In Japan, Aki (秋) / Autumn is a time for festivals and picnics outside with friends and family. The Autumnal leaves of the deciduous trees, cool breezes, and sunshine make it the perfect weather for people to gather to talk about art, nature and the beauty of the changing seasons.
Together with resident artist Yoko Ozawa, we invite you to picnic with us in Princes Park to celebrate Waring / Autumn and the seasons in Bulleke-bek (Brunswick) and Naarm (Melbourne). We'll explore the Japanese art of 'haiku' with Yoko while enjoying a yummy spread of Japanese pound cake, yuzu soda and tea or coffee. You can also pre-order a yummy bento box from our friends at Hareruya Pantry.
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The first part of our picnic's proceedings caters to children aged 7-11 years and their attending parent/guardian. You know your young person best. If the activity would suit your younger child (2-6 years) or you'd like to bring them to enjoy the ambience, please do. Pairs of adults and their fur children are equally welcome.
The second part of our picnic also engages children but also provides space in the proceedings for adult attendees to write haiku and chat about their poems with their children or other adults. We'll also bring a range of poetry collections from our library for adults to enjoy.
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Location: Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country, Princes Park.
Precise location to be emailed. If the weather is cold or wet, we will relocate to correspondences at 39 Sydney Rd Brunswick. A confirmation email will be sent to ticketholders the afternoon prior. Detailed proceedings are provided below.
Please press the 'Join the guest list' button to book.
Please note:— If you would like a bento box from our friends at Hareruya Pantry, orders must be received by Sunday, 9 April. More details are below.
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Proceedings:
——10:30 am // Welcome & set-up picnic blankets.
——10:45 am// Reading / My First Book of Haiku (Translated by Esperanza Ramirez-Christensen, a great book for children (aged 7-11).
The book introduces us to haiku poetry by Issa, Shiki, Basho, and other great Japanese haiku masters, alongside contemporary paintings, that invite children to remember and imagine stories of being in nature. We'll read a selection of poems in Japanese and English and then talk about what we see and feel around us in nature.
——11:30 am// Snack / Bento/lunchbox time!
——11:30/11:45 -12:00 pm// Writing Haiku. Kids can join if they're feeling adventurous. Or, the parents/adults are invited to use this time to create while the kids continue to enjoy their snacks. Drawing materials will also be on hand for those who prefer to draw a little.
——12:00/12:30 pm - Picnic concludes.
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Notes:——
——1) Each child must be accompanied by an adult guardian – Mum, Dad, Granny, Grandpa, Uncle or Aunty. My First Book of Haiku is suitable for children aged 7-11, but you know your young person best. If you'd like to bring a child aged 2-6 years, so they can enjoy the ambience, please do.
——2) There are four ticket options:
Option 1 Ticket for 2 - without Bento box $15 / $7.50 each includes participation in both activities, cake, coffee/tea and yuzu soda for 2 & writing/drawing materials.
Option 2 Ticket for 2 - with Bento box $30 includes all of the above and the additional pre-purchase of a bento box from Hareruya Pantry (smaller size, suitable for children or to share a smaller snack). Orders must be received by no later than Sunday, 9 April and ideally as soon as practical.
Option 3 Ticket for 1 (single Adult) - without Bento box $7.50 each includes participation in both activities, cake, coffee/tea for 1 adult & writing/drawing materials.
Option 4 Ticket for 1 (single Adult) - with Bento box $22.50 includes all of the above for a single Adult and the additional pre-purchase of a bento box from Hareruya Pantry (smaller size, suitable for children or to share a smaller snack). Orders should ideally be received by no later than Sunday, 9 April and no later than Tuesday, 11 April 10AM
——3) A small tent will be set up on the day. But we ask you to please bring a beach umbrella or similar if you like, plus a picnic rug, suncream, hats, a warm jumper and a jacket (just in case it's Melbourne after all) to ensure you're comfy and protected from the weather.
——4 Transport to Princes Park: Take tram 19 or bus 505, which both go along Royal Parade, to get to Princes Park. See PTV Journey Planner for public transport information. If you’re driving, there are car parks around the perimeter of the park.
——5) In inclement weather, we will email participants and meet at correspondences, 39 Sydney Road Brunswick, a short 5-minute walk from Princes Park.
——6) The Osozai bento to be supplied by Hareruya Pantry is a smaller style bento box suitable for children, with a mini mushroom rice ball surrounded by Japanese side dishes. It includes cutlery. All the side dishes are vegan, gluten-free and do not contain egg or dairy - usually vegetable side dishes common in Japanese cuisine. Examples include smokey potato salad, radish pickles, deep-fried corn, carrot salad, sweet potato rice ball, carrot and beans salad, sweet radish pickles, corn cob and yam potato, tossed in sweet, salty sauce, sweet chilli red cabbage, zucchini with miso and broccoli with beetroot miso. The dishes do contain sesame, soy, garlic, spring onion and onion. Hareruya makes their bento fresh every day to suit seasonal market ingredients. If you have specific allergies, please advise us ASAP so that these can be accommodated - ideally no later than Friday, 7 April 2023.
——7) All of our events are photographed as we need to document all that we do to evidence the work that we do and secure grant funding. If you'd prefer not to be featured in our event photographs, please let us know in advance, and we will ensure you're not captured. Your comfort is important to us.
Image credits: Details of Yoko’s installations at correspondences (header), changing weekly for eight weeks during her residency, also featuring three of Yoko’s handwritten haiku (body). The other two images are the covers of 'My First Book of Haiku' and Basho’s ‘On Love and Barley - Haiku of Basho, sitting in the gallery alongside Yoko’s vessel.