Student Workbook 2O14
Name:___________________ School:__________________ Lets track down where the art is
Start here
Yidinji mimjan njundu bama wabil wawal Gimuy yabanday bama bidjuga Gimuy Walubara Yidinji people welcome you to our country Cairns. Hello teachers and students and welcome to the 2O14 Cairns Indigenous Art Fair • You can THINK about touching but • WE DON’T TOUCH ARTWORKS • You can TALK about what you see •TALK ABOUT EVERYTHING • You might want to RUN but • YOU COULD BUMP SOMETHING • You might want to LAUGH and BE HAPPY and POINT at art • SO DO THAT • You will want to MEET ARTISTS • BECAUSE THEY ARE REALLY INTERESTING
NAME OF EXHIBITOR 1 Yarrabah Art Centre and Menmuny Musuem, Yarrabah 2 Girrigun Aboriginal Art Centre, Cardwell 3 Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne 4 Gab Titui Cultural Centre, Thursday Island 5 ProppaNOW Collective, Brisbane 6 KickArts Contemporary Arts 7 Erub Erwer Meta, Darnley Island 8 Saltwater Murris Quandamooka Inc, North Stradbroke Island 9 Lockhart River Arts Indigenous Corporation, Lockhart River 1O Pormpouraaw Art & Culture Centre, Pormpouraaw 12 UMI Arts, Cairns 13 Michael Reid Gallery, Sydney 14 Saltwater Gallery, Port Douglas 15 Yalanji Arts, Mossman Gorge 16 Baghulgaw Kuthinaw Mudh TSI, Badu Island 17 Wik & Kuga Arts Centres, Aurukun 18 Wei’Num Arts and Crafts, Weipa 19 Martin Browne Contemporary, Sydney 2O Mornington Island Art, Mornington Island 21 Hopevale Arts & Cultural Centre, Hopevale 22 Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts, Townsville
Please do not take all the pamphlets from the stalls. Your teacher’s will collect one for your class room.
DISCUSSIONS AROUND CONTEMPORARY ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER ART • What makes a work of art a work of art? • Is contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art defined by particular boundaries? • Who decides what an artwork means? Is it the artist, the critic, the viewer, or history? • Where do Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists find their inspiration? • What are the most important skills an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artist working today can have? • What materials and tools are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists using to create art? • What is the difference between working alone and collaborating with fabricators, audiences, family members, others? • In addition to museums and galleries, what are other venues where art is exhibited? • What subjects, issues, and themes are important to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists? What subjects, issues, and themes are important to you and what connections can you make between the two? • Does a work of art need to be beautiful? Why or why not? Who defines what is beautiful? • Does contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art have a purpose, a role, a responsibility?
HOW DO WE DISCUSS A SINGLE WORK OF ART • What do you see? •What do you hear? • What do you feel? • What might the art work represent? • What personal references do you make to this work? What does this work remind you of? • What relationship does this art work have to your own ideas, experiences, and opinions. • What questions does the art work evoke? • What does the work imply? • What visual, literary, and/or historical references are made in the work? What prior knowledge does the viewer need? • What choices or decisions have the artist made? such as materials, colours, size, placement, etc. • Why do you think the artist made those choices? • What can this work of art tell you about the artist, yourself, and/or the world around you?
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Talk with your friend about the name proppaNOW. How is the text different? What else is different about this name?
LOCKHART RIVER ART CENTRE Lockhart River Arts Indigenous Corporation is home to world-renowned artists often referred to as the “Lockhart River Art Gang”. The art centre markets paintings, linoprints, carvings, puunyas (grass baskets), ceramics, crafts and artifacts, all produced locally by our naturally talented artists and craftspeople. Lockhart Art Centre has always been recognised for the ground breaking way in which its artists have explored traditional culture through cutting edge contemporary art. The Art Centre also facilitates cultural retention, dance and public art projects within the Lockhart community. ARTISTS Majorie Accoom Silas Hobson Irene Namok Evelyn Omeenyo Josiah Omeenyo Lawrence Omeenyo Sue Pascoe Elizabeth Queenie Giblet
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Sue Pascoe Lockhat River Art Centre
Gab Titui Cultural Centre supports more than 7O artists across the Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula Area of Australia. The Centre has a Gallery Shop that provides an ethical outlet for the Torres Strait artists to sell their work, maintaining at least 7O% of local Indigenous product. The sales made through Gab Titui create economic opportunities for local Indigenous artists, as a large percentage of the earnings are directly returned to them, with the remaining amount reinvested into the operations of the centre. Gab Titui Cultural Centre supports local Indigenous artists to ensure that all the sales proceeds go back into the Torres Strait community. Gab Titui will showcase 3 artist this year at CIAF: • Edwin Turner is a wood carver, who lives on Hammond Island • Roseline Tomsana is makes glass bead jewellery and she live at Horn Island and Kubin community • Anson Dorante makes Torres Strait Headdress – contemporary Dari or Dhoeri , he lives on Thursday Island. What materials and techniques has Edwin Turner used to make his work “Home Reef”?
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What is different about proppaNOW? Are they an art centre? Are they a gallery? WHAT ARE THEY?
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ARTISTS EXHIBITING Edna Ambrym, Gwenneth Demeera,Marlene Holloway, Michele Yeatman, Philomena Yeatman
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Yarrabah is a community of up to 3OOO people, predominantly Gungandji and Yidinji. Situated just south of Cairns, Yarrabah is surrounded by tropical native bushland and mountain ranges. The Yarrabah Arts Centre offers many art forms and cultural activities, including ceramics, painting, weaving arts and craft. The museum displays history and local knowledge, and a large number of Indigenous artefacts.
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1 YARRABAH ART CENTRE Draw some things to put in this basket
9 Write words to describe this painting by Sue Pascoe. Is it a landscape?
RESEARCHING ART CENTRES
(research means to collect information on a topic)
Art Centre Name:___________________ ________________________________ How many people does the Art Centre employ?_______________
RESEARCHING THE ART CENTRES
In the Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal are a number of art centres from different communities. Find 2 art centres whose work you find interesting.
What are their jobs? (what is their job title)_______ __________________________ __________________________ _____________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________
Write the names of 3 other art centres What types of art do they make there? that you will research back in class. __________________________________ _________________________________ ______________________________________ _________________________________ What special facilities do they have? ______________________________________ (eg kilns, printing press) __________________________________ ______________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ Sketch one of the artworks you find interesting. Who can use the art centre? ___________________________________ ___________________________________
Make sure you write the artists name as well.
(research means to collect information on a topic)
Art Centre Name:___________________ The Indigenous art centres are owned and governed by the communities ________________________________ in which they play significant roles. Art centres How many people does the Art provide places for the ethical production of authentic Indigenous artwork created by community Centre employ?_______________ based artists, and give emerging artists opportunities for professional development, training and What are their jobs? education. They are places where artists and their (what is their job title)______ families are able to gather safely and work. They are __________________________ places where young people can access positive role __________________________ models. The intended function of the art centre in a community is one of maintaining and strengthening _______________________________ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ___________________________________ cultures and identity. Write down 3 techniques or processes that you would like to try back in class.
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What types of art do they make there? ___________________________________ ______________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ______________________________________ What special facilities do they have? (eg kilns, printing press) ______________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ Sketch one of the artworks you find interesting. ___________________________________ Make sure you write the artists name as well.
List 3 artists that they represent. ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________
Who can use the art centre? ___________________________________ ___________________________________ List 3 artists that they represent. ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________
Record what materials and processes the artist used
Record what materials and processes the artist used
7 ERUB ERWER META (Erub/Darnley Island)
Erub is one of the most remote communities in Australia, located 16O km north-east of Queensland’s Cape York Peninsula. This beautiful volcanic island is situated in deep turquoise waters on the edge of the Great Barrier Reef. This year artists have developed a fashion line called Ailan Pasin.
Design the material for this girl’s top, tights and arm bands. Base your designs on things you can find on a beach.
Design 2 swatches of material based on other designs you find at the fair.
UMI ARTS
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UMI Arts is the peak Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander arts and cultural organisation for Far North Queensland. UMI Arts has over 7OO individual Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Members, all with traditional connection to the Far North Queensland region. A not-for-profit company, UMI Arts is proudly managed by an allIndigenous Board of Directors and based in Cairns. Established in 2OO5, their mission is to assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to participate in the maintenance, preservation and ASK - What does UMI mean? Do protection of cultural identity. UMI Arts also acts as the Cairns Arts Centre to provide support for you think this is a good name? Why? Indigenous artists who live and work in Cairns. This year Cairns based members will be showcased. This is in recognition of the dual role that UMI Arts plays, both as the peak Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts and cultural organisation for Far North Queensland, and the “Art Centre” role, that UMI Arts provides to visual artists in Cairns. These artists are: Arone Meeks, Bernard Singleton Jnr, Dave Daffey, Gertrude Davis, Heather Koowootha, Jack Wilkie-Jans, Kathi Gibson, Kel Williams, Lisa Michl, Napolean Oui, Naseli Tamwoy, Nickeema Williams, Paul Bong, Sam Savage, and Sharon Karami.
UMBRELLA STUDIO CONTEMPORARY ARTS
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Umbrella Studio will be showcasing 2O linocut prints from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island high school students who are living and studying in Townsville. This project is a collaboration between Umbrella Studio, Gallery Services Townsville and local high schools. Students had the opportunity to work at Umbrella and in their schools with master printmakers, Gail Mabo, Tommy Pau and Jo Lankester. Over 1OO students participated in the program in 2O13-2O14. Five works were selected from four schools to be showcased at CIAF alongside Murris in Ink printmakers. The aim of the program is to encourage the next generation of Indigenous printmakers in Townsville to be the very best they can be!
Back at school design a lino print of your favourite sport or a game you like to play or watch. Think about how you can show movement like these 2 jumping for the ball. Tristan Butler, Linocut print Kirwan SHS
Look at these two versions of woven baskets. COMPARE and CONTRAST Look for what is similar and what is different. Abe Muriata Girringun Art Centre,2O14.
DISCUSS HOW TO LOOK AT VISUAL ART
• Describe the artwork. What are the artworks formal qualities: such as colour, composition, style, mood, media and materials. • Consider the artist’s concept. What is the artist thinking, what choices have they made, and what materials and process have they used? • Identify the context of the work. What are the circumstances in which an artwork is made, as well as when, where, and how the viewer sees a work of art.
Christian Thompson He’s learning the language’,2O14.
There are three exhibitions on at the Cairns Regional Gallery SOLID is on the first floor. What does the word SOLID mean to you and how does it relate to the exhibition?
Philomena Yeatman Yarrabah Art Centre,2O14.
Look at Brian Robinson’s sculpture - add your own section at the end
Write what you see, think and feel about this art work by Christian Thompson
I see... I think... I feel... Brian Robinson, …and meanwhile back on earth the blooms continue to flourish 2O13, wood, plastic, steel, synthetic polymer paint, feathers, plant fibre and shell Artwork courtesy of the artist and Mossenson Galleries, © the artist, courtesy of Mossenson Galleries. Photograph courtesy Art Gallery of Western Australia
Segar taught himself to paint as a child and so he has been making art for over six decades. In the 196O’s he was one of eight Torres Strait Island artists asked by anthropologist Margaret Lawrie to record, in paintings and drawings, the history, culture, flora and fauna of the Torres Strait. The young Passi made more than 135 watercolours and sketches for Lawrie’s project. Some were depictions of bird and marine life, while others told stories passed down to the artist by his elders on Mer (Murray Island). One of Segar’s particular interests, as an artist and as a cultural custodian, is weather conditions, and their importance in the lives of his people. He has devoted much time to communicating this knowledge to children on Mer, and many of his pictures are themed around weather. Segar Passi’s paintings, with their bold colours and directness of form and composition, are in some ways evocative of naive art, yet they possess a unique character that defies categorisation. And, while having a strong place within the artistic traditions of the Torres Strait, they are also recognised as outstanding works of contemporary art. Look at the painting Koob. Write sentences about the weather you see.
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Sketch another of the works of Segar Passi. Include the name of the work.
Janet Fieldhouse Bride pendant series 1’,2O14.
Segar passi Koob,2O14.
Segar Passi Bakei – 196Os.
Janet Fieldhouse Mark and Memory
Ceramic artist Janet Fieldhouse describes her work as ‘an expression of my Torres Strait Islander heritage: the material culture, rituals of social and religious life, and artefacts which are created to fulfil the functional and spiritual needs of the peoples of the Torres Strait’. This is a body of work arising from cultural investigations undertaken by Fieldhouse. These investigations have focused mainly on three areas of Torres Strait Islander culture: women’s basketry; women’s dance adornments; and body decoration, in the form of scarification – which is no longer practised – and ink tattooing. The ceramic pieces reinterpret traditional Torres Strait Islander fibre baskets, as well as dance armbands, and speak of the decorative and ritual aspects of scarification and ink tattoos. Of her particular interest in scarification, Fieldhouse has said: The history of marking skin was unseen and not heard of in my generation. Instead, current generations use ink tattooing as a means of expressing one’s heritage. My idea was to research and produce a body of work to bring back what was unseen marking, so that the next generation will know that scarification was once a strong part of our heritage. Janet Fieldhouse’s practice as a ceramicist both honours and maintains Torres Strait Islander culture. At the same time, Fieldhouse’s inventive melding of ancient forms and contemporary art idioms has gained her a reputation as one of Australia’s leading young contemporary artists. Sketch one of the works inspired by scarring. Create your own tattoo design based on a facial feature that is strong in your family - such as wide mouth or small eyes.
Give these dogs features and decorate them with repetitive patterns