Rappville ice cream and a special tablecloth are part of a recovery project in response to the 2019 bushfires.

Leading the Creative Recovery Project are artists Charlotte Haywood and Lyndall Phelps who have spent time in Rappville this year working with the community as part of the Arts Northern Rivers initiative.

Lyndall said each time she visited Rappville she felt more attached to the village.

“It has been a privilege spending time with residents, their resilience, warmth, compassion and humour always shine through,” she said.

Charlotte was looking at both site-specific gifting and regeneration.

“I’m looking into the sense of place, people and stories through the landscape, plants and food that are enjoyed, shared and grown,” she said.

Charlotte has created a Rappville ice cream accompanied by a recipe book.

She has also designed a sculptural seat based on the weeping myrtle plant from nearby Myrtle Creek.

History drew Lyndall in when she discovered an original World War I embroidered tablecloth.

She will be replicating the design as part of a three-part Legacy artwork.

Lyndall will also be installing a series of large-scale banners representing the history, people, story and plants special to Rappville.

There has already been a series of creative workshops in Rappville including a photography workshop with professional photographer Jaka Adamic, a native plant and seed workshop with scientist Michele Chapman and a poetry workshop with bush poet Steve Cavenagh.

The project will culminate in a free community event planned for Saturday October 30. The day of activities will feature artwork installations, a photography exhibition, workshops, a natural ice cream stall, a discovery walk, live music and more.

This article appeared in the Richmond River Independent, 18 August 2021.