Celebrating Tanderrum

Tanderrum

It was a privilege to be part of the team restoring Tanderrum, and even more of a privilege to be reminded of its meaning when we gathered to celebrate the restoration of the work on 26th January. The name of the work was inspired by the ceremony of welcome - as recorded by William Thomas during the 1840s. A transcript of his writing can be found on the Friends of Herring Island website: http://home.vicnet.net.au/~herring/arts.htm We were reminded that the form of the work came from two inspirations -

• one the ceremony and from that derived the five rocks donated by the five language groups of the Kulin nation: the Woiwurrung, Bunurong, Tuangurong, Ngurai-illam-wurrung and Wautharong; the Mount William greenstone - traded through out eastern Australia; and the flying form of Bunjil overall.

• the other inspiration is a tongue in cheek reference to the white Australian monument - the stacked Castlemaine slate reminiscent of so many memorials all over the country.

Working on Tanderrum

In 2007 visitors to the Herring Island Summer Arts Festival were generous and as a result - we - the artist/organising committee were able to undertake repairs on the permanent collection of sculpture on Herring Island. Under direction from the artist, Ellen Jose, we set about restoring Tanderrum.

First Ellen came and inspected the work and approved our approach - then the work began: bringing together Castlemaine slate, mortar, oil for the wood and all the little bits and pieces needed to make the process a success.

It was hot work - Summer again by the time we had everything - and the artist - altogether. At last the work is ready to re launch - and the Island is a-buzz again with the 2008 Summer Arts Festival. We are ready for Australia day when Ellen will speak a few words about the significance of her work and its place on Herring Island - in the centre of a ring with five stones.