By Bronwen Beechey
MELBOURNE — Maree Clarke, coordinator of the Koori Arts Unit (KAU) of the City of Port Phillip, was recently contacted by a woman who wanted to buy some Aboriginal art.
"I told her to come and see the work we had left from previous exhibitions. However, she was disappointed because she expected there to be bark paintings and dot paintings. I explained that these were contemporary Aboriginal art and pointed out some linocuts to her. 'Oh, is that Aboriginal art?', she said."
To dispel misconceptions, and give emerging Koori artists a chance to exhibit their work, the KAU established an annual visual arts event, designed to present the work of Koori artists in mainstream Melbourne galleries. Last year, We Iri — We Homeborn involved more than 25 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Victoria. More than 150 works were exhibited in seven galleries, and $50,000 worth of work was sold.
This year, there will be four group exhibitions featuring new and established Koori artists from around Victoria. More than 100 artists have been invited to explore historical and contemporary issues. The theme of 1997's We Iri — We Homeborn is 1967-1997 — 30 Years On. Clarke says, "The most common view is that not a lot has changed".
The four art exhibitions are:
- <~>Singin' Our Heroes, featuring photographs of Koori performing artists and a Koori poster exhibition, at the St Kilda Town Hall foyer and gallery space, July 3-August 30.
- <~>Thirty Years On, commissioned works by Koori and non-Koori artists exploring the theme of the referendum, at the Linden Arts Centre, St Kilda, July 3-20.
- <~>Lookin' Back, Movin' On, a group exhibition by south-east Australian Koori artists, at the RMIT project space, Cardigan St, Carlton, July 7-20.
- <~>Even More Deadly, large installation works by Robyn Latham, Ian Anderson, Donna Brown and Ellen Jose, at Grand Central Art, Bourke St, Melbourne, June 16-July 17.
The series will be supported by events to mark the National Aboriginal Islander Day of Commemoration week, July 7-13. These include a referendum forum, indigenous theatre, the NAIDOC march on July 11 and a Koori family day at Gasworks. We Iri — We Homeborn will open on July 3, 1pm, at the St Kilda Town Hall. For more information phone (03) 9209 6711.