When the cold weather comes to central Australia, Lena Campbell puts away her canvas and picks up her felting needles and crochet hooks.
Ms Campbell is one of the artists from Tapatjatjka Art and Craft in Titjikala who have created beautiful wearable art for the Alice Springs Beanie Festival, which begins on Friday and runs until Sunday.
“This year I’ve done one with bush foods and bush flowers,” she said.
“I’ve only made four or five this time. Usually I make 10 or 12 – I wanted to give the other ladies a space to have a go.”
“Beanie Fest” is a truly grassroots festival that transforms the Araluen Arts Centre into a gallery of colourful wearable art.
In the months leading up to the festival, fibre artists visited arts centres outside of Alice Springs and ran workshops at Ali Curung, Tennant Creek, Amplatawitja, Canteen Creek, Titjikala and Ernabella.
This year’s theme is A Traveller’s Tale, which Marlene Taylor embraced by creating a beanie that tells the story of a lady sitting beneath a tree with bush tucker.
Tapatjatjka Arts Centre manager Jane Easton said the festival provided a welcome break from the everyday routine for the artists, who sit together, have a joke and create beanies.
“It’s a time when everyone tells stories and the artists put those stories down on to the hats by needle-felting or crocheting and painting,” she said.
“It’s just a wonderful time, and then when all the hats are finished, they go into town and the artists go in for the weekend and sit down and help visitors to Alice Springs to make beanies.
“It’s a great opportunity to meet new people, to look at other people’s artwork to see what other people have made – and, of course, to buy a new beanie.”
Women from the Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Women’s Council will give demonstrations of Aboriginal methods of spinning and basketry.
Ms Campbell’s mother Nora Campbell is a noted beanie artist, but won’t be able to make the festival this year because she is in hospital.
“I like using earthy colours and my mother likes using brighter colours,” Ms Campbell said.
And while there are several awards at the festival, winning isn’t really the point.
“It’s just fun,” Ms Campbell said.
“I love making beanies and going to the Beanie Festival, meeting new people, running the felting workshops and helping out the old ladies.”
Beanie Central opens on Friday, with opening night including live music and street food. Entry to the festival is by gold-coin donation.
Felting and desert basket-making workshops will be run by Aboriginal women.