At PICA we recognise that we are situated within the unceded lands of the Whadjuk people of the Noongar Nation. We pay our respects and offer our gratitude to Elders past and present, and to those emerging leaders in the community. We acknowledge all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the importance of their care and continued connection to culture, community and Country.

Always was, always will be.

Galleries are closed today. Our exhibitions are always free.

Emma Maye Gibson

Listening Bodies: A Performance Making Workshop for Play, Presence and Possibility

Listening Bodies: A Performance Making Workshop for Play, Presence and Possibility

Emma Maye Gibson (AKA Betty Grumble) is a Warrane (Sydney)–based performance artist known for her genre-smashing works across ritual theatre, cabaret, performance art and multi-media.  

For over a decade, Grumble has embraced spiritual practices, creativity and performance art. Her workshop Listening Bodies invites participants to forge space for exploration, openness and communication to better understand embodied movement and play. Learn more from Grumble as they discuss the knowledge and learnings they have inherited from their local and international mentors and peers on ways to foster a rich environment for meaningful expression and performance. 

This workshop aims to help participants connect with their creative spirit through performance methods. You don’t need to be an artist to join – everyone is welcome to participate and enjoy the experience. 

Please wear comfortable clothing for movement and bring a notebook. Listening Bodies encourages a culture of tenderness and consent. Please take the time to care for one another, thanking our bodies and stories. 

This workshop takes place on Aboriginal Land, rich with culture and history. Please approach this space with deep respect for the land and its stories. 

Register to attend Listening Bodies



About the artist

Emma Maye Gibson is a Warrane (Sydney)–based performance artist. Largely known through the avatar/war mask/love letter/critter of Betty Grumble, she engages her body as a hopeful and medicinal site for catharsis and pleasure. She is a proud ecosexual and believes in art as an action of her spirituality. She has her Masters in Fine Arts/Arse and has presented work at The Sydney Opera House, Glastonbury, Edinburgh Fringe, Perth and Adelaide Fringes, The Melbourne Comedy Festival, The Festival of Dangerous Ideas, Griffin Theatre, Belvoir St Theatre, The Bearded Tit, Red Rattler Theatre, OUTsider Festival (Austin, Texas), MoMA (NYC), Joe’s Pub (NYC), The Glory (London), LiveWorks, AsiaTOPA, Dark Mofo, Mona Foma, Berlin Fringe and beyond. She believes in the flesh riot, leads Grumble Boogie – a series of aerobic psychic-love-energy dance classes and is currently engaged in developing a new work under the guidance of mentors Annie Sprinkle, Elizabeth Burton and Victoria Spence. Major works include Sex Clown Saves The World, Love & Anger, The Unshame Machine, Grumble n’ Friends, Grumble Boogie, Goddess – The Elizabeth Burton Story and Enemies of Grooviness Eat Shit.