Blog Archive

Monday, November 7, 2016

i believe school is horrible because we have to get up early


I believe school is horrible, because we have to get up early. – Sara





About: Message in a Cup


Messages and stories of learning in Footscray are collected and then written onto the insides of one hundred handmade blue cups. The cups are placed in Footscray during BluScray events to be found by people and taken home. The project gives voice to peoples experiences and understandings of learning and shares these ideas with others in the city of Footscray.



Message in a Cup is part of BluScray,  a program of blue-themed arts and cultural events held throughout 2016 to celebrate Victoria University’s Centenary in collaboration with Maribyrnong City Council for the Footscray University Town initiative.Visit www.vu.edu/bluscray for more information #BluScray

 Message in a cup was made by the artist Debbie Harman Qadri.


a very sincere thankyou to those people who became involved in the project, it was nothing without you.

this project was brought to you by:

Maxienne, Greg, Mick, Christopher, Greg, Alejandra, Jason, Lou, Dan, Nick, Rachel, Pauline, Anon, Carl, Jamal, Candice, Aaron, Catherine, Larissa, Jo, Geoff, Jocelyn, Danny, Jos, Bill, Brendan, Sasha, Rosie, Ethan, Kim, Jess, Kriti, Neha, Gaurika, Raman, Angela and Shenel. Crystal, Mankirat and Sonia, Dorothy, Marg, Tung, Davina, Marten, Lola, Adam,
Nick, Tamati, Molly, Ella, Dean, Viltor, Ella, Chantelle, Milo, Vanessa, Lynn, Sara, Austin, July, Aiden, Jack, Kristen, Liz, Kirsten, Ko, Ali, Sylvia, Raine, Bec, Ocore, Stjepan, Dan, Cathy, Rich, Iffat, Salma, Erica, Carolyn, O.H., Kellie, Suzanne, Annie, Cathy, Marnie, Michelle, Evie, Anne, Rhiannon, Pat, Mary, Liss, Neil, Gennivieve, Charlotte, Jacinta, Hannes, Maureen, Carmen, and Debbie.


school, 13 years, 6 hours a day, 5 days a week . . . Chantelle's cup


School. 13 years, 6 hours a day, 5 days a week. All for what? Potentially gaining a career? No guarantee though.  _ Chantelle




I loved the ambiguity of this sculpture - as a metaphor for education as either a struggle or a helping hand - I don't know which it is and for each individual it is one or the other or both.


About: Message in a Cup


Messages and stories of learning in Footscray are collected and then written onto the insides of one hundred handmade blue cups. The cups are placed in Footscray during BluScray events to be found by people and taken home. The project gives voice to peoples experiences and understandings of learning and shares these ideas with others in the city of Footscray.



Message in a Cup is part of BluScray,  a program of blue-themed arts and cultural events held throughout 2016 to celebrate Victoria University’s Centenary in collaboration with Maribyrnong City Council for the Footscray University Town initiative.Visit www.vu.edu/bluscray for more information #BluScray

 Message in a cup was made by the artist Debbie Harman Qadri.


a very sincere thankyou to those people who became involved in the project, it was nothing without you.

this project was brought to you by:

Maxienne, Greg, Mick, Christopher, Greg, Alejandra, Jason, Lou, Dan, Nick, Rachel, Pauline, Anon, Carl, Jamal, Candice, Aaron, Catherine, Larissa, Jo, Geoff, Jocelyn, Danny, Jos, Bill, Brendan, Sasha, Rosie, Ethan, Kim, Jess, Kriti, Neha, Gaurika, Raman, Angela and Shenel. Crystal, Mankirat and Sonia, Dorothy, Marg, Tung, Davina, Marten, Lola, Adam,
Nick, Tamati, Molly, Ella, Dean, Viltor, Ella, Chantelle, Milo, Vanessa, Lynn, Sara, Austin, July, Aiden, Jack, Kristen, Liz, Kirsten, Ko, Ali, Sylvia, Raine, Bec, Ocore, Stjepan, Dan, Cathy, Rich, Iffat, Salma, Erica, Carolyn, O.H., Kellie, Suzanne, Annie, Cathy, Marnie, Michelle, Evie, Anne, Rhiannon, Pat, Mary, Liss, Neil, Gennivieve, Charlotte, Jacinta, Hannes, Maureen, Carmen, and Debbie.

Just do it! - a message from Jocelyn




. . . . apart from that I couldn't not post all of these fabulous photos of this cup with the Saigon Welcome Arch.
Just gorgeous!

The Saigon Welcome Arch in Leeds St Footscray sits in the heart of Little Saigon.

'A collaboration between Council, State Government and the community, the arch celebrates the rich and diverse contribution that the Vietnamese community has had in Victoria, particularly in Footscray where traditional and contemporary Vietnamese culture thrives.

Council worked closely with the community and the design team which included Architects McBride Charles Ryan and Artist Khue Nguyen.

The arch features a pair of Vietnamese Lac Birds alongside other motifs that resonate with Vietnamese culture such as the shell of the turtle, bronze drum, the boat and the egg.'

(Maribyrnong News tues nov. 8, 2016)


makes me think about how when first came to Melbourne in the early nineties, there was a lot of racism towards the refugees from vietnam, particularly the young people. Now twenty five years later, a public artwork is erected which confirms the great contribution of these Australians who have worked so hard to make a new life. I wonder if we could just get these welcome arches everywhere and honour the refugees who come to Australia to rebuild their lives, now instead of later. I know that the newly arrived will do amazing and incredible things.
bring on the welcome arches!
Just do it!











About: Message in a Cup


Messages and stories of learning in Footscray are collected and then written onto the insides of one hundred handmade blue cups. The cups are placed in Footscray during BluScray events to be found by people and taken home. The project gives voice to peoples experiences and understandings of learning and shares these ideas with others in the city of Footscray.



Message in a Cup is part of BluScray,  a program of blue-themed arts and cultural events held throughout 2016 to celebrate Victoria University’s Centenary in collaboration with Maribyrnong City Council for the Footscray University Town initiative.Visit www.vu.edu/bluscray for more information #BluScray

 Message in a cup was made by the artist Debbie Harman Qadri.


a very sincere thankyou to those people who became involved in the project, it was nothing without you.

this project was brought to you by:

Maxienne, Greg, Mick, Christopher, Greg, Alejandra, Jason, Lou, Dan, Nick, Rachel, Pauline, Anon, Carl, Jamal, Candice, Aaron, Catherine, Larissa, Jo, Geoff, Jocelyn, Danny, Jos, Bill, Brendan, Sasha, Rosie, Ethan, Kim, Jess, Kriti, Neha, Gaurika, Raman, Angela and Shenel. Crystal, Mankirat and Sonia, Dorothy, Marg, Tung, Davina, Marten, Lola, Adam,
Nick, Tamati, Molly, Ella, Dean, Viltor, Ella, Chantelle, Milo, Vanessa, Lynn, Sara, Austin, July, Aiden, Jack, Kristen, Liz, Kirsten, Ko, Ali, Sylvia, Raine, Bec, Ocore, Stjepan, Dan, Cathy, Rich, Iffat, Salma, Erica, Carolyn, O.H., Kellie, Suzanne, Annie, Cathy, Marnie, Michelle, Evie, Anne, Rhiannon, Pat, Mary, Liss, Neil, Gennivieve, Charlotte, Jacinta, Hannes, Maureen, Carmen, and Debbie.


keep your eyes open - Dan's cup


Thanks Dan!






About: Message in a Cup


Messages and stories of learning in Footscray are collected and then written onto the insides of one hundred handmade blue cups. The cups are placed in Footscray during BluScray events to be found by people and taken home. The project gives voice to peoples experiences and understandings of learning and shares these ideas with others in the city of Footscray.



Message in a Cup is part of BluScray,  a program of blue-themed arts and cultural events held throughout 2016 to celebrate Victoria University’s Centenary in collaboration with Maribyrnong City Council for the Footscray University Town initiative.Visit www.vu.edu/bluscray for more information #BluScray

 Message in a cup was made by the artist Debbie Harman Qadri.


a very sincere thankyou to those people who became involved in the project, it was nothing without you.

this project was brought to you by:

Maxienne, Greg, Mick, Christopher, Greg, Alejandra, Jason, Lou, Dan, Nick, Rachel, Pauline, Anon, Carl, Jamal, Candice, Aaron, Catherine, Larissa, Jo, Geoff, Jocelyn, Danny, Jos, Bill, Brendan, Sasha, Rosie, Ethan, Kim, Jess, Kriti, Neha, Gaurika, Raman, Angela and Shenel. Crystal, Mankirat and Sonia, Dorothy, Marg, Tung, Davina, Marten, Lola, Adam,
Nick, Tamati, Molly, Ella, Dean, Viltor, Ella, Chantelle, Milo, Vanessa, Lynn, Sara, Austin, July, Aiden, Jack, Kristen, Liz, Kirsten, Ko, Ali, Sylvia, Raine, Bec, Ocore, Stjepan, Dan, Cathy, Rich, Iffat, Salma, Erica, Carolyn, O.H., Kellie, Suzanne, Annie, Cathy, Marnie, Michelle, Evie, Anne, Rhiannon, Pat, Mary, Liss, Neil, Gennivieve, Charlotte, Jacinta, Hannes, Maureen, Carmen, and Debbie.


don't stop learning - Greg's cup


thanks Greg, for your message.





About: Message in a Cup


Messages and stories of learning in Footscray are collected and then written onto the insides of one hundred handmade blue cups. The cups are placed in Footscray during BluScray events to be found by people and taken home. The project gives voice to peoples experiences and understandings of learning and shares these ideas with others in the city of Footscray.



Message in a Cup is part of BluScray,  a program of blue-themed arts and cultural events held throughout 2016 to celebrate Victoria University’s Centenary in collaboration with Maribyrnong City Council for the Footscray University Town initiative.Visit www.vu.edu/bluscray for more information #BluScray

 Message in a cup was made by the artist Debbie Harman Qadri.


a very sincere thankyou to those people who became involved in the project, it was nothing without you.

this project was brought to you by:

Maxienne, Greg, Mick, Christopher, Greg, Alejandra, Jason, Lou, Dan, Nick, Rachel, Pauline, Anon, Carl, Jamal, Candice, Aaron, Catherine, Larissa, Jo, Geoff, Jocelyn, Danny, Jos, Bill, Brendan, Sasha, Rosie, Ethan, Kim, Jess, Kriti, Neha, Gaurika, Raman, Angela and Shenel. Crystal, Mankirat and Sonia, Dorothy, Marg, Tung, Davina, Marten, Lola, Adam,
Nick, Tamati, Molly, Ella, Dean, Viltor, Ella, Chantelle, Milo, Vanessa, Lynn, Sara, Austin, July, Aiden, Jack, Kristen, Liz, Kirsten, Ko, Ali, Sylvia, Raine, Bec, Ocore, Stjepan, Dan, Cathy, Rich, Iffat, Salma, Erica, Carolyn, O.H., Kellie, Suzanne, Annie, Cathy, Marnie, Michelle, Evie, Anne, Rhiannon, Pat, Mary, Liss, Neil, Gennivieve, Charlotte, Jacinta, Hannes, Maureen, Carmen, and Debbie.


instinct - Candice's cup

The message on Candice's cup reads:

'Sometimes socialisation isn't right and we need to go back to instinct'

Thanks for your message Candice!






About: Message in a Cup


Messages and stories of learning in Footscray are collected and then written onto the insides of one hundred handmade blue cups. The cups are placed in Footscray during BluScray events to be found by people and taken home. The project gives voice to peoples experiences and understandings of learning and shares these ideas with others in the city of Footscray.



Message in a Cup is part of BluScray,  a program of blue-themed arts and cultural events held throughout 2016 to celebrate Victoria University’s Centenary in collaboration with Maribyrnong City Council for the Footscray University Town initiative.Visit www.vu.edu/bluscray for more information #BluScray

 Message in a cup was made by the artist Debbie Harman Qadri.


a very sincere thankyou to those people who became involved in the project, it was nothing without you.

this project was brought to you by:

Maxienne, Greg, Mick, Christopher, Greg, Alejandra, Jason, Lou, Dan, Nick, Rachel, Pauline, Anon, Carl, Jamal, Candice, Aaron, Catherine, Larissa, Jo, Geoff, Jocelyn, Danny, Jos, Bill, Brendan, Sasha, Rosie, Ethan, Kim, Jess, Kriti, Neha, Gaurika, Raman, Angela and Shenel. Crystal, Mankirat and Sonia, Dorothy, Marg, Tung, Davina, Marten, Lola, Adam,
Nick, Tamati, Molly, Ella, Dean, Viltor, Ella, Chantelle, Milo, Vanessa, Lynn, Sara, Austin, July, Aiden, Jack, Kristen, Liz, Kirsten, Ko, Ali, Sylvia, Raine, Bec, Ocore, Stjepan, Dan, Cathy, Rich, Iffat, Salma, Erica, Carolyn, O.H., Kellie, Suzanne, Annie, Cathy, Marnie, Michelle, Evie, Anne, Rhiannon, Pat, Mary, Liss, Neil, Gennivieve, Charlotte, Jacinta, Hannes, Maureen, Carmen, and Debbie.


training them to become artisans instead of labourers


“A technical school would ultimately benefit the rising generation by training them to become artisans instead of labourers …” from Footscray Advertiser, 30 September 1911 quoted in Poor Man’s University: 75 years of Technical Education in Footscray, by Carolyn Rasmussen, 1989. p.15

Thanks to Victoria University archivist Kim Burrell for digging this one out.

I really warm to the remembrances of the Footscray Technical School, as I went to a technical school after leaving highschool and it was such a wonderful life-changing experience. I did go to technical school to study art and how to become an artisan, its where my dabbling in clay became very much ingrained in me, and look where we are now! Sadly higher education is being more and more skewed to economic rationalisation, instead of the training of artisans.

(I am also sorry to say that there was no 'instead' of labourers, as my job as an artist is very labour intensive, but it was a wonderful sentiment)





About: Message in a Cup


Messages and stories of learning in Footscray are collected and then written onto the insides of one hundred handmade blue cups. The cups are placed in Footscray during BluScray events to be found by people and taken home. The project gives voice to peoples experiences and understandings of learning and shares these ideas with others in the city of Footscray.



Message in a Cup is part of BluScray,  a program of blue-themed arts and cultural events held throughout 2016 to celebrate Victoria University’s Centenary in collaboration with Maribyrnong City Council for the Footscray University Town initiative.Visit www.vu.edu/bluscray for more information #BluScray

 Message in a cup was made by the artist Debbie Harman Qadri.


a very sincere thankyou to those people who became involved in the project, it was nothing without you.

this project was brought to you by:

Maxienne, Greg, Mick, Christopher, Greg, Alejandra, Jason, Lou, Dan, Nick, Rachel, Pauline, Anon, Carl, Jamal, Candice, Aaron, Catherine, Larissa, Jo, Geoff, Jocelyn, Danny, Jos, Bill, Brendan, Sasha, Rosie, Ethan, Kim, Jess, Kriti, Neha, Gaurika, Raman, Angela and Shenel. Crystal, Mankirat and Sonia, Dorothy, Marg, Tung, Davina, Marten, Lola, Adam,
Nick, Tamati, Molly, Ella, Dean, Viltor, Ella, Chantelle, Milo, Vanessa, Lynn, Sara, Austin, July, Aiden, Jack, Kristen, Liz, Kirsten, Ko, Ali, Sylvia, Raine, Bec, Ocore, Stjepan, Dan, Cathy, Rich, Iffat, Salma, Erica, Carolyn, O.H., Kellie, Suzanne, Annie, Cathy, Marnie, Michelle, Evie, Anne, Rhiannon, Pat, Mary, Liss, Neil, Gennivieve, Charlotte, Jacinta, Hannes, Maureen, Carmen, and Debbie.