FLORIADE WORKSHOP: Polish Pająki Chandelier Making with Beci Orpin

Bring a touch of Polish folk art into your home. Pająki (meaning "chandelier" or "spider" in Polish) are intricate hanging ornaments traditionally made by rural families from straw, paper and thread. Suspended from ceilings, they brought colour and beauty to homes through the long winter months and, according to folklore, helped ward off evil spirits. Join Melbourne-based multidisciplinary artist Beci Orpin, creator of Bunny Dearest in CMAG's Hop In! exhibition, for a relaxed Saturday of slow, satisfying making. Using pre-cut materials and templates, you'll learn the fundamentals of pająki construction and create your own colourful hanging ornament to take home. Keep it simple or embellish it with intricate details. There is plenty of scope to make it uniquely your own. All materials are provided. No prior experience is required, although some elements of the activity involve fine and detailed work. Suitable for adults and young people aged 15 years and over. Presented as part of the Floriade About Town program. About Beci Orpin Beci Orpin is a Melbourne-based multidisciplinary artist, designer and author whose practice is defined by a distinctive use of colour, shape and optimism. Across a career spanning more than 25 years, she has collaborated with major brands and organisations including Apple, Google and The Australian Ballet, and has delivered workshops for leading cultural institutions such as the National Gallery of Victoria and Craft Victoria. Committed to exploring the role of art in building community, many of Beci's most rewarding projects have been in the not-for-profit sector.