Wed 2 October, 8pm
Doors 7.30pm

Reuben’s Room
cnr High and Mouat St, Fremantle
$10
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This second edition of Rare Silk presents an evening of evocative poetry by Nandi Chinna, ‘Tossed Up by the Beak of a Cormorant’. Readings accompanied by the captivating tones of Cellist, Kate Makowiecka, and flautist, Saskia Willinge.

Witness a powerful poetry collection about connection, nature and culture. This collaboration, between poet Nandi Chinna and Martuwarra guardian Professor Anne Poelina, explores the beauty and complexity of the Kimberley region in Western Australia and the importance of a connection to land.

Nandi Chinna works as a Research Consultant, Community Arts Facilitator, and poet. She lives and works on Bunuba lands in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, and on Whadjuck Noongar Country in the southwest of WA. Nandi is the author of four poetry collections, the latest being Tossed up by the Beak of a Cormorant (Fremantle Press 2024) in collaboration with Nyikina Elder Professor Anne Poelina, a Guardian of Martuwarra Fitzroy River. Her poetry collection The Future Keepers was shortlisted for the Prime Ministers Literary Award in 2020 and was highly commended in the Victorian Premiers Prize 2019. Nandi was awarded the 2021 Western Australian Premiers Writing Fellowship.

Kate Makowiecka started learning to play the cello very late in life and is fascinated by the potential of the cello to explore and express the sounds that arise in response to the moment and the environment. In 2021, together with Koral Ward, Kate set up an ongoing program called Sound Exploration Fremantle (SEF) to bring improv and exploratory music/sound workshops to communities south of the river.  Kate is a member of a community orchestra, playing mostly Baroque works. She has performed with Saskia at Outcome Unknown – a monthly concert series of experimental music; and, most recently, for the W.A. Society of Artists where she acted as both the evening’s musical entertainment and their model.

Saskia Willinge is a flautist and singer who is active in the local improvisation scene. She has played at events including Audible Edge, Kinds of Light, Tune Noise Tune, Outcome Unknown, NoizeMachin!!, Melville Midwinter, and Make It Up Club (Naarm). She is a member of the Sound Exploration Fremantle team, and co-curator of the Walyalup Weekend of Improvised Music alongside Izzy French. In 2024 she has participated in the Perth Festival Lab, pvi collective’s KISS Club, and co-curated an exhibition for Cool Change Contemporary at PS Art Space.

Rare Silk is an irregular soirée hosted by Fremantle’s Culture Club at the eponymous Reuben Room. Rare silk is woven from the threads of curiosity, presenting bespoke offerings of intrigue. Crafted for culture lovers to experience works of the unknown, mythical and sacred.