Gathering space with guest artist Sonja Carmichael
Sunday 5 October, 1 - 3pm

We are pleased to welcome artist Sonja Carmichael, a senior Quandamooka weaver, to join Gathering Space this month.

Alongside facilitator Kylie Caldwell, Sonja will share her expertise and knowledge of stories connected to Quandamooka weaving, with a particular focus on continuing weaving practices established by past generations.

Sonja works with traditional fibres from Country and explores contemporary materials and techniques – discarded ‘ghost nets’ and fishing lines – that directly respond to concerns about the preservation of the natural environment.

Gathering Space is open to Aboriginal artists and Aboriginal community members to learn, share, create, and collaborate. It is free, all materials are provided, and no registration is required. 

We have a free weaving workshop open to the public on Saturday, 13 September, 2 - 4 pm, as part of the opening celebration of Bulaan Buruugaa Ngali Exhibition …we weave together. 

This workshop has been supported by Arts Northern Rivers as part of the public program for Bulaan Buruugaa Ngali Exhibition …we weave together. Weaving outcomes from the last twelve months of Gathering Space are on display at the entrance to the exhibition. 

About Sonja
Sonja Carmichael is a Ngugi woman of Quandamooka, Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) and Mulgumpin (Moreton Island). She is a senior Quandamooka weaver who lives on Minjerribah and grew up on Quandamooka Country. An active member in her community, she is a leader in the regeneration of Quandamooka weaving, passing on cultural knowledge and skills through workshops, exhibitions, and field research.

She has shown in group exhibitions, including: On Country: Photography from Australia Exhibition in the Rencontres  d’Arles (2025), France; Seeds and Sovereignty: QAGOMA Collection (2024), QAGOMA; How We Remember Tomorrow (2024), Art Museum University of Queensland;  Ngumpi: Create Exchange (2024), Redland Art Gallery; Mare Amoris: Sea of Love (2023) Art Museum University of Queensland; TarraWarra Biennale: ua usiusifa’ava’asavili:: (2023), Tarrawarra Museum of Art, Victoria; Gone Fishing (2023), QAGOMA; Perspectives of Brisbane (2023), Museum of Brisbane. Her work is held in the collections of numerous galleries, including the Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA), Museum of Brisbane, National Gallery of Victoria, National Museum of Australia, Art Gallery of South Australia, and Redland Art Gallery.