Teapot Tales

Teapot Tales with Amy T, Barkly Square Ballarat East

I am excited to introduce my current project Teapot Tales, another creative extravaganza with many parts and partners but always with a comforting cuppa and the themes of friendship, fun, and welcome at its heart. Like so many of us around the hurting world, we are looking for ways to be of service, to connect meaningfully, and to use our skills to contribute good in some small way. As is my way, I have followed my curious nose, and things have converged interestingly in this project, my little offering of joy and collaboration at this moment in time.

     

The first workshop people can get involved with is kicking off this Saturday at TBH Studio, where you can come for cuppa and chat and decorate a teapot or teacup (2D and 3D options) that will become part of the art installation I’m creating at Barkly Square in my beloved Ballarat East, Wadawurrung Country.

With support from Regional Arts Victoria, I’m also pumped to have photographer Diana Paez on board to take people’s portraits with their creations, and of course I’ll be recording audio stories around people’s favourite tea memories, rituals and more! A little taster here to get you thinking of stories you might like to share. It features me and Diana and also two of my wonderful project mentors Mauz Hatcher and Holly Would (mentoring me along with Abbie Matthews and Lou Ridsdale, all pictured below). Legends!

 

 

There will be further workshops across various settings- intergenerational program with aged care and playgroup, Centre for Multicultural Youth, Barkly Square Tenants and community, and a September school holiday special- so keep an eye out or drop me a line if you’d like me to visit you or your group to get involved. I’ve set up a page here for info and fun.

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Big thanks to Barkly Square’s Ballarat Men’s Shed for producing the cut out shapes for me for painting by the community (and delicious tea and lunch in Our Social Kitchen cafe!) plus all the generous donations of teapots! Some of these will be painted in workshops for the outdoor installation, and others will stay adorning the café windows : )

Thanks as always to Julio for helping with the whole shebang!

So how did this all come about? And what’s the go with me and tea?

Earlier the year I was struggling to find ongoing work in the GLAM field, so I decided to start a TAFE course (a Certificate VI in Health and Leisure) enabling me to do lifestyle activities in aged care and see if I can bring some of my skills that way. I have been doing placement at a local facility and learning the ropes and my oh my has it been both humbling and a joy. I have learnt so much and have so many ideas for activities.

Then! a couple of months ago I also began volunteering with the legend Lou Ridsdale at Food is Free Inc and Barkly Square, Ballarat East and was invited to activate the outdoor entranceway to this historic community and cultural hub with teapots. I said yes please! And the rest is history. Everything will come together in this creative installation, being launched as part of a special Barkly Square celebration on Saturday Nov 15^th (save the date!)

 

Me and tea : )

I grew up in a tea loving family, nothing fancy, but the simple appreciation of a cuppa in the morning or after work, and afternoon tea with visitors, maybe enjoying with some of mum’s chocolate cake. Somewhere around my teens I also got onto the relaxing herbals (tea and otherwise ; ) and still can’t go past a lovely hot chamomile. Tea has always been comforting but also aesthetic for me- choosing the cup, seeing the colours, arranging cosy chairs, delicious treats at hand. And I’ve always loved teapots for both their design and function. Here is a pic of me, aged maybe 15 being a silly teapot, and the other day ; )

    

Fast-forward and my wedding vows featured tea of course, and the joy it brings in our daily life at home; different types for different moments in the day: earl grey, ceylon, orange pekoe, vanilla rooibos, genmaicha, Turkish apple, chai with soy and honey, peppermint, rose, and lemon balm from the garden, or trying new things (Julian just came home from a trip to multicultural Sunshine with some delicious Iranian tea and biscuits, and a new teapot! The kettle is on now to sample, mmmm).  Thank you Chinar International Food Market.

Sharing a cuppa- tea, coffee, whatever your pick- with different people, and across different cultures, or snatching a moment on your own is a chance to breathe, to taste, to converse, to look around and look within.

Working recently with traditional custodian Richard Collopy on the Manna Gum Stories project, he described the path he often walks (and ethos he takes) in First Nations education, as ‘the continuing cup of tea.’ Things are shared, shaken up, and importantly, they take the time and space they need. The idea of being able to sit down and talk together across different backgrounds and viewpoints seems vital, especially in these times, and who better to look to for inspiration and leadership in Australia than the world’s oldest living culture. I wrote this poem, inspired by my many, and ongoing, chats with Richard and in my worries and also hopes about what’s to come and how we can meet it.

 

Can a cup of tea save the world? Probably not, but it can make it a hell of a lot nicer.

Stay tuned my friends.

 

The continuing cup of tea (for Manna Gum Stories, April 2025)

 

let’s sit down

you and me

over a cup of tea

over grandmother’s knee

and see what we can see, see, see

 

because the wise woman sighs –

‘look for your own well, pet,

there’s a hard time coming’

you aint seen nothing yet

 

harder to find that eye to eye,

heart to heart

but we will face the day well-met,

 

with singing springs

and trouble nets

with flower chains around our necks

and reservoirs that won’t be spent

on tired lies and havoc bent

on morphing what we will, and won’t, accept

 

we’re bringing human back

walking and gardening and tea as radical acts

we mic up trees and solar caps

And rise up from the compost stacks

 

so listen close at mother’s ear

and tend our own and nature’s wells

so they will not be made of tears

 

but rather tea

a back and forward

a condiment tray of magic sauce/source

 

let’s sit down

you and me

and see what we

can see see see