From hell in a handbasket to heaven with a clipboard

On Friday night, I watched The Social Reckoning.

Remember The Social Network back in 2010? Social media seemed so full of promise then; how innocent we were.

The Social Reckoning tells a different story. Facebook’s algorithms now reward outrage, even when the content is misleading or downright false. Apparently, making people angry is terrific for engagement and profit.

I went to bed feeling depressed about humanity.

Of course, I scrolled on my phone first. I get the irony.

The very next afternoon, I joined an artist-led walk at Alphington Wetlands, as part of Melbourne’s Birrarung Riverfest.

The wetlands were once privately owned and later gifted to the people of Victoria. Thank you, kind donors.

Our two artist guides, Forest Keegel and Annee Miron, had laid out clipboards, paper, chalk and little blackboards on a picnic table.

There was very little instruction. Nobody was expected to produce a masterpiece. Just as well.

We walked beneath towering gums and twisted branches, with birds calling overhead and the Birrarung winding through the trees.

We found spots beside the river and settled down to draw. In silence.

Annee encouraged us to sit quietly so the critters would come out.

City slicker that I am, I thought she meant the critters of self-doubt. No, she meant actual critters.

Dragonflies hovered over the water, a duck paddled past and birds that had kept their distance ventured closer.

And in case you’re wondering, that’s me in pink and blue, drawing behind the tree.

When we finished, I had a lump in my throat.

I can’t remember ever feeling such a physical rush of gratitude.

For the people who gifted this land to everyone.

For Forest and Annee, who’d created this experience for a bunch of strangers. And for Riverfest, for making this little bit of magic possible.

While some people are busy engineering outrage, others are creating wonder and belonging.

All photos generously shared by Forest Keegel. Thank you Forest.