Treasure hunters unearth precious pearls in Mona Foma’s arty beach dig
Lucky pundits have walked away hundreds of dollars richer after digging up treasure as part of a quirky Mona Foma event – and there’s still more to be found. See how you can get your own >>
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IT took only 15 minutes of digging before Fiona Rice struck her own piece of buried treasure.
The valuable object – a South Sea pearl worth hundreds of dollars ensconced in a stylised case – gleamed in her hand as she jaunted for joy along Taroona’s Hinsby Beach.
The Taroona resident was one of numerous treasure hunters who tried their luck on Saturday for Hobart Digs – an installation for Mona Foma.
“It was quite easy – it was just a turn of the shovel in the end and there it was,” Ms Rice said of her lucky find.
“I was the first one to find one, so I wasn’t sure if it was the treasure. So I kind of kept it quiet and then popped it open like ‘oh my god, this is what we’ve been looking for’.”
Ms Rice said she planned to ask her friend, a silversmith, to turn the cultured object into a pendant.
“We should rename this the Bay of Pearls,” she said.
Mona curator Emma Pike said the pearls were encased in handcrafted boxes by Berlin artist Michael Sailstorfer, with the installation held twice previously in Germany and the UK.
“Oysters are an important part of Tasmanian culture,” she said.
“Pearls are a symbol of regeneration, because when the sand goes inside an oyster, the oysters forms mother of pearl around the grain of sand to protect itself.”
Ms Pike said Hobart Digs was an example of Mona Foma’s reimagining of spaces and places.
“We always really like to transform spaces that people have some sort of relationship with already,” she said.
“We’re always looking to use sites in really interesting and unique ways, and we also like projects that invite the whole community to become involved – everyone from three to 90.”
Fellow treasure hunters Melanie Wisby and her 13-year-old daughter Jemima found a pearl after digging for an hour.
“I’d only just said to (my daughter) ‘I really want to find one for you’,” Ms Wisby said.
Mona Foma wraps up in Hobart on Sunday, with Hobart Digs sessions at 10am and 3pm.
Tickets are free but participants must book ahead at mofo.net.au
How you can find your own buried treasure
TREASURE with significant “real monetary value” has been buried at a popular Hobart beach and can be unearthed this weekend.
Running as part of Mona Foma festivities is a public treasure hunt at Taroona’s Hinsby Beach, with the digging set to form part of a land art display by German artist Michael Sailstorfer.
His artwork examines themes of loss and regeneration, leading observers to ask what wonders lie beneath the earth.
The treasure buried at Hinsby Beach comes in the form of stylised “oyster shells”, each containing a south sea pearl, handcrafted by Sailstorfer in Berlin.
Members of the public are encouraged to bring a shovel – or just use their hands – for the treasure hunt.
Mona Foma festival curator Brian Ritchie said those lucky enough to find the treasure would be in for a treat.
“They will have a real sense of accomplishment,” he said.
“Buried is not just an arty-farty thing where you get a message, it’s a real treasure with real monetary value.”
Ritchie expected people who miss out on a lucky find to still enjoy the day out.
“It’s not a waste of time even if you don’t find treasure as you’ll be able to contribute and watch everybody succeed at this art task,” he said.
“It’s probably meditative in a sense and something people can do to get away from technology and get involved in a real-world activity.”
Mona curator Emma Pike said the event asks locals to search for objects representing vulnerability and regeneration.
“Which is something we all need and can relate to after the last year,” she said.
“Pearls are created by molluscs to protect themselves when a grain of sand enters their shell—we’re hoping these treasures inspire Hobartians to learn from the resilience of our natural world.”
The Hobart Digs event will run on Saturday and Sunday between 10am and 2.45pm, and 3pm and 8pm with 18 sessions on offer.
Prospective diggers can register to dig or arrive without registration and wait for space to become available
Entry is free. To register visit monafoma.net.au
MOFO Sessions find sweet spot for fun
MOSH pits might be a no-go but festival organisers are predicting blankets of fun at this year’s Mona Foma stage performances.
Mona Lawns have come alive this weekend with a host of live performances, dubbed Mofo Sessions, providing entertainment to crowds in a COVID-safe way.
About 600 people are expected to attend the sold-out shows on Saturday and Sunday nights, with performances from Augie March’s Glenn Richards headlining Saturday’s show ahead of the Sin and Tonics-led gig on Sunday evening.
The event, which also featured a show on Friday night, uses picnic blankets spread throughout Mona lawns to keep punters socially distanced.
Mona Foma executive director Shelley McCuaig said it was pleasing to be able to host a crowd-gathering concert event after the year that’s been.
“It’s been such a journey to get to this point,” she said.
“Through the early part of the pandemic we didn’t know what would be possible, then with the loosening of restrictions we were able to consider where we wanted the festival to sit.
“When we were trying to imagine what the festival would look like in a pandemic it was hard to imagine the Mona lawns in a way that allowed social distancing but still kept in line with the philosophy of the festival.”
Ms McCuaig said festival organisers were excited to showcase an all-Tasmanian line-up to audiences.
“We weren’t aiming for the biggest of events because we thought audiences might be hesitant about that,” she said.
“But each night offers a special, eclectic line-up that we’re sure will make for a great night.”
To re-sell tickets or check for available spots to the 5pm shows, visit mofo.net.au
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