Take a deep breath on the morning commute

Published on 18 July 2023

Early morning Derwent Ferry commuters are being treated to 'wet breath exchange' performances every morning this week until Friday, led by local artist Hannah Foley and supported by the City of Hobart through a Creative Hobart grant.

The free performances aim to connect performer and passengers to the flow of the river and with any luck, to breathe within the famous Bridgewater Jerry – the fog that forms in the valley on cold winter mornings.

Creative City Portfolio Chair, Cr John Kelly said the City was proud to support this performance through its Creative Hobart grants program, which is aimed at bringing art out of the gallery and into the community.

"Hobart has a growing reputation as a hub for arts and culture in Australia. By supporting artists to integrate work into the everyday we enliven our city and embed creativity as a way of life in Hobart.

"The Bridgewater Jerry is an incredible natural phenomenon which any local will be familiar with. Hannah's work encourages us to take a moment at the start of our busy day to stop and breathe in the natural beauty around us," Cr Kelly said.

Artist and Creative Hobart grant recipient Hannah Foley said the project aims to strengthen our communal connection to local ecology.

"The Bridgewater Jerry has been quiet this winter, with the strange new weathers we've experienced.

"Through these performances, I hope we might conjure the Jerry's presence - or perhaps contemplate the absence, as a signal of our impacts on the hydrological world," Ms Foley said.

Aeriform Archive and Wet Breath Exchange is a free event (other than the cost of your ferry ticket).

When: Monday 17 to Friday 21 July, 6 am - 9 am.

Where: Derwent Ferry, departing Brooke St Pier and the Bellerive Pier.

Event website