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Bruce McLean: Some art challenges me to learn about it by Rhonda Hagan 2 January 2014
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ruce McLean is a Wiri / Birri Gubba from central Queensland who lives in Brisbane and is from the large Johnson family. Bruce was one of the Judges at the 2013 Telstra Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Award. He said judging for the art awards was a challenging process because unlike some of the big art awards down south they don’t bring all the works in, and only use images of the artwork. “It’s a tough process but we are happy with out choices we have come to and proud of the artists who have come through as the winners,” Bruce said. He said there is always different works and wild card works, and exhibitions always try to include different styles and mediums to. “Today artists are using different
mediums to express who they are and telling their experiences and stories,” he said. On reflection of all the entries for the arts awards in Darwin, Bruce said there was nothing really new to him but there was a work, a painting, that challenged him. “It’s not a perfect painting but it challenged me to find out why I liked it. “It was pulling me into that country and taking me there in that country. That’s something I hadn’t experienced in a while.” Bruce has been in the art business for a long time and began while his mother, Juanita Johnson, was involved with the arts in Brisbane. “I was about 12 when I was doing that. I work through Queensland Aboriginal Creations, the government retail outlet for community work. I knew a lot of the artists from Cape York and what
they were doing. The Gallery was having a big Cape York exhibition, The Story Place, so I went through as an overqualified trainee and I’ve been there for 10 years. Bruce said the arts looks promising in Queensland with the new building and exhibition program they have there. He said he has more ambitions to do broader projects and more significant exhibitions across institutions, something that hasn’t been done since the mid 80s or early 90s. Bruce said the Telstra Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Awards are an important showcase for Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islander people throughout the country. “I encourage people from all over the country to apply to the Telstra Indigenous Arts Awards so there is a truly national voice here in Darwin,” he said.
Bruce McLean and Destiny Deacon, Judges of Telstra Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Award 2013. Image: Rhonda Hagan
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