SKATE SPACES
I love seeing roller skaters pop up all around the place, turning any wide open public space with a smooth slab of concrete into a place for community and play. I reached out to people and asked them to show me their fav skate spaces all across Victoria.
I would like to acknowledge that these works were created on stolen land and I pay respect to the Traditional Custodians of this land, the people of the Kulin Nations.
ALWAYS WAS.ALWAYS WILL BE.
Zulfiye, Noble Park Basketball Courts. Bunurong and Wurundjeri Country.
“Skating completely transformed my life. I began to develop a relationship with my body and appreciate its strength and resilience in a different way compared to my past.”
Laura. Jan Juc boardwalk, Wadawurrung Country
“I wear my skates everywhere except driving and going to bed. I prefer doing my weekly errands, cleaning, and going out on skates as it makes getting from A to B or any boring task a little faster and more fun. "
Lei-Lani. Princess Pier, Port Melbourne, Bunorung Country
‘Skating, for me, isn’t about the latest trends. For me, skating is cultural; it’s about finding the groove and trying to create my style. I don’t want to skate like anyone else; I like to skate like myself and push myself past my limits. It’s also a great way to stay fit.’
Jessie, Rose St, Fitzroy. Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung
“On a Leo note, roller skating allows me to feel my fantasy, that is, my inner flamboyant and exuberant child who loves to dress up, be silly and have fun. Grown ups are way too serious these days, and I refuse to succumb to it.”
Qail. Melbourne Museum, Carlton. Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung
“Here a selection of movie-goers, museum staff, children, parents, bird-watchers, drug dealers and cyclists typically sit around the space to cheer and boo the skating community on as we twirl, dip, twist and jam to the same 5 disco songs over and over.”
Toni and Fizzy, Netball Courts, Castlemaine, Dja Dja Wurrung Country
“Toni and Fizzy were in a Melbourne dance troupe Real Hot Bitches together and found each other on the netball courts of Castlemaine , meeting up to connect, feel the fun of play and slow down to tune into and awe at the birds flying over.”
Felicity. Cheese Stick underpass, Flemington, Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Country
“It was a reason to leave the house every day for our 1 hour allocation of exercise. I started rolling around on a flat patch of concrete below the nearby flats where I felt like no one was watching, even though everyone stuck at home in their apartments could look down on me skating below.”
MORE
Winnie and Vanessa. Netball Courts, Newstead . Dja Dja Wurrung Country
‘It's my happy place. My body can't get enough as it's the only thing that comes close to the sensation of ice skating - my somatic practice for such a long time.’
This project was part of a Yarra Arts/ Yarra City Council Artist In Residency 2021.
Special thanks to Felicity Young, Steph Boyle, Emmy Porter, the Yarra Arts team and all the Rollerskaters involved in the project thus far.