2020 DAAFF Indigenous Curators Program and Symposium ‘Cultural Keepers’ Cultural Keepers Online (Via Zoom) 6-12 August 2020
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
2020 DAAFF Indigenous Curators Program and Symposium ‘Cultural Keepers’ Cultural Keepers Online (via Zoom) 6-12 August 2020 Welcome to the Cultural Keepers Program! This year Franchesca Cubillo marks our 4th Indigenous curators program and Program Convener symposium. Franchesca Cubillo is a Larrakia, The staff at Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation Bardi, Wardaman and Yanuwa (DAAFF) began the year full of energy and enthusiasm. woman from the ‘Top End’ of the We were particularly excited to present the inaugural Northern Territory. She is the Senior National Indigenous Fashion Awards (NIFA) to Curator of Aboriginal and Torres accompany our suite of events, which include the world- Strait Islander Art, National Gallery of Australia where she renowned Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair, and the high energy leads the curatorial team in developing eleven purpose- runway show, Country to Couture. By March, the full built Indigenous Australian art galleries, the largest display impact of the COVID-19 “lockdown” was felt worldwide, of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art in the world. and Australia’s art sector suddenly faced a very unknown Cubillo worked on the major exhibitions Petroglyphs future. As a Foundation, our first step was to reach out to (2003) and Colliding worlds: first contact in the western our Membership of 70 Art Centres to find out how they desert, 1932–1984 (2006) and was co-editor of the book were faring, and how we could support their immediate for the National Gallery of Australia’s second National needs. Indigenous Art Triennial, unDisclosed. Franchesca was senior curator of Aboriginal Art and Material Culture at the Hearing the Art Centres stories’ was incredibly sobering Museum and Art Gallery of Northern Territory (2006–09), and had a deep impact on us. We heard that Art Centre where she developed the collection, curated several staff were working around the clock to help artists Indigenous art exhibitions and delivery the prestigious return to their homelands. Some focused on recording Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Islander Art Award. stories, language, and ceremony in case elders came Previously, she held positions at Tandanya, National into contact with this heinous virus. Many Art Centres Aboriginal Cultural Institute, and the National Museum helped set artists up with materials on their homelands, of Australia. Cubillo was also the curator of Aboriginal and made regular deliveries of art supplies and living Anthropology at the South Australia Museum for eight essentials, whilst others allowed a limited number of years. She has worked with many Aboriginal communities artists to work in the studio with strict social distancing in the Northern Territory as well as in communities in in place. And there were those that simply felt it best to the western and eastern Kimberley region, the lower close their doors completely. Murray River region of South Australia and parts of Every year, DAAFF creates vibrant and exciting events to north Queensland. Franchesca has presented many connect our remote community artists to art collectors lectures and represented Indigenous culture at national and aficionados from around Australia and the world. The and international forums, particularly in United States of Fair has also become a national meeting place where America, Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, Art Centre Japan. staff, and curators can form close relationships and be inspired by other First Nations creatives. There is a ‘buzz’ at DAAF, a beautiful energy that is fuelled by cultural Shilo McNamee exchange, mutual respect, and friendship. So it is our Assistant Program Convener great pleasure to present the Cultural Keepers Program Shilo McNamee is a multidisciplinary in a reimagined, digital format. We hope that it helps you artist and emerging curator based feel connected to each other, and to the amazing artists in Darwin, Northern Territory. and Art Centre staff around the country. She studied fine art at Charles Darwin University and graduated in 2008. McNamee worked as Manager for the Darwin Warm Regards, Visual Arts Association 2015 -2018. In 2017 she was Claire Summers selected to attend the Venice Biennale as a part of the Executive Director Australia Council’s Indigenous Curator program. As an artist, McNamee’s work is based in Graphic art, and imaginative realism using traditional western art and digital mediums. In 2017 she was also selected to participate in the Inaugural ‘Darwin Street Art Festival’. McNamee is the owner operator of the ‘Darwin Life Drawing’ group, a unique space in Darwin for people to attend workshops and study traditional figure drawing. 2020 DAAFF INDIGENOUS CURATORS SYMPOSIUM & PROGRAM All talks are scheduled for Australian Central Standard Time (ACST) TIME ACTIVITY Day 1 Thursday 6 August 8.30am Welcome to country with Mary Williams. Introduction to program by Franchesca Cubillo 8:50am Keynote talk, presented by Dr Léuli Eshrāghi Panel Discussion facilitated by Dr Léuli Eshrāghi and Franchesca Cubillo International Panel speakers 9.15am • Tarah Hogue (Métis - Based in Vancouver, Canada) • Reuben Friend (Māori- Based in Wellington, New Zealand) • Freja Carmichael (Quandamooka People of Moreton Bay, Australia) 10.15am - 10.30am Chat room discussion guided by Franchesca Cubillo Day 2 Friday 7 August 9.00am Morning check in with Franchesca Cubillo Live Zoom Artist Workshop with: Sonja Carmichael, Quandamooka People of Moreton Bay. Facilitated by curator Freja 9.10am Carmichael 10.10am - 10.30am Chat room discussion guided by Franchesca Cubillo Day 3 Monday 10 August 9.00am Morning check in with Franchesca Cubillo 9.10am Keynote talk, presented by Genevieve Grieves Curator Presentation by Milingimbi Art Centre 9.30am Recipients of funding from the Tim Fairfax Family Foundation to undertake analysis of an extensive catalogue of over 5000 repatriated images. Curator Presentation by Joann Russo 9.40am Succession planning within Art Centres - identifying workers who would be a good fit to take on new roles. 10.00am - 10.30am Chat room discussion guided by Franchesca Cubillo Day 4 Tuesday 11 August 9.00am Morning check in with Franchesca Cubillo. Keynote talk, presented by Leilani Bin-Juda. 9.20am Watercolour workshop with Iltja Ntjarra Many Hands Art Centre. Workshop facilitated by curator Marissa Maher. 10.20am - 10.30am Check in with Franchesca Cubillo to close the day. Day 5 Wednesday 12 August 9.00am Morning check in with Franchesca Cubillo Keynote talk, presented by Shaun Angeles. Indigenous spirituality. The effect on health and well being after repatriation of 9.10am sacred objects. 9.30am Curator Presentation by Lynley Nargoodah. The Janangoo exhibition. How remote curators do it differently. Curator Presentation by Dave Gough. Zoom from Tiagarra Tasmanian Aboriginal Cultural Centre and Museum at Devonport 9.40am Bluff, Tasmania. Place, connection, and the importance of education. 9.50am Curator Presentation by Amanda Hayman and Troy Casey. Blaklash Creative - Aboriginal Art and Design Chat room/ Zoom discussion guided by Franchesca Cubillo followed by 10:00am Program wrap up. Keynote Speaker Panel Guest Shaun Angeles Penangke is a Freja Carmichael is a Ngugi woman Kungarakan and Arrernte man who grew up in belonging to the Quandamooka people of the Central Desert lands of his mother in Moreton Bay. She is an independent curator, Mparntwe, Alice Springs. He is the Cultural working alongside artists and communities in Repatriation Manager at the Museum & Art the development and presentation of Gallery Northern Territory and has worked contemporary art and culture. Her work with the Indigenous Repatriation Program for centres on preservation and promotion of fibre the past seven years with the Strehlow practices and collaborative curatorial Collection, Alice Springs, and most recently approaches. She is currently undertaking with the secret sacred collection in Darwin. His role involves complex curatorial projects with the Institute of Modern research that relies upon the continuous engagement and consultation with Art, The University of Queensland Art Museum, Redland Art Gallery and is a highly knowledgeable senior Aboriginal Elders who are imperative to the member of Blaklash Collective. Recent exhibition projects include; Weaving wellbeing of these significant collections. Shaun is a member of the the Way, UQ Art Museum (2019), Seeing Country, Redland Art Gallery Indigenous Repatriation Program Advisory Committee, AIATSIS Return of (2019), Around and within, Space Gallery, Sydney (2018), The Commute Cultural Heritage Project Advisory Committee and recently appointed to the (2018), the Institute of Modern Art, Weaving Water Stories, Festival 2018, Australian Museums and Galleries Association Indigenous Advisory Group. Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and Gathering Strands (2016), Redland Art Gallery. In 2014 Freja was awarded an Australia Council for the Arts Keynote Speaker emerging curatorial fellowship. In 2017 she received the inaugural Macquarie Dr Léuli Eshrāghi (Sāmoan, Persian, Group First Nations emerging curatorial award. Freja is a graduate of the Cantonese) works across visual arts, National Gallery of Australia’s Indigenous Arts Leadership Program and curatorial practice, spatial design and completed the 2016 NGA International Indigenous fellowship. university research. Ia intervenes in display territories to centre Indigenous presence, Panel Guest languages, and ceremonial-political practices.