Using thousands of handmade textile neurons crafted by people from all over Australia and beyond, Neural Knitworks will soon unveil its first giant brain installation at the Hazelhurst Regional Gallery and Art Centre in Gymea.
All are welcome to attend the opening night at 7pm on Thursday 21st August. The exhibition will be on show from 22 August to 16 September before travelling around Australia.
A free neuroscience forum will also be presented at Hazelhurst on Sunday 24 August from 10.30 am to 1pm as part of the gallery’s Open Day.
Meet the creative team behind this project and hear from neuroscience experts, including from the Brain and Mind Research Institute and Alzhemier’s Australia. There will also be a practical session on what you can do to keep your own brain healthy.
For several months, textile artists Pat Pillai and Rita Pearce have been working with Inspiring Australia (NSW) to amass neurons for their textile brain installation. Thousands of people from all walks of life have joined the project by creating handmade textile neurons following scientifically informed patterns.
Across Australia, people have been holding group knit-ins, inviting brain health experts to get involved, downloading brain health podcasts to listen to and creating textile neurons at home.
Knit ins have been hosted by libraries, craft groups, museums, nursing homes, schools and project partners Inspiring Australia, Brain & Mind Research Institute and Alzheimer’s Australia Dementia Research Foundation.
The national project has struck a chord, delighting many including children, older people, scientists and craft enthusiasts.
Each day, hundreds of neurons are arriving at the gallery by mail and next week the artists will begin building the rainbow cortex using hundreds of white milk crates donated by Sydney’s Vivid Festival.
To see some of the yarn craft neuroscience action, take a look at the images posted by the Neural Knitworks community on Facebook.
Neural Knitworks plans to continue to raise awareness about mind and brain beyond National Science Week, with the artists ready to take their giant brain on the road at the conclusion of their first exhibition. For more information contact Curator Carrie Kibbler at Hazelhurst Regional Gallery by email.
Guest blog post by Jackie Randles, Inspiring Australia NSW.
