Western Australian State Living Treasures 2015 Department of Culture and the Arts Gordon Stephenson House 140 William Street WA 6000

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About DCA The Department of Culture and the Arts (DCA) guides the delivery of culture and arts for Western through the provision of policy development, coordination and support services to the Culture and Arts portfolio. DCA also supports the culture and the arts sector.

This publication is current at October 2015

© Department of Culture and the Arts WA. All rights reserved. WESTERN AUSTRALIAN STATE LIVING TREASURES 2015 Western Australian State Living Treasures 2015 Faith Clayton Chrissie Parrott Stephanie Coleman Herbert Pinter Robert Drewe Nalda Searles Pippin Drysdale Lew Smith Alan Griffiths Miriam Stannage Joan London Dr Richard Walley Dr Mary McLean Dave Warner Noriko Nishimoto

1 WESTERN AUSTRALIAN STATE LIVING TREASURES 2015 About the State Living Treasures Awards

The Western Australian State Living 2015 AWARD RECIPIENTS 2015 AWARDS PANEL Treasures Awards were inaugurated in 1998 to honour senior West The 2015 State Living Treasures The panel consisted of: Australian artists who have made a Award recipients were chosen from Mr Duncan Ord (Chair) – Director lifelong contribution to their art form across art forms, including visual art, General, Department of Culture and and their community. The awards dance, music, puppetry, theatre, film the Arts were presented again in 2004 to and writing. Recipients are senior honour and celebrate the diversity, artists, who Ms Seva Frangos – Director, Seva talent and richness of a new group of Frangos Arts; Indigenous and individual artists. Twenty-three artists • have spent a significant part of Contemporary Art Advisor were honoured with the State Living their career working within or Treasures award in previous years and creating work related to Western Dr David Hough – Writer, Business 15 from various artforms have been Australia Historian and theatre, opera and honoured in 2015. dance critic • are highly regarded and skilled in The panel selected artists based on their field Ms Nanette Hassall – Head of Dance their exceptional level of artistic skill Department, Western Australian and dedication to developing their • have spent their careers constantly Academy of Performing Arts particular art form, their contribution developing their work in teaching and collaborating A/Professor Andrew Lewis – with other artists, as well as a • have passed on their knowledge to Associate Head of School for demonstrated long-term involvement other artists and influenced Performance Western Australian in the arts in . emerging artists in their field; and Academy of Performing Arts

The concept of the State Living • have demonstrated a commitment Mr Barry McGuire – Managing Treasures originated in Japan in the or contribution to the arts sector in Director, Red Spear post-World War II period, when the Western Australia. title became the highest honour E/Professor Margaret Seares – attainable by a senior traditional They were selected, based on Independent Advisor artist. Since then, the Living Treasures the above criteria, by a panel of awards programs have been adopted distinguished members of the arts Professor Ted Snell – Director, Cultural worldwide to honour influential and culture community in Western Precinct, – The University of Western elders of the artistic community. Australia. Australia

The awards acknowledge the ability Ms Sue Taylor – Taylor Media of artists to engage, move, involve and entertain audiences. They honour Professor Terri-ann White – Director, the skill, imagination and originality UWA Publishing, The University of of the artist. Western Australia

2 WESTERN AUSTRALIAN STATE LIVING TREASURES 2015 Past recipients

2004 1998 Alan Alder Madame Kira Bousloff Dr Lucette Aldous Madame Alice Carrard Janangoo Butcher Cherel Peter Cowan Jimmy Chi Jack Davis, Professor Jeffrey Howlett AM Margaret Ford Tom (T.A.G) Hungerford Vaughan Hanly Doris Pilkington Garimara Elizabeth Jolley Dr Carol Rudyard Robert Juniper Professor Roger Smalley Queenie McKenzie Leonard ‘Jack’ Williams Paul Sampi Richard Woldendorp Howard Taylor

Fay Zwicky Distinguished Artists

(having passed away prior to the 1998 awards)

Joan Campbell

3 WESTERN AUSTRALIAN STATE LIVING TREASURES 2015 Premier’s message

The Western Australia State Living These artists are an inspiration to Treasures Awards celebrate the us all, telling the stories of both our diversity, talent and richness of the State and our way of life. Through artists who have chosen to make WA their work and talent, we are able to their home, or who have made WA see ourselves, the places we live, our places, people and experiences a history and our culture through focus of their work. a myriad of different lenses.

The awards recognise those whose My congratulations to all 15 of the exceptional level of artistic skill and 2015 State Living Treasures Award ability has advanced their art form, recipients, whose contribution to influenced and developed other our culture and history is documented artists, and demonstrated a long-term in this commemorative publication. involvement and commitment to the arts in WA. They are, indeed, treasured West Australians. Western Australia has produced more than its share of gifted and The Hon. Colin Barnett MLA distinguished artists over the years, Premier of Western Australia including those who are recognised here as the State’s Living Treasures 2015.

4 WESTERN AUSTRALIAN STATE LIVING TREASURES 2015 Minister’s message

A Living Treasure is defined as The task of selecting nominations someone who has made a substantial for the third State Living Treasures and enduring contribution to society recipients was surely a difficult one, in a field of human endeavour, in this and I thank the panel members for case, the arts. their efforts.

The first Western Australian State It is clear to see that Western Living Treasures Awards were held in Australia continues to produce 1998 and honoured 11 artistic greats artists of exceptional talent. I am including Jack Davis, Margaret Ford, proud that we are able to honour Queenie McKenzie and Elizabeth Jolley. them in this way, and express the State’s gratitude for the valuable In 2004 the distinction was bestowed contribution these Living Treasures on a further 12 artists including Jimmy have made to our cultural life. Chi, Tom Hungerford and Richard Woldendorp. The Hon. John Day MLA Minister for Culture and the Arts This year’s awards recognise 15 Western Australian State Living Treasures – artists whose work spans music, dance, film, puppetry, visual arts and writing, and whose dedication to their practice and art form has had a significant impact on this State.

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WESTERN AUSTRALIAN STATE LIVING TREASURES 2015 Faith Clayton

Faith Clayton has spent over 60 She also began an amateur career Faith worked on a number of popular years working as a professional in theatre and her first performance television shows in the 1990s, actress in theatre, film, television and with the University Dramatic Society including Ship to Shore, The Gift and radio in Western Australia. She has was as Jocasta in Oedipus, at the a season of Parallax. In 1992 and 1994, worked across countless genres and opening of UWA’s Sunken Garden she went on major tours of Australian embraced characters from all walks of Amphitheatre in 1948. Images of theatres in Sally Morgan’s Sistergirl, life, earning the respect of colleagues Faith in the play are used on UWA one of her most beloved productions and audiences across the country. promotional material to this day. Her to date. In 1995, she performed as work with the University Dramatic Mrs Higgins in a production of My Faith’s mother and grandmother Society resulted in enough attention Fair Lady and as Evangeline Court in were early influences on her love of that Faith was offered and accepted a a 1997 production of Anything Goes theatre and read dramatic poems role in the inaugural Festival of Perth at His Majesty’s Theatre. Throughout to her as a child. Throughout her production of Richard III in 1953. her career, Faith found that being childhood, Faith took speech and on stage and taking on the life of a drama classes. She still remembers Later that year, Faith and her husband character was where she felt most her first performance at the age moved to London and Faith took a comfortable, “You can get lost in a of eight – an alternate reading of job as a clinical psychologist, putting play, and feel it so intensely.” Little Miss Muffet, in which she told a career in theatre on the backburner. the story in English, Irish, Scottish The couple remained in England until From 2009 to 2013, Faith spent time and American accents. Faith was 1957, when they returned to Perth and working with others in the industry, fascinated with people from a young Faith began to work as a part-time helping to research and document age and would take note of and try Guidance Officer with the Education the history of UWA’s theatre and to emulate unique movements and Department. They soon started a performances in the lead-up to the mannerisms. family and Faith dedicated much of UWA’s centenary celebrations in her time to being a mother, while still 2013. In 2009, at the Equity Guild Faith finished high school in 1946 taking on a variety of theatre roles Awards, Faith received the inaugural and began studying psychology at including Gertrude in Hamlet, the Heritage Award in recognition of over The University of Western Australia title role in Mother Courage and Mrs 50 years of professional performance (UWA) the following year. She spent Alving in Ghosts. By the early 1970s of the highest quality. three years completing a bachelor’s the actress began to work regularly degree, exploring her interest in for the ABC and acted in radio plays, Since 2012, Faith has focused her the human mind; studies that she children’s programs and a number of time on performing poetry readings believes greatly contributed to her joint productions with the BBC. with a group called Well Versed at talent and techniques as an actress. venues and events around Perth. While living on campus at UWA In the late 1970s, Faith’s career began Faith attributes much of her success she met her late husband, Alan to extend to television and film. Her over the past six decades to those Richardson, who would eventually first major film roles were Fran in 1985 she met along the way within the go on to become a Professor of and Shame in 1988, with a number industry, and to the incredible Psychology at UWA. of others to follow. Faith continued support and love she received from to perform regularly in theatre her husband and family. productions across Australia, and in 1989, she won the inaugural Swan Gold Award for Best Actress for her performances in The Plough and the Stars and The Day It All Ended.

7 WESTERN AUSTRALIAN STATE LIVING TREASURES 2015 Stephanie Coleman

Stephanie Coleman has spent She rented a flat with a friend and After 15 years at the ABC, Stephanie a lifetime playing, studying and spent two “wonderful” years taking faced a serious setback in 1965 when teaching music in Western Australia. lessons with renowned pianists, spinal problems lead to issues with Known as one of Perth’s foremost teaching classes at a local secondary her left hand. After a major operation pianists and lauded as one of the school, and attending concerts at on her spine, Stephanie was forced country’s most respected music London’s great music halls. to stop playing piano full time. She teachers, Stephanie has spent more faced the change head-on and in the than 60 years dedicated to her art. In 1950, Stephanie returned to Perth mid-1960s began to work full time as and quickly fell into a position at the a piano teacher. She soon became Stephanie first put her fingers on the ABC. The ABC’s studio orchestra was known as one of the leading music ivory keys when she began lessons at short a harpist, and Stephanie was teachers in the country and taught the age of five. With encouragement asked to play the harp parts on piano, both privately and at the Western from her mother, she continued to a move that delighted the young Australian Academy of Performing play the piano and throughout her pianist and – she jokes – exasperated Arts. Stephanie’s teachings extended childhood, she undertook music the conductor. She spent seven years to children and adults of any age or exams, entered competitions and as an orchestral pianist and studio skill set and many of Perth’s most played in Eisteddfods across Perth. musician before a new opportunity respected pianists have studied She went on to study music at school, came up at the ABC when the main under her. She worked as a music and to this day maintains in jest that studio accompanist retired. Stephanie examiner and is currently a Patron she “never practiced enough.” did not believe that she had a shot of the West Australian Music at the position and was surprised Teachers Association. Stephanie In 1942, Stephanie completed her when she was asked to take on the holds the belief that studying music leaving certificate at Perth College job in 1957. She proudly accepted is incredibly rewarding and gives and was offered a scholarship to study and was “thrilled” to work as the lead you an “insight into another world.” at the Conservatorium of accompanist for eight years. Music. She accepted the scholarship In 1991, Stephanie was awarded and moved from Perth to “big city” With a preference for playing in a Medal of the Order of Australia at the age of 16 to complete the background instead of taking in recognition of her service to music her Bachelor of Music. The degree the spotlight as a soloist, Stephanie as a pianist, teacher and examiner. took four years to complete and flourished at the ABC and “loved She believes she has led a “very Stephanie often practiced up to eight every minute of it.” She thrived on privileged life in music.” hours per day. the challenge of receiving a stack of sheet music two days before going Stephanie taught well into her eighties In 1946, the young pianist finished to air and enjoyed the collegiality and and is now happily retired and living her degree and moved back to WA social aspect of working with other in Claremont. She still plays the piano. to accept a position at Kobeelya like-minded musicians from across Girls School in Katanning as a music the State. Through her work with teacher. Stephanie spent two years the ABC, she received opportunities passing on her knowledge to young to tour the country with the West women in the rural town, before Australian Symphony Orchestra resigning in 1948 and returning to (WASO). It was during her time with Perth. Rather than launching straight WASO that Stephanie met her late into another teaching job, Stephanie husband, George Coleman, who did what so many of her peers were spent many years as the orchestra’s doing at the time; she packed a bag principal viola player. and flew to London.

8 Stephanie Coleman

WESTERN AUSTRALIAN STATE LIVING TREASURES 2015 Robert Drewe

Robert Drewe is an award-winning experienced as a young writer would Writers’ Prize. The Drowner (1996) novelist, short-story writer, columnist later be reflected in his memoir, The became the first Australian novel to and editor whose work is greatly Shark Net (2000). Robert’s time as a win the major literary award in every influenced by the “ordinariness and journalist enhanced his observation state, as well as the Adelaide Festival tragedies” of Western Australia in the skills and helped him discover his Prize for Literature and the Australian 1960s and 1970s. preferred writing style: meaningful, Book of the Year. His first memoir, firm prose with no unnecessary airs. The Shark Net, was highly acclaimed Books fascinated Robert as a and won numerous awards, including child and he pored over novels like Three years after beginning at The the Western Australian Premier’s Robinson Crusoe and The Famous Five West, Robert was recruited by The Book Award for Non-Fiction. It was series. He read encyclopaedias, spent Age in Melbourne. He became Sydney also adapted for an ABC and BBC hours at the library and borrowed bureau chief of the newspaper at 22 TV mini-series and radio drama, his father’s imported magazines: the and spent five years with The Age as was The Bodysurfers (1983). Saturday Evening Post and National before again growing restless. After In 2012 he published a second Geographic. He was a keen collector ten years as a journalist, he yearned for memoir, Montebello. of comics and copied the drawing artistic freedom. In the early 1970s, the styles of famous cartoonists. reporter made a conscious decision Robert has written two plays: an to transfer his focus to writing fiction adaption of The Bodysurfers (1989) Robert moved to Perth from Melbourne after an epiphany of sorts, “a blazing and South American Barbecue (1991). at the age of six and found a deep notion” that he experienced while at The 2003 film , which love for the coastline. He attended the park with his two young sons. featured in the title Hale School, where he was the editor, role, was based on Robert’s novel primary writer and illustrator of the Robert’s first attempt at a novel fell (1991). He has also edited school magazine, as well as the short and a lack of income forced him five short story and essay anthologies. swimming and school captain. An to take a position at The Australian as English teacher dubbed “Monkey” a columnist and literary editor. After He has been awarded an Honorary Marshall was one of the first to two years at the national broadsheet, Doctorate of Letters from both The encourage Robert as a young writer. he began to spend his nights working University of and The A teacher with a penchant for the on what would later become his first University of Western Australia (UWA), cane, Marshall terrified cocky teenage novel, The Savage Crows. With the an Australian Artist Creative Fellowship boys. But in Robert’s final years of first 100,000 words of the novel, from then Prime Minister Paul Keating, school, the formidable teacher began Robert gained a Literature Board and a Leadership Grant from the to read the 17-year-old’s creative writing grant that allowed him to resign as United States government. He has compositions to the class and a spark a full time journalist. To support his been writer-in-residence at UWA, La of possibility was born in Robert’s mind. family between books, Drewe worked Trobe University, the Southbank Centre as a special correspondent for The and Brixton Prison in London. In 2012, After finishing school, Robert knew that Bulletin, winning two Walkley Awards he was invited to write a Poetry Line he wanted to write, but “did not know for his reporting. to run through Forrest Place in Perth. where Writing Headquarters was”. The West Australian (The West) The Savage Crows was published in When Robert isn’t writing, seemed like a sound choice and he 1976, with nine more novels and short he’s swimming laps or walking began at the newspaper as a cadet story collections, and five non-fiction along the beach. journalist on his 18th birthday. He was offerings to follow over the next four expected to cover all beats and quickly decades. Fortune (1986) won the Robert divides his time between learned a taste for drama, covering fiction prize of the National Book the north coast of crime and the courts. The dark and Awards and The Bay of Contented and Western Australia. He is always complicated aspects of humanity he Men (1989) won a Commonwealth working on a new novel or short story.

11 WESTERN AUSTRALIAN STATE LIVING TREASURES 2015 Pippin Drysdale

Pippin Drysdale is an award-winning He built a kiln in her backyard and To date, Pippin’s work has been ceramic artist based in Perth who Pippin began to experiment with clay, exhibited in over 450 solo and is renowned internationally for her creating small bowls and goblets. group exhibitions. She is incredibly large, intricate works inspired by the After their relationship broke down, committed to her work and is patterns and colours of landscapes Pippin became serious about clay and constantly pushing herself to a higher around the world. enrolled in an Advanced Diploma in standard, her perfectionism reflected Ceramics at Perth Technical College. in her ambitious works. In 2007, a Pippin was born in Melbourne in 1943 She spent three years under the tough major survey exhibition of Pippin’s and grew up in Perth from the age but impressive direction of teacher works was held at John Curtin of three. Born into a wealthy family, David Hunt. Gallery, a testament to an impressive she was a rebellious child and flitted two decades. It was at that point from school to school, finding it Following the course, Pippin that she began to develop closed difficult to settle down or embrace undertook a Bachelor of Fine Arts form pieces that she refers to as traditional education. Art was the only at of Technology in the “male” pieces to accompany her subject that allowed Pippin to express 1986. It was during that period that open, “female” works. herself and she took private classes Pippin discovered her love of creating in painting and drawing as a child. large, open, “womb-like” porcelain In 2008, Pippin was named a Master After leaving school, Pippin worked vessels and began experimenting with of Australian Craft by the Australia as a typist, spent time as a secretary the style that she is now renowned Council for the Arts. The following in , worked odd jobs in for today. Upon finishing her degree year, she undertook a residency at England for a year and travelled Pippin travelled to America and spent the New York City Department of through . Her life was filled with time at the famous Anderson Ranch Cultural Affairs. In 2010, her Tanami “magnificent” adventures and parties. Art Center in Colorado, developing her Mapping I exhibition was opened craft alongside revered international by Ambassador to the USA, Kim She returned to Australia in the early artists. After returning to Australia, Beazley at the Embassy of Australia 1960s and moved to Melbourne Pippin threw herself into work and her in Washington DC. In 2011, Pippin where she married and had a son. pieces were soon regularly exhibited received a Lifetime Achievement It was in Melbourne that Pippin first around Australia, Europe and collected Award from Artsource. sold her art, creating Mexican paper by major galleries around the world. flowers and selling them through Pippin is grateful to still “wake up local stores under the moniker Pip’s She discovered a need to work every day with a challenge” and Flowers. She moved back to Perth thematically and many of Pippin’s believes that she found her identity in the early 1970s, settling into a series are influenced by a journey. She through her work with clay. She is cottage in that she still draws inspiration from the colours currently working on a new collection lives and works in today. On her and textures of landscape, and her called The Series, which will return, she became interested in emotional interpretations of place and be exhibited around the country in herbs and natural remedies, and space are injected into each of her late 2015. by 1973 had built one of the biggest pieces. Pippin focuses in particular on herb gardens in the southern the vast, diverse Australian landscape Pippin lives in Fremantle and is hemisphere. She harvested and and has created series based around constantly searching for her next gem. sold the herbs to outlets around the patterns and colours of the Pilbara Perth for a number of years. region, the eastern Goldfields, the Kimberley, and the Tanami Desert. She It was through a relationship with a has also travelled overseas to draw potter who made ceramic structures inspiration from the dips and peaks of for Pippin’s herbs that she found clay. , , Russia and .

12 Pippin Drysdale

WESTERN AUSTRALIAN STATE LIVING TREASURES 2015 Alan Griffiths

Alan Griffiths is a highly accomplished After he retired in 1981, Alan began Alan is a respected cultural leader and respected artist, teacher, song- to take art seriously, starting out throughout the Kimberley region and man, Indigenous elder and cultural making didgeridoos and carving across to the Daly River region of the leader. He has spent the past 35 years boab nuts. Alan’s growing interest in . Alan’s corroboree, creating artworks connecting cultural creating artwork coincided with the which includes the Bali Bali Balga and heritage and knowledge with personal establishment of the Waringarri Arts Joonba performances are complex history and experience. Centre, which has been an integral interpretations of events, country, supporter throughout his career. By spirits and cultural knowledge. Born at Victoria River Downs Station the mid-1980s, Alan was working in the Northern Territory in 1933, with canvas and ochre, presenting Alan’s work is held at Parliament Alan grew up on cattle station stock imagery that depicted the mapping House in Canberra, the National camps. He began doing manual work of his traditional country alongside Gallery of Australia, the Queensland at a young age, learning from his interpretations of cultural traditions Art Gallery and significant national elders how to break in camels and and corroborees, as well as stories of and international public and private donkeys, and muster cattle. With a his life on stations mustering cattle. collections. His paintings, prints, non-Indigenous father and Indigenous In paintings that celebrate life and carvings and cultural artefacts have mother, Alan was on the list to be culture, Alan’s art is joyous, humorous been included in more than 40 group taken from his home to a government and playful. and solo exhibitions since the early mission. However, when the authorities 1990s. In 2007, he won the East came to remove him, his grandfather Alan’s work was exhibited across the Kimberley Aboriginal Achievement moved him away to a nearby bush country throughout the 1990s, and Award for his contribution to art camp. Alan spent several years living in was shown at the Telstra National and culture. His performances are the bush with his grandfather, learning Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander regularly presented throughout the to live on the land, and gaining Art Awards in 1997, 1999, 2000, Kimberley and at key events as part of knowledge about his cultural heritage 2013 and 2014. Alan and Peggy the Darwin Festival. and traditions. He cites his grandfather were invited to launch the award in as his main inspiration and influence. Darwin in 1997, and again as part Alan and Peggy – also a highly of the TNASIAA’s 30th anniversary respected artist in the region – Alan was too old to be taken to a celebrations in 2013. continue to work with the Waringarri mission by the time he re-emerged Aboriginal Arts Centre, and often from the bush and was returned to In 2006, Alan received a Creative collaborate on paintings and cultural Victoria Downs Station where he lived Development Fellowship from the works. “The most important thing for and worked as a stockman until 1957. Department of Culture and the Arts, me is passing my knowledge onto my He then worked on several stations allowing him to produce a major body sons, daughters and grandchildren the across northern Australia before of work for the Darwin Festival. As things I learnt when I was growing up. becoming head stockman at Beswick part of the Fellowship, he became Painting my country and keeping my Station. He then worked laying pipe an artist in residence at Edith Cowan culture strong is what is important.” for the Public Works Department in University and passed on knowledge Wyndham before moving to Argyle about his practice. The same year, he He has five children, 27 grandchildren Downs Station near Kununurra around took up a residency at Charles Darwin and many great-grandchildren. 1965. He married his promised wife, University in the Northern Territory to Peggy, the same year. After the advance his printmaking skills. As an octogenarian, Alan continues 1968 Pastoral Industries Equal Pay to create, perform and teach. Legislation, when Aboriginal people were removed from stations, he sought work on a cotton farm in Kununurra.

15 WESTERN AUSTRALIAN STATE LIVING TREASURES 2015 Joan London

Joan London is an award-winning parents’ generation, sojourned in India 2001. It was shortlisted for the Miles author whose critically acclaimed and attempted communal living in the Franklin Literary Award and won The works focus on the uniqueness of country. She discovered the stories Age Fiction Book of the Year Award. the human story, journeys taken to of the Canadian short story writer find truth, and the complexities of Alice Munro, who had explored the Seven years later, her second novel relationships between generations, universality of her own experiences was published, The Good Parents, in families and lovers. a generation earlier. Joan’s first book which Joan again explored the ideals of short stories, Sister Ships, was of her generation. The story centres Joan grew up the youngest of four published by the Fremantle Arts Centre on the rebellious journey of a young sisters in Perth. She was surrounded Press in 1986. Her second book, another woman, away from her parents who by “amazing” literature as a child, collection of short stories called Letter have attempted ‘the good life’ in the with novels dating from the early to Constantine, followed in 1993. Both country. It examines what so many 1900s in the family bookcase. A books were later published together as generations have in common – the dedicated reader, Joan “found new The New Dark Age in 2004. desire to “be better than our own worlds” within books, spending hours parents,” and the relationships forged re-creating stories in her backyard Joan achieved considerable success and sometimes broken within families. as a child. Children’s novels from the with her first two books, winning The The Good Parents won the 2009 early 20th century like Ethel Turner’s Age Book of the Year Award for Sister Christina Stead Prize for Fiction at Seven Little Australians and Pioneer Ships, the Western Australian Premier’s the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards. Shack by Dora Birtles struck Joan’s Award for Fiction and the Steele Rudd imagination. For as far back as she can Award for Letter to Constantine. In 2014, Joan’s third and most recent remember, Joan wanted to be a writer. novel, The Golden Age, was published But the pressure of feeling obligated by Random House. Sparked by a Though the recreations of novels to create something new bought on desire to write about the 1950s and stopped when she hit her teenage a stagnant period for Joan. She grew an interest in hospitals dating back years, Joan remained encouraged by fearful that she did not have any more to a brief hospital stay in Joan’s own literature throughout her schooling. stories to tell, until one night, she had childhood, the novel delves into the After high school, she completed a a vivid dream that would one day Australian polio epidemic. Set in degree in English and French at The become a novel. Perth, it follows a forbidden love story University of Western Australia; but it between two young polio sufferers. would be almost a decade before she She dreamt of a young woman with a The Golden Age won the 2015 NSW wrote a story. Joan’s twenties were baby travelling in foreign lands, looking Premier’s People’s Choice Award, spent travelling the world, finding love, for a place surrounded by mountains, was shortlisted for a number of other having children, attempting to live in a place that was not quite Eastern honours, and won the national Kibble the country and building a life. It was or Western that would be her home. Literary Award in 2015. not until 1978, soon after she had her The dream had a title ‘Gilgamesh.’ She second child that she had enough began to research and discovered the Joan’s work is created and defined by distance from early experience to be Epic of Gilgamesh, the world’s first- a deep connection to her characters, able to write. known work of poetry. Joan spent a constant desire to explore human years researching and took a trip to nature, and a yearning for authenticity Joan wrote of her life and her Armenia, which she identified as the within herself and the worlds she builds. generation: their identities as country surrounded by mountains travellers, idealists and romantics; between the East and West. “I felt that Joan lives in Fremantle with her a generation always searching for I’d been sent that dream, I felt lucky husband and is currently writing a something; young people who to have had it.” Joan’s first full-length new novel. rebelled against the values of their novel, Gilgamesh, was published in

16 Joan London

WESTERN AUSTRALIAN STATE LIVING TREASURES 2015 Mary McLean

Dr Pantjiti Mary McLean is a highly the sandalwood camps, barking the In 1999, a collection again exhibited at respected artist, speaker, teacher trees for export. In 1980, she moved the Fremantle Arts Centre called Go and senior Indigenous woman to the Ninga Mia community outside Along Now showcased works telling from the Gibson Desert. Kalgoorlie with her second husband. the stories of Pantjiti’s life as a drover.

Pantjiti was born around 1930 at It was then that Pantjiti first began In 2002, Pantjiti was awarded Kaltukatjara (Docker River), and grew woodcarving (warta) and making the Senior Indigenous Visual Arts up in the spot on the map where the wooden animals to sell to tourists. Fellowship from the Australia Council. West Australian, Northern Territory and A local gallery on the main street of For the project, she agreed to South Australian state lines meet. An Kalgoorlie encouraged Pantjiti to take produce a series of small paintings Anangu woman of the Ngaatjatjarra up dot painting, which she delved into of her Country, to be presented as a people, as a child she lived on bush precisely, with a limited colour palette. mosaic. Pantjiti and Searles travelled tucker and travelled from rockhole to Dot painting was a major contemporary to Blackstone, Pantjiti’s father’s rockhole to find water gathered from art trend in the 1990s in Australia. Country, to develop the paintings. occasional rainfalls. The same year, Pantjiti received an In 1992, she met Nalda Searles, a Honorary Doctorate of Letters from She lived in Papulankutja with her respected Perth artist. Searles was Curtin University of Technology for her family until the 1950s, when food and working on the Warta Kutju program, contribution to visual arts and cultural resources became scarce. Pantjiti, her facilitating art activities for Indigenous reconciliation in Western Australia. husband and their young son walked people living in fringe camps in to Warburton Mission, and then 700 Kalgoorlie-Boulder. Searles encouraged Pantjiti’s work has been displayed in km to the small community of Cosmo Pantjiti to put more colour into her prestigious galleries across Australia Newberry in the Eastern Goldfields. In paintings and to tell her own stories. and she has won a number of awards 1953, anthropologist Norman Tindale Pantjiti began to include people, and prizes, including the 1995 Telstra took Pantjiti’s photograph for his animals and reptiles, and suggested Aboriginal Art Award. She has extensive documentation, recording the an Arcadian view of her early life encouraged many new artists in their movements and tribes of Indigenous in her Country. Searles and Pantjiti practice and inspired endless students people. Pantjiti’s son was placed in became friends and collaborators, with her talks and workshops. Her Mount Margaret Mission, where he and worked on a number of projects generosity and knowledge of her remained until he was a teenager. together in the following decades. culture is known throughout Australia.

Pantjiti was devastated by the removal Within a year of beginning to paint Due to illness, Pantjiti is no longer of her son and stayed in the area to her stories, Pantjiti was invited to able to paint and her final works be near him. She began to work on exhibit a collection of paintings were created and displayed through stations nearby, eventually becoming at the Fremantle Arts Centre. Her Warakurna Arts in 2013. Pantjiti a “gun horsewoman” mustering Hunting Grounds exhibition sold out now lives in her Country, in a spot sheep in the Eastern Goldfields. in November 1993, which encouraged between Kaltukatjara (Docker River) She received rations and clothes, Pantjiti. She painted stories of her and Papulangkutju (Blackstone). She occasionally making money catching childhood: family, goannas, rockholes remains very connected with her son dingoes and collecting a bounty for and red earth. She painted The Walter and her grandchildren, who their scalps. After spending around Tjukurrpa – dreaming stories – and live in Kalgoorlie. 10 years working at both Mt Weld hundreds of desert flowers. A Christian and Gindalbie Stations, she moved woman, Pantjiti painted Jesus into Pantjiti often speaks of her art to the Kalgoorlie Native Reserve, the land, melding Christianity with to Searles: “Nobody showed me. where she spent a decade working the deep history of her own culture, I learned myself. It is happiness in my at the sandalwood camps. Groups of depicting a complex marriage heart; art is happiness, all the stories Indigenous women were stationed at between the two belief systems. in my heart, that’s my happiness.”

19 WESTERN AUSTRALIAN STATE LIVING TREASURES 2015 Noriko Nishimoto

Noriko Nishimoto is considered a the USA. She also passed on her collaborations with artists from other master of puppetry in Australia and knowledge conducting master classes disciplines, and consolidated the internationally, with over 45 years in in Australian capital cities. company’s artistic reputation. the industry. Her impressive career is driven by an incredible passion for In 1987, Noriko became Associate After 19 years with Spare Parts, feeling the art of puppetry and an ambition Artistic Director at Spare Parts and her that she had achieved many of her to keep developing her skills through responsibilities increased to directing, artistic goals and made her mark on hard work and determination. adapting, writing and designing for the company, Noriko stepped down in productions. While working with July 2001 to work as a freelance theatre Noriko began her studies in drama at Spare Parts, Noriko took on numerous director. Her work as a freelance artist a performing arts academy in Osaka, freelance directing projects across after Spare Parks included puppetry but was inspired to change direction the world including Terrapin Puppet creator for The Mamu production after seeing a puppet show and Theatre in Tasmania, Polyglot Puppet with Black Swan Theatre Company, joined the highly regarded La Clarte Theatre in Melbourne and Theatre directed The Emperor’s Nightingale, Puppet Theatre in Osaka. She worked Drak in the Czech Republic. She and conducted master classes for as a performer, writer and director collaborated with dance and theatre company performers at Capital E amongst peers of all ages, and learned companies in Western Australia, National Theatre for Children, and all aspects of theatre. Noriko spent including Two Dance Plus and Black teaching drama students in New 16 years working full time with the Swan. During a six-month break from Zealand. She was puppetry director company, before becoming a freelance Spare Parts, she worked as a freelance for Claudia Alessi’s Point of Entry performer, writer and director. artist on projects with eastern states dance production at the Perth artists, Skylark Theatre, Handspan International Arts Festival in 2002. Australian director Peter Wilson Theatre and Polyglot Puppet Theatre. discovered Noriko in 1980 when he saw Noriko has been invited back to Spare a puppet show she directed in Tokyo. In 1997, Noriko was appointed Artistic Parts annually to revamp previously A year later, he wrote to her, asking Director of Spare Parts. The company successful productions. Her recent her to travel to Perth and work as a was going through a difficult time, but projects as co-creator and creative master puppeteer on the Festival of Noriko was determined to keep its consultant include Moominpappa at Sea Perth production Faust. She spent six doors open and worked tirelessly to and the upcoming production The Fox. weeks working in Perth before returning revitalise the company. She focused to Japan. After the success of Faust, on creating and directing productions In 2008, she was recognised by Wilson set up Spare Parts Puppet to reflect Australian culture, including international puppetry association Theatre (Spare Parts) in Fremantle The Bugalugs Bum Thief, Cat Balloon, Union Internationale de la Marionette and wrote to Noriko again, asking her The Deep, Eat the Moon and the (UNIMA) for her contribution to return to Perth and work with the large-scale The Midnight Gang in to puppetry in Australia and theatre as a master puppeteer and collaboration with the West Australian in 2012, she was the first to be technique master for one year. Symphony Orchestra. honoured by UNIMA’s Women’s Commission, who acknowledged One year turned into two, three She established a company associate Noriko’s Outstanding International and eventually Noriko gave up her program to encourage individual Contribution to Puppetry. In 2014, Japanese citizenship to become West Australian artists to become Noriko was awarded an Honorary Life an Australian citizen. During her involved, and a school of puppetry Membership by Spare Parts. early years with Spare Parts, Noriko for the community to allow artists performed and trained performers to share their skills and knowledge Noriko enjoys living in Fremantle and within the company and toured with with the public. She also developed has a cup of coffee every morning. the company throughout Australia, national and international tours for China, Korea, Japan, Canada and the company’s productions, explored

20 Noriko Nishimoto

WESTERN AUSTRALIAN STATE LIVING TREASURES 2015 Chrissie Parrott

Chrissie Parrott is one of Australia’s The Chrissie Parrott Dance Company During her time at WAAPA, Chrissie most prolific choreographers, and has was born soon after their return with was instrumental in setting up LINK, a created over 90 works nationally and the aid of government funding and a graduate dance company created to internationally. She has made her mark period of significant creative success help dance students make the transition as a dancer, choreographer, director, followed. The company was at the from university to the professional teacher and artist. Her works have been forefront of contemporary dance in world. In the early 2000s, she worked performed in Holland, France, Japan, Australia and was well known for its as an adjunct professor at the East Java, Germany and Australia. high impact productions. Chrissie Queensland University of Technology, created most of the company’s works, teaching multimedia. In 2003, she Born in Northern England in 1953, successfully fusing dance with theatre. formed Jambird Multi Arts Company Chrissie started dancing at the age of The company toured internationally with Perth-based composer and three and became “serious” about it and won numerous honours including musician Jonathan Mustard. The pair by age seven. A performer from the the Sidney Myer Performing Arts produced multi-screened immersive time she could walk, Chrissie studied Award in 1992. Chrissie also won works using digital technology, sound tap, ballet and musical theatre during The Sounds Australia Award for her and choreography. Their works her childhood, and won numerous dedication to collaborating with attracted many commissions and competitions as a young dancer. Australian composers and musicians. awards, including showings at the Chrissie and her family moved to She acknowledges that much of the Monaco Dance Festival in Monte Carlo. Australia when she was ten years old company’s success was due to her and she continued to study ballet. At talented team. “Most artists who are In 2000, Chrissie won the West the age of 19, sought after for her talent successful are likely to be surrounded Australian Citizen of the Year award and diverse dance background, Chrissie by other exceptional artists and for Arts and Entertainment, and in was offered a position with the WA collaborators.” 2005, she was awarded a Centenary Ballet Company. She spent seven years Medal for services to Community with the company, and created her first The Chrissie Parrott Dance Company and the Arts. In 2011, Jambird was choreographic work, Like Hiroshima: folded unexpectedly in 1996 after a commissioned to create a piece for the Just Another Fallout in 1976. Two years change of government in WA and opening of the State Theatre Centre later, her first major commissioned subsequent loss of funding. Chrissie of WA, and in 2013 was commissioned work, Catherine’s Wedding, was moved into the next phase of her to create a large-scale outdoor dance performed at the Sydney Opera House. career, joining the dance department work for The University of Western at Edith Cowan University. She began Australia’s centenary celebrations. Chrissie left the WA Ballet in the late to research teaching methodologies In 2014, Chrissie was honoured with 1970s to join Sydney-based One Extra using high tech animation and motion a Lifetime Achievement Award at Dance Company. She toured with tracking techniques. She was awarded the West Australian Dance Awards. the company to Europe, where she a number of travel and research spent a number of years living and grants through ArtsWA and travelled Chrissie is a Resident Artist with the working. Chrissie’s next move was to to France and USA. After returning Black Swan State Theatre Company German company Tanz Forum, where to Perth, she began to create dance and in 2015 she will direct a stage she regularly performed for audiences works and large-scale digital artworks adaption of The Red Balloon. She is of about 3,000. While working in using new technologies, which are a project coordinator with Community Germany, Chrissie met her future held in company collections across Arts Network WA in the eastern husband, with whom she had a son, Australia. In 2001 she became a Senior Wheatbelt of WA. Chrissie focuses Griffeth. They moved to Stockholm, Research Fellow at the Western on mentoring a new generation of where Chrissie worked as a dancer Australian Academy of Performing artists, as a way of “giving back” to and choreographer with Swedish Arts (WAAPA), and continued to the community that has supported company Crammeer Balletten, then research motion capture and video her for over four decades. back to Australia in the wake of the and colour tracking technologies. Chernobyl disaster in 1986. Chrissie lives in Perth with her partner. 23 WESTERN AUSTRALIAN STATE LIVING TREASURES 2015 Herbert Pinter

Herbert Pinter is an award-winning Dangerously (1982), for which he was In 2004, Herbert was nominated for Perth-based production designer again nominated for an AFI award an Emmy Award for Outstanding who has worked on some of the most for his impressive production design. Art Direction for his work on the iconic Australian and international film Throughout the 1980s, Herbert proved telemovie And Starring Pancho Villa and television productions of the last his talent in the diverse productions as Himself. For the same production, four decades. he worked on. From historical dramas, Herbert won an Art Directors Guild to modern action, Herbert prides award for Excellence in Production Born in Austria in the mid 1940s, himself on his ability to transform the Design. The film, an historic Western Herbert had not considered a career most difficult location into a set from recreation starring Antonio Banderas, in film until he moved to Australia any era or world. took Herbert and his family to as an 18-year-old. Though he loved Mexico in the early 2000s where his watching films as a child – particularly In 1987, Herbert travelled to Western daughter worked on set as a horse American westerns – Herbert never Australia for the first time to work wrangler. Herbert has travelled the gave any thought to a creative career. on a children’s television production world throughout his career and often It was not until he was working as called A Waltz Through the Hills. While takes his family with him, exploring a carpenter in Adelaide in 1973 that shooting the series, he met and fell locations not often seen by tourists. he stepped onto his first film set, in love with the production’s location picking up work with the Australian manager – now his wife. At the same In 2009, Herbert worked on critically Film Corporation constructing and time, he fell in love with Perth and acclaimed film Mao’s Last Dancer, decorating sets. never returned to Adelaide. He jokes and was again nominated for an that when he first made the move, AFI award for Best Production After his first job with the Corporation directors like Bruce Beresford would Design. In 2011, Herbert worked on he was offered a permanent contract call him up and ask why he was living the intricate television adaptation as a construction manager and in faraway Western Australia, and he of Tim Winton’s Cloudstreet. The fell into a life with film, working on would reply that it is “the best place in following year, he won the APDG productions like Storm Boy (1976) the world.” Award for Design on a Television and The Last Wave (1977). “After I Drama and the esteemed Australian started I didn’t want to do anything During the 1990s, Herbert continued Academy Cinema Television Arts but work on films.” Herbert learned by to design major productions Award for Outstanding Achievement working hands-on in the industry and around the world from a range in Television Screen Craft for his observing his peers, graduating to the of genres. He travelled to Canada production design on Cloudstreet. role of art director in the early 1980s. for Black Robe (1991) for which he In 1981, he landed a role as art director was awarded Canadian Film and In recent years, Herbert worked on on Peter Weir’s Gallipoli. Television Academy’s Genie for Best the ABC production Serangoon Road Art Direction. He also worked as and mini-series The Secret River. He Herbert was nominated for an production designer for action movie is still incredibly passionate about his Australian Film Institute (AFI) award Sniper (1993) in Queensland and job and thrives on the challenge of for Best Achievement in Production on creating World War II scenes for creating new worlds. “Who else gets Design for Gallipoli, and still refers Paradise Road (1997). Throughout to build a whole village or city, then to it as “the scariest film” he has the 2000s, Herbert worked on action knock it all down?” ever done. His work on Gallipoli movies Texas Rangers and The boosted his career significantly and Marine, and on two major Australian Herbert Pinter lives with his wife on the phone began to ring only days children’s television series: Parallax a property on the outskirts of Perth. after he returned from shooting. His and Wormwood. He continues to take on new film next big film was The Year of Living projects.

24 Herbert Pinter

WESTERN AUSTRALIAN STATE LIVING TREASURES 2015 Nalda Searles

Nalda Searles is a West Australian challenging art form, Nalda excelled. across the entire continent. Thirteen visual artist whose work in fibre After graduating, she was invited to female artists from across the country textiles is nationally recognised run a Healthway program in Kalgoorlie, participated and an exhibition toured for its intricate presentation and teaching local Indigenous people, the State in 2004. The project was strong connections to the Australian many of whom lived on the streets, an important step in cross-cultural landscape. to engage in art-based activities. The relationships in the arts community. program ran for two years. Pantjiti Included in the exhibition were seven Nalda was born in Kalgoorlie in 1945 Mary McLean, a Ngaatjatjarra woman, life size fibre female figures, The and grew up in the small town of was one of the program’s participants. Seven Sisters, that are now held in Bullfinch in the Eastern Wheatbelt. One Nalda and Pantjiti formed a lifelong the Western Australian Museum. of six girls, Nalda often spent her time friendship; Pantjiti taught Ngaatjatjarra as a child “finding something creative to language to Nalda and they would In 2009, Nalda won the inaugural do.” She left school at 15 and undertook later collaborate on major pieces. Lifetime Achievement Awards from training in psychiatric nursing before Artsource. The same year, her largest taking off to travel through Africa, In the early 1990s, Nalda was involved exhibition to date, Drifting in My Own Australia and Asia. On her return to with a group of Western Desert Land, opened at John Curtin Gallery. Australia in 1975, she was drawn to the women and began to teach basketry Nalda travelled with the exhibition to arts, and her creative drive took over. in remote communities alongside arts 18 different venues across Australia worker Thisbe Purich. Their teachings over four years, finishing up in 2013. In 1979, Nalda took a short course instigated the now renowned Tjanpi In 2015, a number of Nalda’s works in macramé and learned how to Desert Weavers. From the late were featured as part of the An manipulate materials, igniting a passion 1980s onward, Nalda also worked Internal Difficulty exhibition, based on for the woven cord and string. After with Lynwood Senior High School the antiquity collections of Sigmund completing the course, Nalda began to and Edith Cowan University (ECU) Freud at the Perth Institute of collect materials from the land – bark, to conduct bush camps in northern Contemporary Arts. sticks, stones – and taught herself to WA for students interested in art. She weave fibre textile baskets. In 1982, taught at the ECU camps for 21 years. Through her work, Nalda creates a Nalda applied for and received a grant strong sense of place and displays a from the Australia Council to develop In the mid-1990s, Nalda received a mid- passionate relationship with the land. a significant body of work. She packed career fellowship from the Department Nalda’s practice respectfully weaves her car and headed for Sandford Rocks, of Culture and Arts, which resulted in her own stories with those of Australia’s spending the next six weeks camping, a major group exhibition at the Moores traditional owners and injects her gathering materials and weaving local Building in 1997 entitled Re-Coverings. knowledge of history and mythology fibres into primitive vessels. She coiled The exhibition combined her work in along the way. Art is her outlet. “You her stories into forms taking influence fibre arts with salvaged textiles and was put your life into it. Your tragedy and from both her travels and childhood. shown as part of the Festival of Perth. your ecstasy.” Upon her return, Nalda showed those works in her first major solo exhibition, In 2003, Nalda formed an idea to hold Nalda is a force to be reckoned with Bush Meetings and Basketry with the a cross-cultural exhibition between in the scene and her Crafts Council of Western Australia. Indigenous and non-Indigenous women teachings have inspired countless new in Western Australia. The outcome artists. She has conducted workshops With a great desire to develop her was the Seven Sisters: Fibres Arising in all corners of Australia and taken her artistry, Nalda enrolled in a Fine in the West exhibition, works from skills overseas to India and South Africa. Arts degree at Curtin University the Inma Kunkurangkalpa, The Seven of Technology in 1989, majoring Sisters or Plieades star constellation, Nalda Searles lives in Perth and still in painting. Despite studying a a major dreaming track which extends regularly travels to the Western Desert.

27 WESTERN AUSTRALIAN STATE LIVING TREASURES 2015 Lew Smith

Musician Lew Smith is a revered When Lew returned to England Ranges. During that time, Lew spent veteran of the jazz world and has he continued to pursue music and his days completing a Librarianship made significant musical contributions accepted a position with the highly Degree and began to lecture in to the Australian and British jazz successful Teddy Foster Band. He was librarian studies. scenes throughout his career. With thrown into regular radio broadcasts over six decades as a self-taught and shows, and met his wife June at In 1973, a librarian conference in Perth professional and semi-professional at Butlin’s holiday camp in 1951. June was the catalyst for another change: musician, Lew is a stalwart of the was a member of the all-girl orchestra Lew and his family packed up in 1974 Perth jazz community. Ivy Benson, and the two were married and moved to Perth. Both Lew and within a year, beginning a lifetime June quickly picked up work as jazz Lew was born in 1930 in Pickering, of playing music together. For the musicians, and Lew took on a job North Yorkshire. Surrounded by music next four years, Lew performed at the Education Department. Lew as a child, he joined his father’s band with successful groups including the began to perform with different bands as a drummer by the age of 12. The Johnny Dankworth Orchestra and the at the Perth Jazz Society, and Lew young musician spent a few years on Eric Winstone Band. Around 1956, and June soon formed a jazz band the drums before realising that he was he accepted the position of lead alto called June Smith and the Apple more suited to being a “melody man”, saxophonist in the esteemed London Band. Later, both Lew and June would and after his father bought him a Palladium Orchestra. He worked seven win Lifetime Achievement Awards saxophone at the age of 15, there days a week and performed as part from the Perth Jazz Society. was no looking back. of a televised variety program on Sunday nights. Lew spent some time After cementing his place in the WA Lew was called up for national service with the orchestra, but the unforgiving jazz scene, Lew was approached by in the Royal Air Force in 1948, and schedule lead to a need for change in The Sunday Times to write a jazz after being told that he could be a the late 1950s. column, which he did for 10 years, cook or a policeman, he said “well, interviewing and reviewing local and I can play the saxophone.” After an Yearning for warmer shores, Lew, visiting musicians, including Nat King audition, he was offered a position June and their three children Cole. He also took on a job lecturing with a military band stationed in travelled to Melbourne on the Ten in jazz practice and theory at Edith Henlow, Bedfordshire. Lew spent two Pound Scheme, and Lew once Cowan University. In the early 1990s, years completing his national service again took on a position with the Lew formed a versatile quartet for and frequented jazz clubs in London military as a musician in Melbourne’s Musica Viva, taking an interactive during his downtime. RAAF Central Band. He spent just jazz program to schools across six months in the job, leaving the Western Australia. The program ran After finishing his service in 1950, Lew structured regimes of the military to successfully for six years. found his first job as a professional spend a year performing within the musician on a passenger ship artistic hubs of Melbourne’s theatres. In 1992, Lew helped to found Jazz travelling between Southampton and Fremantle, a club that still meets New York City. He spent six months In 1962, he accepted a position every Sunday afternoon. Lew is the playing with the ship’s orchestra and with the Education Department to only surviving founding committee saw many of the jazz greats perform teach music. A few years later, Lew member and still acts as the Vice during his time in New York, including and June joined a pop band called President and Master of Ceremonies. Ella Fitzgerald, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Maximum Load, with June on vocals Gillespie. The period had a profound and Lew on saxophone. They spent Lew Smith retired from teaching music influence on Lew. three years performing together and in 1995 and continues to perform earned chart success with a song as a band member and leader on called Riding Through the Dandenong saxophone, clarinet and flute.

28 Lew Smith

WESTERN AUSTRALIAN STATE LIVING TREASURES 2015 Miriam Stannage

Miriam Stannage is a highly regarded that year at the Old Fire Station sexuality, humour, and the way that Australian painter, photographer and Gallery in Perth. The following year humans see the world. In recent printmaker who has been creating she won the Albany Art Prize with years, she has focused on surveillance art for over 50 years. Her work is an abstract piece, judged by art and crime, particularly following the characterised by its references to the historian Bernard Smith. Her profile as events of September 11. But it is the Western Australian landscape and a an artist was propelled instantly and Australian landscape that is most desire to challenge social conceptions. she was awarded studio space at the prominent throughout the artist’s prestigious Cité Internationale des work, which Miriam puts down to Miriam was born in Northam in 1939 Arts in Paris for seven months. Her her early years in the country. The and moved to Perth with her family at time in Paris caused a breakthrough in artist has spent her life travelling the age of five. Miriam recalls looking thinking for Miriam and she returned between the city and country, taking through large illustrated books of full of inspiration. numerous trips to the bush alone in famous European paintings as a child, an old campervan. In 2000, Miram while her father explained the stories Miriam began to teach art at spent a month as artist-in-residence behind them. She left school at 15 and universities and technical colleges at the International Artist Space in took courses at a business school, and taught art therapy in various Kellerberrin, where she created work finding work as a secretary. During hospitals as she continued her own related to the land and her family. her late teens she spent two years personal journey as an artist. Her studying nursing before deciding to perspective on art began to expand In 1989, the Art Gallery of Western continue with office work until 1961, and so did the way she worked. Australia held a retrospective of when she travelled to Europe, Canada A trip to Europe in 1979 with her Miriam’s works dating back to the late and the USA. She visited major art husband – painter and educator Tom 1960s. In 1998, Miriam was awarded galleries along the way, revitalising her Gibbons – happened to coincide with an Honorary Doctorate of Letters love for art. the anniversary of the invention of from Curtin University and in 2006, photography, and exhibitions were an exhibition showcasing her work Not long after her return, Miriam took scattered across Venice. Yet again, from 1989-2005 was held at the John up night classes in art, beginning her an overseas trip sparked a new Curtin Gallery. education with William Boissevain. interest in Miriam and she took up She enjoyed the work, but it was photography upon her return. Miriam’s work has been showcased not until she began to take classes in group and solo exhibitions with painter Henry Froudist in 1965 She has since created and exhibited across Australia and is held in State that her passion for art deepened. numerous photography series, galleries including the National Froudist’s professional, encouraging with a particular focus on words Gallery of Australia in Canberra. She approach inspired her greatly. “I and symbolism. She has taken risks has influenced many young artists couldn’t stop painting, and I haven’t with her photography, often hand­ through her work and teachings. stopped since.” In 1965, despite only a colouring her photographs and Though she never set out to become few years as a budding artist, Miriam creating collages. A major exhibition an artist, she now “can’t think of opened her own art space – the of Miriam’s early photography work anything else.” Rhode Gallery. For around 18 months, was held in 1993 at the Lawrence she displayed and sold pieces from Wilson Art Gallery, entitled Words on Miriam is currently working on putting artists across Australia. the Landscape. together pieces for a retrospective of her works from the past ten years, Miriam sees Froudist’s death in 1969 A number of themes have run steadily to be held in 2016 at the Lawrence as a catalyst for the beginnings of through Miriam’s works from the Wilson Art Gallery. A monograph on her independent career as an artist beginning: her religious upbringing, her life and work will be published at and her first solo exhibition was held a fascination with war and conflict, the same time.

31 WESTERN AUSTRALIAN STATE LIVING TREASURES 2015 Richard Walley

Dr Richard Walley is an artist of many group began to bring traditional arts as a musician and dancer, and disciplines: a musician, dancer, painter, Nyoongar music, dance and theatre exhibited paintings in galleries across writer, director, Indigenous activist to the public, performing at events the world. In 2003 he released an and educator, to name a few. He has across the country. At its height, album called Two Tribes, combining spent over forty years educating Middar Aboriginal Theatre had around traditional music with contemporary Australia and the world on Nyoongar 30 performers and performed in 32 rap and hip-hop. A follow up, Two culture and identity through the arts. different countries. To this day, the Roads, was released in 2006. On the original company still exists as Middar. back of those records, Richard and Richard was born in Meekatharra his two sons spent time touring with in 1953 and grew up in bush camps Throughout the 1980s and 1990s the John Butler Trio performing a south of Perth. Art was a big part Richard also worked in television, film spoken word piece conveying “culture of his childhood: music, storytelling, and theatre, both as a solo performer is still vibrant, and everyone has one.” craft, carving and dance were all and as part of Middar. He directed Richard and his sons were also invited taught to him at a young age. His and co-directed several highly to play didgeridoo on stage with family were musicians and artists, successful theatre productions in Carlos Santana in 2011. and a great influence on Richard. Australia, USA and the UK, including Throughout the early years of critically acclaimed plays Coordah and In 2010, Richard was awarded Richard’s life, the Walley family moved Munjong. In 1989, Richard performed Citizen of the Year in the Indigenous with the seasons, following work with the East Berlin Philharmonic Leadership category. The following “everywhere but a town.” Orchestra and the performance was year, he performed a Welcome to recorded for an SBS documentary Country for the Queen during the It was not until the age of 14 that called Didgeridoo in Deutschland. Commonwealth Heads of Government Richard first lived in a town, when his Meeting in Perth. Over the past 10 parents moved to Medina, south of In 1991, Richard was named the years, Richard has acted as cultural Perth. He completed high school in the NAIDOC Aboriginal Artist of the Year. advisor for numerous projects in area and picked up an apprenticeship Two years later, he was awarded a Western Australia, including the in boiler making, spending four years Medal of the Order of Australia for his Aboriginal Health Unit within the completing the course. After only a contribution to the arts and promotion Department of Health. He continues few years in the field, Richard was of Nyoongar culture. He continued to to play the didgeridoo and perform encouraged to take a job with the New play the didgeridoo in venues across across the world, and regularly Era Aboriginal Fellowship Committee. the world, and in 1996 released a six exhibits new visual artworks. disc didgeridoo album collection By 1976, Richard was chairing the inspired by the six Nyoongar seasons. For the past two decades, Richard Western Australia Aboriginal Advisory During the 2000s, he received an and his wife Robyn have run cultural Board and was involved in other Honorary Doctorate from Murdoch awareness programs for various committees including the Aboriginal University for his contribution to companies in Western Australia, Legal Service, Aboriginal Medical culture and arts, and an Honorary and conducted lectures in Aboriginal Service and Aboriginal Housing Board. Doctorate of Letters from The Culture at UWA. They are currently His passion for his culture and desire University of Western Australia working on a new business idea for social change informed his career, (UWA). that they hope will help to educate and he found it “natural” to incorporate a new generation. and promote the arts through his work. Richard spent two separate four-year stints as the Chair of the Australia In 2015, Richard is working on music In 1978, Richard and a group of friends Council’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait for a new album, continuing to bring formed the Middar Aboriginal Theatre, Islander Arts Board, beginning in 1992 the stories of the Nyoongar people to aiming to combat the concept that and 2000. Throughout that time, the public and fitting in performances Nyoongar culture was dying. The he continued to perform within the wherever he can.

32 Richard Walley

WESTERN AUSTRALIAN STATE LIVING TREASURES 2015 Dave Warner

Dave Warner has spent his career punk bands in Australia. By the end In 1987, Perth’s suburban boy packed immersing himself in the arts: as of 1974, the band had a cult following up and made the move to Sydney to a musician, novelist, writer, and who would “shout and dance on pursue screenwriting. It was not an performer. One of the key voices tables” in pubs across Perth. easy transition; to most, Dave was still of the Australian punk movement a musician. It was during those early, in the 1970s, he continues to In 1975, Dave finished up his degree tough years in Sydney that he began comment on suburban life in and Pus decided to peacefully to write his debut novel, City of Light, the lucky country today. disband long before the worldwide which was published in 1995. It earned punk movement really began. But critical acclaim and won the Western Dave’s career was defined by growing Dave was not ready to give up on Australian Premier’s Book Award for up in Perth: the searing heat, the music yet, and he bought a one-way Best Fiction Work. gumtrees, backyard pools, weekend ticket to London, seeking fame and footy, Caroline Noble on the telly. The fortune. He spent 18 months in a flat Television networks began to take ebbs and flows of Western Australia in Brixton, writing song after song, notice and from the late 1990s until are reflected in his art. creating demo tapes, and going 2012, Dave worked full-time as a writer to shows. He describes his time in for a number of major Australian From the age of 12, Dave knew that London as one of the most creative shows, including Sea Patrol, McLeod’s he wanted to write books. “That periods of his life. Daughters and Packed to the Rafters. was the first thing I wanted to do, In 2000, Dave’s first feature-length was be a writer.” He devoured books In 1977, Dave returned to Perth screenplay Cut was released, with in the shade of his backyard as a and formed his second band, Dave three others to follow. He had a kid and crowded around American Warner’s From the Suburbs. It was number of other books published, rock magazines with his mates as a during this period that Dave earned dabbling in crime, comedy, sport, teenager. But it wouldn’t be until later his highest level of commercial music, and children’s books. Recent in life that he would publish his first success as a musician, with songs like projects include the script for Never novel; his love of music won out first. Suburban Boy and Convict Streak. The Tear Us Apart: The Untold Story of band was soon signed to Mushroom INXS, and the highly successful show Around the age of 16, Dave and his Records, and their first album, Mug’s The King and Me at Perth’s Fringe friends would get together every Game, was certified gold in 1978. Dave World Festival. other week to play music. Dave and various line-ups of The Suburbs did not have an instrument and his released three more albums, ending Dave’s first crime novel in 15 years, parents bought him a keyboard on the with This Is Your Planet. Before it Breaks, was released this condition that he take formal lessons. year through Fremantle Press. He It was the late 1960s, and Dave took That same year, the band decided already has plans to work on a follow- influence from what he calls the “anti­ to officially part ways. Dave sought up book, record some new songs and rock” bands of the era – Country Joe other creative outlets, and his post- work on a screenplay or two in the and the Fish, The Fugs. music career started with stand-up coming years. skits with friend and Suburbs guitarist Dave was still playing punk in friends’ Johnny Leopard. They also dabbled Dave lives in Sydney with his wife and garages when he started a degree in screenwriting and theatre, and three children, and is always thinking in psychology at The University of in 1985, Dave wrote and produced about his next project. Western Australia a few years later. In a musical called The Sixties and All 1973 he formed his first professional That Pop. Later that year he wrote band, Pus, with original bassist and performed in a full-scale musical Michael Feeney. Pus has been lauded at Perth’s Playhouse Theatre called as one of the first real underground Planet Pres.

35 WESTERN AUSTRALIAN STATE LIVING TREASURES 2015 About the photography

Frances Andrijich has a longstanding I decided to photograph Pippin I photographed Herbert Pinter in relationship with the arts in Western Drysdale at the exquisitely renovated his Chidlow studio. It was wonderful Australia, collaborating with many cottage where her creativity is best to work with this most generous prominent WA artists throughout her nurtured – at home with her beautiful collaborator. The doorway to his study career. This book allowed Frances creations. seemed to be the obvious choice as to both document and celebrate it reminded me of film strips. the State’s 2015 Living Treasures. The last light of the day fell on Following is a reflection on her ‘Thegoowiyeng’ the rocky outcrop Nalda Searles was very clear experience photographing these across from Waringarri Aboriginal about where she wanted to be artists. Arts ; the red rock, spinifex and blue photographed and the artworks sky providing a perfect backdrop to she saw herself with. It was great Faith Clayton greeted me at her front photograph Alan Jangala Griffiths – collaborating with such an intriguing door in her striking leopard print coat a respected, artist, song-man, and gifted artist. and I instantly thought, we must use performer and cultural leader. this! Ivan King from The Museum Of The Ellington Jazz Club was the Performing Arts collection brought This portrait of Mary McLean was natural location to photograph theatrical ambiance to the setting taken by her good friend and Lew Smith. The moody, dark lighting with an arrangement of costumes, collaborator Nalda Searles. “This created an atmosphere that was as wigs and opening night cards. image was one of many I took of emotive and smooth as his sound, Pantjjti over the years…This one was and it a privilege to have him play Joan London’s charming staircase taken around 1998 and it so happened while I photographed him and cluster of books formed a perfect on the day her clothing just matched frame for her silhouetted figure. She the painting. It all came together. She When I walked into Miriam told me that she would often carry really enjoyed that, a real serendipity.” Stannage’s home, I was faced with bundles of books from the downstairs an extraordinary labyrinth of diverse study to her writing study upstairs. After spending quite some time artworks and compelling creations selecting the puppets to photograph and we chose to photograph Miriam The piano and music have been so Noriko Nishmoto with, the final choice with two of her pieces. central to Stephanie Coleman life. was Petra Matasek’s intricate, delicate The reflection inside the piano creates and perfectly theatrical pieces from Having worked with Richard Walley the sense that she is at one with the the production Carmen. over many years, I am no stranger piano and that she’s fused into it. to his varying talents and artistic Photographed in her studio, Chrissie endeavours. This depicts Richard as Robert Drewe and I decided that the Parrott Arts Maylands, we created the strong, proud, cultural leader Indian Ocean or the Swan River would a scene akin to a painting with the that he is. be part of our portrait. On the day, the frame made by Chrissie providing an stormy conditions in last light created elegant backdrop to the strong yet I photographed the talented Dave the perfect metaphor for his writing. fluid movement of dancers, Laura Warner at the Charles Hotel. More Boynes and Linton Aberle. than forty years of gigs and it’s still magic for him to connect with an audience.

36 About the photography

Acknowledgements Photography by Frances Andrijich, supported by Clair Negri, Danielle Fusco and Sarah Landro

Photograph of Mary McLean by Nalda Searles

Written by Chloe Papas

Design and layout by Vaughan Davies at Stage Left Design