By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A massive quilt stitching together 30 Casey multicultural groups is a powerful show of the adage ‘strength in diversity’.
Artist Dena Aljamal, of Keysborough, conceived a mighty image of a sun-lit dancer as the centrepiece to the 4-square-metre craftwork.
The dancer is something of a universal language, crossing all of the 30 groups from all over the world, she says.
“I wanted something to satisfy everyone.
“It’s nice that in Australia we have this harmony between each other.
“We love the respect in this country, in this safe country.”
The project was conceived in meetings with the groups 18 months ago, discussing the difficulties faced by migrant women.
After moving from Dubai on a professional visa, Aljamal was frustratingly unable to have her pharmacy qualifications recognised in Australia.
She sat for exams 10 times unsuccessfully.
She set on a new course of interior design – graduating with an award at Holmesglen Institute.
Casey is becoming like a “city of art” crowned by the recently-built Bunjil Place arts centre, she says.
“But this project is not just for the City of Casey, it’s for Victoria and for Australia.”
Berwick quilter Claire Armstrong said it was a deceptively complex task framing together images of the 30 womens groups around Aljamal’s painting.
There’s an art to making a whole work of that monumental size “hang” properly, Armstrong says.
At one stage, it was all held by 800 safety pins.
“It was good to be involved in something like this. It’s pretty awesome.”
The project was backed by Narre Warren South MP Judith Couacaud Graley and her Embrace Diversity campaign, as well as by Hampton Park Community House.
Late last year, Ms Graley said it was a “fantastic opportunity to bring together our diverse local community” and tell their stories.
“They have shaped our community across generations and I have just loved bringing their contributions to life through this beautiful quilt.”
The project was granted $5000 by the State Government.
The quilt will be launched at Bunjil Place on 5 May, 2-5pm.
