GEORGE GITTOES: on being there

24 APRIL – 27 JUNE 2021 MORNING MELODIES & CLASSIC FILMS

1 CONTENTS DIRECTOR’S FOREWORD

1 Powerhouse Rd, asula Powerhouse Arts Centre is For this iteration at Casula Powerhouse, Director’s Foreword 1 Casula NSW 2170 proud to present George Gittoes: on audiences are invited to a series of talks, (enter via Shepherd St, George Gittoes: on being there 3 Cbeing there, an insightfully curated workshops and performances aimed at Liverpool) exhibition by Dr Rod Pattenden which opening conversations between the artist Public Programs 9 Tel 02 8711 7123 explores the expansive, and still evolving, and audience, to allow for an exchange of career of one of this country’s most fearless stories. These programs include: a private reception@ Film Program 11 casulapowerhouse.com artists: George Gittoes. tour hosted by Gittoes and Pattenden on Acknowledgements 13 24th of April; an intensive artistic skills casulapowerhouse.com For over four decades Gittoes has development workshop for local school documented some of the world’s most students; a live in-conversation between notorious conflicts. He has been recognised Gittoes and a local school teacher, which for his humanitarian and peacemaking will make you question the practice of art efforts and has been awarded an Order of making and the hope it brings to times of Australia (AM) as well as the prestigious trauma and despair; and, screenings of his . This exhibition will highly regarded films ‘Love City, Jalalabad’ © Copyright authors, artists, give unique and unprecedented access to contributors, and Casula (2013) and ‘White Light’ (2019). Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre. his process through his personal visual Powerhouse will also host an evening of live No material, whether written diaries, field drawings, photography and or photographic can be musics by Gittoes’ long-time collaborator reproduced without the film. This collection of works provides permission of the artists, Hellen Rose, through her band Soul Crime. authors and Casula Powerhoue an extraordinary insight into the life of Arts Centre. Opinions expressed the artist, beginning with founding the Casula Powerhouse is located in the in the publication are those of Cover image: the authors and not necessarily George Gittoes, Yellow House, during the 70’s Vietnam War Liverpool region, one of this country’s most those of Casula Powerhouse ‘Words’, 2019. protests, through to his work in some of culturally diverse areas. Our programming Arts Centre. the world’s most notorious battle zones – is dedicated to these global and local Published by Casula Afghanistan, , Palestine, , communities by providing access to this Powerhouse Arts Centre, April 2021 and most recently, South country’s most renowned storytellers, in Chicago USA where gun crime is at an all- the hopes that this will lead audiences to time high. their own trajectories of making art and sharing their own stories, too. I believe the On being there is a touring exhibition, it multidimensional program of exhibition was developed at Newcastle Art Gallery and and activities presented as part of George most recently showed at Wollongong Art Gittoes: on being there provide ample We would like to acknowledge the Cabrogal Clan of the Darug Nation who are the traditional Gallery. The exhibition has evolved in each opportunity for significant and impactful custodians of the land that now resides within Liverpool City Council’s boundaries. We touring location, incorporating new artworks acknowledge that this land was also accessed by peoples of the Dhurawal and Darug Nations. exchange. and programs which respond to the venue.

2 1 DIRECTOR’S FOREWORD GEORGE GITTOES: on being there

I would like to thank and congratulate Council for the on-going support of Casula he work of George Gittoes his life at risk. His answer is as simple George and Rod on your dedication Powerhouse. And finally, thank you to the is deeply disruptive to the as it is profound. ‘I feel privileged to to realising this exhibition at Casula Centre’s staff for your commitment and Tcomfortable conventions of our have been able to spend much of Powerhouse and for your deep passion in creativity in realising exhibitions at Casula seeing. His work serves to question our my life creating beauty in the face of sharing with our community, particularly Powerhouse for our wonderfully diverse values and assumptions, and confronts the destruction of war. I have been the young people in our community. and dynamic audiences. viewers with ethical questions about waging a personal war against war Also to Hellen Rose, your commitment to what it means to be human. Gittoes with art.’ These works offer insights this iteration of project has been vital. I Craig Donarski wants you, the viewer, to think about into the manner in which Gittoes sees, would also like to thank our government Director, what it was like to be alive in the what catches his attention, and how partners, Create NSW and Liverpool City Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre anti-Vietnam protest era, to meet the this shapes his responses through victims of fractured war zones, or the his art making. Against the backdrop residents of South Side Chicago, site of of dangerous and emotionally some of the worst gun violence in the charged contexts, Gittoes is drawn to world. These visual investigations push empathise with the human person, the viewer to consider what it would as a site for bravery, resilience, hope be like to be there. Gittoes commands and despair, inviting our involvement considerable talent and ability across as compassionate participators in a many media, and he is using all his world that has moral and spiritual skills to bridge the distance between implications. the subject of the work and the world From across a career of 50 years my and imagination of the viewer. Gittoes own eye has been drawn to a number wants to pull us into these narratives of crucial episodes that best illuminate and for us to consider what matters his practice. Gittoes way of working is most when we talk about what life somewhat unique as it has increasingly means and the nature of survival and become mobile, in the field, embedded human thriving. in environments that would seem Rather than the usual structure of an highly resistant to creativity and art artist survey, this exhibition offers a making. These visually chaotic and unique opportunity to get under the splintered scenarios are shaped with skin of what motivates this artist. It sensitivity and compassion through the seeks to address the questions about artist’s eye. What is also apparent is an why he goes to such inhospitable increasing capacity to collaborate with Image credit: George Gittoes ‘The Beast’, 2016, oil on canvas, 196.5 x 273.5 cm, (private collection) places to make art and why he puts other creative people, such as artists,

2 3 GEORGE GITTOES: on being there

musicians, film makers and actors film making, and has continued a etc. There is a profound social aspect practice that spans film, photography, to his art making which pays great drawing, painting, printmaking and respect to the cultures where he works, puppet making. sympathetically immersing himself in The strength of Gittoes graphic the local stories and cultural forms. drawing skills is demonstrated These mobile collaborations have at through a suite of works which record heart the deep concerns that motivated his compassionate observations as Gittoes at the age of 18 to fly to New an artist at the frontline of conflict York and immerse himself in the art zones. Included here are works from and the politics of the time and to South Africa, Palestine, Cambodia and then return to Sydney in late 1969 and Rwanda in the period 1992 - 1995. The produce politically charged expressive works describe the Artist as Witness work in the collaborative environment and highlight Gittoes’ ability to record of the Yellow House. the circumstances of physically drawing The Yellow House was a community of these in the field while narrating the artists in Sydney’s Kings Cross. Through sometimes shocking circumstances of the Puppet Theatre, Gittoes was able the encounter. Reading these stories to play out the human dramas of is to be confronted with the sharp heaven and hell, and life in between. difficulty of the conditions of war, and His deeply imaginative work made a to also hear the voice of the artist as sharp response to the Vietnam War compassionate witness. These are and his work contains some of the beautiful and difficult images. One can strongest responses found in Australian see the record of the agitation of the art to this period. Gittoes speculated artist’s hand and read the observations at the time about how he could take of what it is like to be there. What the Yellow House experience, of emerges is the compassion felt in incubating a creative artists community those moments that arise in the space to Vietnam, in the midst of this terrible between the subject and the artist. war. In many ways his life work has Since 2011 Gittoes has worked regularly been to play out that possibility. in the eastern part of Afghanistan, with Following the Yellow House, Gittoes the Yellow House Jalalabad. Here he explored the medium of documentary George Gittoes, ‘The Scream’, 2019, oil on canvas, 152.5 x 122.5cm, collection of the artist has worked with local film makers and

4 5 GEORGE GITTOES: on being there

actors renewing his earlier experiences history by funding new imaginative of artistic collaboration. This process responses. Gittoes draws attention to is documented in the award winning the manner in which art and cultural film ‘Love City Jalalabad’. The creation products create human futures. They of this community of creatives has left are an essential part of social healing an ongoing mark on the development and offer alternative futures that invite of the local Afghani film industry. human habitation rather than spaces Gittoes continued collaboration has for exploitation. His diaries evidence also included Australian actor and how Gittoes’ sees the world, and more musician Hellen Rose who was one of importantly how he sees the world the founders of the Gunnery Artists’ might be. These diaries evidence Collective. Hellen has travelled with Gittoes as a keen student of visual Gittoes since 2008, co-founding the culture, with influences as diverse Yellow House Jalalabad where she as Bruegel, Goya and Bosch, with an George Gittoes, ‘Security’, 2020, oil on canvas, 167 x 244cm, collection of the artist ran drama and music classes and eye on contemporary media, film noir collaborating on the music score for and graphic novels. In many ways he within the harsh social contexts of skin of individual lives, these works his film projects. They have become is an image scavenger able to create ongoing gun violence. It is a moving attempt the larger view of ordering life partners. In 2015 Gittoes was new synthetic forms in the face of the and deeply empathetic narrative that the historical moments that we now honoured for using his art as a form demands of the present moment. uncovers the vitality of human beings inhabit. The present shape of things of protest against war and creating a Gittoes most recent collaborative looking for conditions that will allow is barely apprehended through the model for artist run collectives at the process has been the Yellow House them to reach their full potential. The spin of the news cycle, and yet Gittoes Yellow House Jalalabad through being South Side Chicago. His latest film, photographs and painted portraits attempts to offer us a perspective awarded the distinguished Sydney documentary ‘White Light’ released in all work to carry you into this place that has a prophetic force and an Peace Prize. 2019, explores his encounters with the where humans survive the conditions existential immediacy. The work Crucial insights into Gittoes’ process communities of Englewood in South of what seems to be a war zone. ‘Security’ is one of the most recent having been completed during the is found in the artist diaries where Side Chicago, uncovering the social A series of large works at the Covid lockdown of 2020. It bristles through collages of words and impact of gun violence and the stories conclusion of this exhibition, Seeing with malevolent force as insect-like images, he responds to the cultural of individuals yearning for a better life. History, uses grotesque devices to creatures maintain vigilance over the conflicts of our times. The diary pages It is a film filled with tragedy, pathos express the possibilities that history population who give up their freedoms are evidence of Gittoes’ process of and hope, developed while living presents us. Here are strange creatures in return for the promise of stability. scrutinising the world before him. and working together with the local for even stranger times. In contrast to While he may be recording history community. ‘While Light’ is his most many of the works in this exhibition Gittoes has often been tagged as a as it unfolds, he is also activating beautiful and evocative film, created that draw you in close to touch the war artist. This is a limiting description

6 7 GEORGE GITTOES: on being there PUBLIC PROGRAMS

TO REGISTER FOR ANY OF THE PUBLIC PROGRAMS AS PART OF because his work carries a vision field drawings, photography and film. GEORGE GITTOES: ON BEING THERE, SCAN THIS QR CODE: of much wider implications. George Through these forms we experience Gittoes provides an extraordinary an amazing human journey that holds record of an artist willing to create out the hopeful power of creativity PRIVATE TOUR, LED BY in the face of chaos and potential in the face of prejudice and fear. This GEORGE GITTOES AND ROD PATTENDEN destruction. Gittoes invites us to is a magnificent visual record of an examine our own cultural fears of imagination that provides a hopeful Sat 24 April, 3:30pm • FREE what it would be like to be over resource for the difficult times in which Join artist George Gittoes and there, in places that only appear in we live. curator Rod Pattenden on a private our evening news. This exhibition Dr Rod Pattenden tour through the new exhibition gives privileged access to his process Curator, George Gittoes: on being there George Gittoes: on being there. through paintings, prints, visual diaries, 2021 Audiences will hear direction from George Gittoes south side Chicago photograph 2018. the artist and curator as they share ‘Yellow House - Southside Chicago’, photograph, photographer, Waqar Alam, used with permission. to stories and experiences behind the artworks and artefacts featured in this exhibition.

GEORGE GITTOES IN CONVERSATION

Fri 28 May $15 Adults • $13 School students This in-conversation with George Gittoes and local visual arts high school teacher will make you question the practice of art making and the hope it brings to times

of trauma and despair. Through ‘Yellow House Jalalabad’, photograph, Gittoes’s chosen forms of painting photographer Waqar Alam, used with permission and documentary, we are taken on an amazing human journey that holds out the hopeful power of creativity in the face of prejudice and fear. George Gittoes, ‘Two worlds in Harmony (Sufi)’, 2018. Oil on canvas. Courtesy the artist. 8 9 FILM PROGRAM

In association with the new exhibition George Gittoes: on being there, Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre will be screening ‘Love City Jalalabad’ (2013) and ‘White Light’ (2019), two key films to the career of George Gittoes.

LOVE CITY JALALABAD (2013)

Fri 14 May, 7:30pm • FREE SYNOPSIS Internationally renowned filmmaker SOUL CRIME We live in a world where Soul Crime and artist George Gittoes has learned ravages all that is truth and beauty! Fri 28 May, 7:30pm that documenting frontline action is $15 General admission The 0.01% control the world and there not enough; he wants to use art to Join us for an evening of music, are no more rules of engagement. bring about change. Our lives are gambled and expended headlined by Soul Crime. Soul George forms an artists’ collective in while our planet crumbles, as the Crime features Hellen Rose, director, the western Afghan city of Jalalabad greedy gorge like Saturn eating his composer, vocalist, guitarist and long- – a province long controlled by the children. time collaborator of George Gittoes. Taliban. Someone only as brave and Soul Crime can be described like Soul Crime invoke a world-wide creative as George would then dare to nothing ever heard before, dark united force of Goddesses; the mighty make movies in Jalalabad, recruiting electronic ‘Riot Girrrl’ Art Band mixed Kali, Hecate, Medusa, Morrigan, female actors from Pakistan (there are with classically trained musicians Athena, Anubis, Rerek, Apopis, the no Pashtun-speaking Afghan women - Opera from the real Divas of Mimi and the Mamma Wata, Huli Jing, actors) to join Australian performance damnation…. and electric axe and Yama Uba, Nafanua, Nana, Lunang artist Hellen Rose, and local action AWARDS/NOMINATIONS Kafir, Adsagsona…. to bring the star Amir Shah in their quest to bring violin from the guardians of the gates 2015 Winter Film Awards Indie Film guzzling beast to heel and save the love back to Afghanistan. of Heaven and Hell…beauty mingles Festival, New York: WINNER, Best WORLD! with exquisite chaos in a new inter This fearless documentary will Documentary. cultural and mixed genre synthesis of show how the progressive youth of HELLEN ROSE – DIRECTOR, COMPOSER, VOCALIST, 2015 Winter Film Awards Indie Film sound as surprising as the changed GUITARIST | MARY JEAN O’DOHERTY – VOCALIST, Afghanistan are rejecting the use Festival, New York: WINNER, Most world we find ourselves reflected FLUTIST | MICHAEL SHERIDAN – GUITARIST | SHARI of armed force and see film as an AMERY – ELECTRIC VIOLIN | LINDA DEMENT – VISUALS Socially Relevant. in. Original lyrics by the Sappho of WWW.SOULCRIMEBAND.COM alternative means of bringing peace soul. Kaleidoscopic visions from the THANKS TO SAMANTHA RHODES, STYLIST AND and social chance to their war torn 2013 Sydney Film Festival: FINALIST, Cassandra Punk Sage Queen. CAROLINE REZNI , COSTUMIER. and occupied country. Foxtel Australian Documentary Prize.

10 11 FILM PROGRAM ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Curator – Dr Rod Pattendan WHITE LIGHT (2019) Exhibition Producer - Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre Sat 29 May, 7:30pm • FREE SYNOPSIS After a career spent documenting war CASULA POWERHOUSE STAFF

zones, George Gittoes (Soundtrack Craig Donarski - Director Lillian Silk - Music, Theatre & Events Producer to War 2005, Snow Monkey 2015) Nikita Karvounis - Assistant Director Sanja Vukelja - Customer Relations and Visitor travels to the south side of Chicago, Experience Supervisor Jenny Cheeseman - Head of Curatorial a neighbourhood under siege from Ance Frasca, Vesna Ristevski, Brittney Robinson - Luke Létourneau - Acting Head of Curatorial gun violence. Visitor Services Officer Ellen Hewitt - Acting Curator In Englewood, statistics on gun Boden Evans - Marketing Lead Megan Hillyer - Registrar violence are higher than any active Cara Lopez - Marketing and Communications Caitlin McCormack - Assistant Registrar Assistant armed conflict, leading locals to dub the area ‘Chi-Raq’. In this urban war David Langosch, Rochelle Briggenshaw - Koby Hollingworth - Administration Co-Ordinator Technical Producers zone, young people are the frequent Lisa Bowen - Administration Assistant Cayn Rosmarin - Producer of Public Programs targets, decimating families and Federico Rekowski - Head Chef, Bellbird Di McClaughlin - Public Programs Officer fracturing the community. Installing Steven Pham - Sous Chef, Bellbird Clara McGuirk - Strategic Events Lead himself within a local gang, Gittoes Rosemary Becker - Bellbird Café Staff Nikki Akbar - Festival and Events Producer traces how racial segregation, high Daniel Charet - Site Caretaker (Internal) unemployment and ready access Renee Walker - Venue Hire and Events Officer Catalogue design - Mandarin Creative to firearms combine to contribute to a cycle of gun crime. Rather than surrender to violence, however, shooting survivors and community leaders hope to turn the tide through music and local collective action.

TO REGISTER FOR ANY OF THE PUBLIC PROGRAMS AS PART OF GEORGE GITTOES: ON BEING THERE, SCAN THIS QR CODE: WWW.CASULAPOWERHOUSE.COM • GALLERY ENTRY IS FREE! 1 Powerhouse Rd, Casula • Open 9am–5pm weekdays, 9am–4pm weekends 12 3 WWW.CASULAPOWERHOUSE.COM

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