Presented by The Torch in partnership with Queen Victoria Women’s Centre (QVWC), We Sit in Circle is about strength, hope, and survival.
The First Nations women artists in We Sit in Circle have lived experience of incarceration. They are mothers, aunties, grandmothers, daughters, and sisters.
For generations, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have used symbols as a visual language to pass down stories, preserve cultural knowledge and express spiritual beliefs. While their meanings vary across different language groups, many messages are shared. One such symbol is the circle, which represents a meeting or resting place. It reflects how we come together – sitting in circles, yarning (talking), and sharing. Lines extending from the circle signify journey paths, showing movement to and from that place of connection.
We Sit in Circle has been curated to reflect the circle – this resting place. The artworks positioned near the entrance and exits of the gallery space are created by artists in the community, continuing their journeys after prison. The works placed at the centre of the exhibition are by women currently inside. They are regrouping, reconnecting, and resting and, in time, will continue on their own paths.
We Sit in Circle is curated by Flick Chafer-Smith (Ngarrindjeri) and Sharn Geary (Bundjalung).
Dates: 1–18 July 2025
Location: Birnbeal Rainbow Exhibition Space, Ground Floor, 210 Lonsdale St, Melbourne 3000
Opening hours:
Weekdays 9am–5pm
NAIDOC Weekend (12 & 13 July) 11am–4pm
Listen to We Sit in Circle Artists:
For we are the Matriarchs by Flick Chafer-Smith: