Ancient Frequencies, Urban Threads: How a Circle of Strangers Became a Community—One Stitch at a Time
Photos by Linda Catalano
On a crisp Saturday afternoon in South Melbourne, something quietly profound unfolded inside Romulus Folio Gallery. Weaving Three Stories—the first in a series of intercultural weaving and yarning circles led by First Peoples and co-produced by Bianca Easton and Sarah Naarden—offered more than a workshop. It became an act of cultural listening, community-making, and collective healing.
Set within the warm textures of a contemporary art space and the scent of burning gum leaves, participants were invited to sit in a circle and to learn not just with their hands, but with their hearts. In the centre of the circle was a beautiful centrepiece created by Christina Theodorou a portal to the lost wetlands below the concrete foundations of the building we occupied, a reminder that we were gathering on Country.
Stephen Thorpe from Sustainative provided the Acknowledge of Country, and invited people to connect with Country through a water ceremony. As Stephen said, “The water ceremony was crafted to create space for insights emerging from a deeper inner dimension of experience. This aligns with the core aspect of Sustainative which is to guide individuals to realise this boundless dimension within themselves. This is what we refer to as "connecting/weaving with Country."
Bianca Easton, a Boon Wurrung cultural educator and creative facilitator, and Sarah Naarden, a regenerative designer and co-founder of the Turruk Yarning Circle program at Initiatives of Change, then welcomed guests into a space of shared making, grounded in First Peoples’ knowledge and story.
The weaving of traditional dilly bags became a living metaphor for interconnection. As each stitch took form, stories of saltwater and freshwater Country were shared—connecting participants to the layered histories of Fishermans Bend, a place in transition from industrial past to proposed innovation precinct.
“Weaving is healing,” Naarden reflected. “Trust isn’t something you build like a bridge—it’s something you cultivate. Like a pearl in an oyster, it grows from grit.” The workshop itself, she explained, was about finding common threads in a time of complexity and cultural change.
One of the afternoon’s most moving moments came through a didgeridoo healing led by Lipwurrunga Les Huddleston from Roper River and Groote Eylandt. The vibrations of the yidaki travelled through the gallery and through the body—resonating with the deep memory of this place. Rooted in cultural intention and sound therapy, the performance offered both stillness and sonic renewal.
At the centre of the room, a large woven artwork served as both anchor and invitation. Around it, participants worked in a slow, steady rhythm, while a pop-up shop by Merilyn “Merm” Duff and the Easton family offered handmade wares and conversations steeped in story.
This project, supported by FB IDEAs and Initiatives of Change Australia, is the first in a three-part series. Each workshop is being documented by filmmaker Michael Woods of Pacific Studio, with a short film set to premiere later this year at a special Aboriginal Melbourne event—extending the dialogue beyond the gallery walls.
In a city where development often outpaces reflection, Weaving Three Stories offers something rare: a chance to sit still, share space, and remember.
It is a reminder, as Naarden says, “that before we build, we must listen—and before we plan, we must weave connections and stories together .”
Special thanks to Angelina Mirabito and Scott Ross from Romulus Folio Gallery. for offering their beautiful gallery space for this workshop, for being part of it and for the photos below.
Join the Circle - more workshops coming up!
Weaving Three Stories continues with two more workshops in the series, taking place on June 21 and July 26. Each gathering builds on the last deepening connection, amplifying story, and strengthening the threads of community. All are welcome to join the circle. For more information and tickets:
Workshop 2 - Coil Weaving: Second Story of Place
Sat 21 June 2-5 pm
Workshop 3 - Emu Feather flower making – Third story of Place
Sat 26 July 2-5 pm
