A flamboyant response to social-distancing!

flamboyance (/flamˈbɔɪəns/) noun:

1. the tendency to attract attention because of one’s exuberance, confidence, and stylishness.
2. the quality of being bright, colourful, and very noticeable.
3. a group of flamingos.

The COVID19 crisis has shaken many in our communities, particularly its Deaf and disabled members. People are feeling alone but fearful of being part of large gatherings.  In response, Access2Arts and fibre artist Richard Boyle (AKA the Gay Hooker) devised an art project that would encourage community participation while maintaining social distancing.

As a participatory-art project, Flamboyance invites participants to create crocheted Flamingos to include in a collaborative exhibition of the work as part of Adelaide’s LGBTIQ+ FEAST Festival. The project seeks to connect people and communities in creating art even while socially distanced as a result of the COVID 19 virus. Using the pattern people are shown how to crochet their own flamingo figure that they can send to Access2Arts to include in an installation that showcases the community’s Flamboyance (FYI – The collective noun to describe a gathering of flamingos is “flamboyance”). The flamingos were designed to be quick to make, easy to post and use a small amount of materials.

Working from crochet pattern created by Richard we invite people to come together and crochet their own flamingo to mail to Access2Arts. These contributions will ‘flock’ together to create an exhibition of fibre flamingos to be shown in the Adelaide City Library in November as part of the 2020 Feast Festival.

DOWNLOAD a flamingo pattern using Australian/UK  stitch terms HERE (pdf, 1MB)

DOWNLOAD a flamingo pattern using US stitch terms  HERE (pdf, 975kb)

To find out more or to register your interest in being part of the Flamboyance participatory art project, email your name, address and a contact phone number to flamboyance@access2arts.org.au, or download a pattern and get your flamboyance on.

Flamboyance is supported by the Adelaide City Library, as part of the Feast Festival.