica’s process relies on the belief that everyone possesses the ability to create original works of art. Artistic languages serve as a medium for people of all ages to effortlessly express their thoughts, emotions, and convey their messages to the wider world. Whether rooted in traditions, personal experiences, or imaginative fictions, artistic expression enables captivating storytelling.
Memetica’s projects actively promote and encourage spontaneity, even among those unfamiliar with art production, as guided intention surpasses the need for prior experience. Through this approach, the ordinary can be transformed into evocative and impactful artwork.
Memetica :: Workshops and Exhibitions
Memetica’s cultural intervention through giant puppet performance is epitomized by The Naming, a collaboration with Australian First Nation Elder Laurie Padmore of the Dulgubarra Ydinji clan. This project seamlessly blends visually striking performance, linguistic proficiency, and cultural wisdom. It effectively raises awareness of traditional culture and its significance to Yungaburra and beyond, garnering the ABC’s attention and national scale attention.
Deadly Totems exemplifies our community-based workshops, done in collaboration with the Willum Warrain Aboriginal Association in Hastings, Victoria. The show portrays the inspiring tale of how the association rescued their land from industrial destruction, transforming it into a revitalized natural area that now thrives with native plants and animals.
Air Camp is Memetica’s first project tailored for children. It encourages them to express their values and perspectives through vibrant inflatable sculptures over two days. This initiative establishes a unique “conversation circle” where children can openly communicate their thoughts to strangers from the safety of their own tents. As visitors stroll through the camp, adorned with illuminated ideas, they visually witness the children’s perspectives. Air Camp serves as both an installation and live workshop, specifically designed for festivals, expansive gallery foyers, and public spaces.
Street Roving and Performance Training
Memetica’s roving street performances bring surrealism and unexpected laughter to outdoor events, entertaining and amazing people of all ages. With mischievous Wild Birds and snooping Street Skeeters, these performances offer a delightful experience. Festivals and events can also opt for training workshops, providing a life-changing opportunity for their audience and community. The Street Skeeters, created in collaboration with Paralympic Wheelchair Rugby Champion Matt Lewis, ensure wheelchair users have full and comfortable access.Kids can also enjoy the excitement of performing in public spaces with the Reeflings puppets. Under Memetica’s guidance, they can train for an hour, don the costumes, and mingle among the festival crowd, bringing joy to both the performers and the audience.