Art installations
New commissioned work: Weaving Sky Stories by Muruwari artist Dr Virginia Keft
North Sydney Council is proud to present a new site-specific commission work by Dr Virginia Keft, displayed across two public sites: the Inside Outside Sculpture Plinth and the windows of the Ros Crichton Pavilion in Ted Mack Civic Park.
Dr Virginia Keft said,
“The exhibition speaks to the core theme of the Gai-mariagal Festival - Legacies for Future Generations. It speaks to continuity and care of Country as a shared responsibility - to carry stories, to promote resilience and to uplift our voices as a guiding force for future generations.”
About: Weaving Sky Stories
In Weaving Sky Stories, Muruwari artist, Dr Virginia Keft, presents banda (sky) as a living vessel of ancestral memory, tracing the cycles of day and night. She unites madjam (flying fox) and mirinj (stars) as guiding motifs against a vast celestial backdrop. The installation foregrounds cultural narratives of family, kin, and connection to place. It reflects the natural rhythms of Country and carries forward legacies of cultural resilience for future generations.
Artwork details
Inside Outside Sculpture Plinth
Virginia Keft, Weaving Sky Stories: Madjam nguna (Flying fox sleeping), 2025
Eucalyptus wood, fibre, wire, mixed media
110 x 70 x 70cm
Ros Crichton Pavilion Window Wrap
Virginia Keft, Weaving Sky Stories, 2025
Synthetic polymer, raffia on canvas
123 x 183 x 3.5 cm
About the artist
Muruwari woman, Dr Virginia Keft, is a multi-award-winning interdisciplinary artist living and working on Dharawal Country (Wollongong, NSW). Working across weaving and textiles, sculpture, painting, and installation, her practice reflects themes of nature, home, and connection to culture. Using fibre, timber, and natural materials, she weaves narratives of Country and truth-telling through a First Nations lens. Virginia is also the Producer of bangawarra Art Yarns: for older and Elder mob at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia.
Find out more at www.virginiakeft.com.au
Connect with Dr Virginia Keft on Instagram or Facebook
Related events
Dr Virginia Keft is also leading two art workshops during the festival:
- Imprints of Country - printmaking workshop using native plants to create custom-designed tote bags.
- Weaving Connections - hands-on weaving and yarning circle where participants will create their own woven mirinj (star).
Both workshops are free but require bookings. Please follow the links for full details.