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Aboriginal art is a white invention
by Willow Hart 19 June 2014
I
n 2002, one white man and one black
man, one art critic, the other an artist, independently came to the same conclusion: Aboriginal art is a white
Above: Gordon Bennett The Selector; this is how land ownership is determined
invention. How could a cultural
practice with a history that stretches back
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thousands of years come from white men, a group that has little more than 200 years of Australian occupancy and influence? USQ Artsworx presents Black and White: an art talk at Twilight alongside a visual exhibition Black and White Art to explore these ideas. “The art I have chosen for this exhibition comes from some of the country’s leading museums and galleries as well as from our own (USQ’s) art collection,” said David Akenson, curator of the exhibition Black and White Art. “The show reflects sensitive but important issues informing current debates surrounding the politics of Aboriginal art.” “As part of this exhibition there is Black and White: an art talk at Twilight where panel members Richard Bell, Rex Butler and I look into this intriguing conundrum through historical, theoretical, cultural and aesthetic perspectives.” “Richard Bell (Kamilaroi people) is an award winning Australian artist and political activist. Rex Butler is currently Director of Research for the School of English, Media Studies and Art History at the University of Queensland. In 2011 he won the inaugural Arts Faculty Research Excellence Award.” “In both the art talk and exhibition we explore what is the relationship between urban political Aboriginal art and regional and remote
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‘neo-traditional art’, in particular art from the Western Desert and Arnhem Land regions.” “The dust is far from settled on the question of artistic authorship - how much influence does the white consumer have on the development of Aboriginal Western Desert Art, and how much is driven by cultural
heritage” Black and White Art, curated by David Akenson and presented by USQ Artsworx, will open at 5pm on Tuesday 1 July in the USQ Arts Gallery and run from 9am-5pm till Thursday 31 July. Entry is free. Black and White: an Art Talk at Twilight will take place on Wednesday
9 July at 6pm in the USQ Arts Theatre. Cost: $22 Adult, $18 Conc/Group 10+, $15 Student, $10 Child. Book now via www. usq.edu.au/artsworx or call 07 4631 1111. The USQ Arts Gallery and Arts Theatre, A block, University of Southern Queensland, West Street, Toowoomba.
Senior Lecturer
Contemporary Australian Indigenous Art Reference: 499095 Element: Queensland College of Art Work type: Continuing The Queensland College of Art is located at Griffith University’s Brisbane city South Bank Campus and the Gold Coast Campus. The Queensland College of Art is part of one of the largest creative and performing arts training and research precincts in Australia which is also home to the Griffith Film School and Queensland Conservatorium. In this environment there is increasing interdisciplinary collaboration between the performing and visual arts. The Contemporary Australian Indigenous Art program is designed to prepare students, as indigenous Australians, for practice as professional artists. The program is focused on traditional Australian art media, styles and forms, together with strategies for their viable adaption within a highly urbanized society. The program is planned in accordance with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander principles and philosophies. This is a continuing, full time position based at the South Bank campus. This is an identified position and the occupant must be of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent under section 25 of the Anti Discrimination Act 1991. The role: This Bachelor of Contemporary Australian Indigenous Art is one of the Queensland College of Art’s suite of professional art and design programs all based around studio teaching. This position compliments a range of other academic positions based around the scholarship of art and design practice. The person: The successful applicant in this identified position will have a background in indigenous art production and associated theory within a scholarly context. They will have a higher degree in a related field with experience in teaching and research in relevant areas, Contemporary Australian Indigenous Art along with demonstrated industry experience.
Salary range: Senior Lecturer, Level C: $103,179 - $118,974 per annum. Salary package including 17% employer superannuation contribution: $120,720 - $139,200 per annum. Further information: Obtain the position description and application requirements by clicking the following link http://jobs.griffith.edu.au/cw/en/#/job/499095/senior-lecturer-contemporary-australian-indigenous-art For position queries, contact Professor Paul Cleveland, Director, Queensland College of Art on +61 (0) 7 3735 3100. For application queries, contact Ms Renee Patta, HR Officer on +61 (0) 7 3735 4299. Closing date: Wednesday 2 July 2014, 4.30pm AEST.