Start: 2011-07-15T08:00:00
End: 2011-07-15T09:00:00
Location: Chapel by the Sea, 95 Roscoe St, (cnr Gould St) Bondi Beach
LEADING
FIGURES JOIN THE BATTLE TO SAVE SOME OF AUSTRALIA’S LEADING ABORIGINAL
ART
There
will be two special media events with prominent supporters of the controversial
Aboriginal artist Gordon Syron will at the Chapel by the Sea, Bondi Beach.
The first of these events, Saturday 9th July at 1pm will have
as special guests Prof. Larissa Bahrendt and Jeff McMullen, while the second to
be held at 6pm Friday 15th July will have as special guest former
High Court judge the Hon Michael Kirby. These three special guests are the
patrons for this unsurpassed collection of Aboriginal art, ‘The Keeping Place.’
The events have been timed so as to be a part of NAIDOC Week.
The
Syron collection was available for viewing while space was provided by the
Redfern-Waterloo Authority before the collection was controversially evicted
late 2010 due to the redevelopment of the site. Now homeless possibly
Australia’s finest collection of Aboriginal art in private hands, is spread
over several venues while most of it is in storage. The select representative
pieces are currently exhibited at the Chapel by the Sea, Bondi Beach. Gordon
and a number of prominent supporters led by the patrons above named, have been
asking the State Government to purchase the collection and to ensure that it
remains in public space so all can have access to this brilliant
collection. While huge amounts of money were found by the previous State
Government for other projects nothing however could be found to purchase this
collection. The patrons of ‘The Keeping Place’ and many others have come
together to save this collection in an attempt to make sure it remains in public
viewing as perhaps the most representative collection of modern Aboriginal art
held in Aboriginal hands. The curator and Chapel’s minister, the Rev John
Queripel, expressed his bewilderment and shame as to how ‘money could be found
by the N.S.W Government for all manner of things from V8 races to the momentary
display of fireworks yet nothing is available for this essential part of our
nations ongoing history and heritage.’
The
extensive collection features such well-known Aboriginal artists as Bronwyn Bancroft,
Gordon Hookey, Christine Christopherson, Michael Riley, Adam Hill, Gordon
Syron, Darren Cooper, Merv Bishop, Karen Casey, Tracey Moffatt, Carmel
Nicholson, Euphemia Bostock, Daphne Wallace, Roy Kennedy, Jeffrey Samuels,
Karla Dickens, James P. Simon, Laddie Timbrey, David Janganlinji, Shane
“Yondee” Hanson, Genevieve Grieves, Tim Ives, Bev Coe and Michelle Blakeney.
The
collection also contains: a didgeridoo collection, a book collection, a poster
collection, a t-shirt collection, doll collection, artefacts and a rare
sculpture collection. Robin Nganjmirra, eight (early) controversial Clifford
Possums, 66 body paintings by Emily Kngwarreye and her family, Mary
Dixon, Gordon Pupugamirri, Kamahi Djordon King, Djawida Nadjongorle,
Abraham Dakgalawuy, Lindsay Bird Petyarre, David Cameron, Joshua Bangarr, Chris
Ngaboy, Yarramunua, Vivianne Gilbert Muiya, Billy Petyarre, an early Michael
Jagamara Nelson, an early Lily Sandover, Dorsey Smith and 35 “Bunda” paintings
from the Northern Territory and hundreds more.
Of his own work, Syron says ‘I don’t paint
dots, my strength in painting is political”, says Syron. “I use
satire and raw imagery to send a message that Australian History has left out
the Aboriginal people and their stories. Art is a way to convey and tell these
stories. By turning around the picture – for instance to dress Aboriginal
people in Redcoats and black boots and have white people standing naked holding
spears on the shore when the first fleet arrived, as in my painting The Black
Bastards Are Coming, it makes people understand and comprehend history in a
different way.’
We would like to extend this invitation for
you to join us at one of these gatherings. Gordon and Elaine Syron will be
available for media interviews as will the patrons (Larissa Bahrendt and Jeff
McMullen on the 9th July) and Michael Kirby (15th July)
and the Chapel’s minister, the Rev John Queripel.
The Chapel by the Sea may be found, 95
Roscoe St, (cnr Gould St) Bondi Beach.
Press link to see Stateline Quentin
Dempster’s report on The Keeping Place
“Aboriginal urban art collection needs a
home”
http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2010/09/10/3008952.htm
Jeff McMullen
ABC
– 60 Minutes presenter, Director of the Ian Thorpe Foundation, a spokesperson
for the NT Territory Protest. http://www.icmi.com.au/Speaker/MCs_Facilitators/Jeff_McMullen/Biography
Prof. Larissa Bahrendt Professor of law at the University of Technology, victim of the stolen generation. http://www.businessday.com.au/money/investing/profile–larissa-behrendt-20100524-w5z1.html
www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/people/lunch-with-larissa–behrendt..
The
Hon. Michael Kirby
Former High Court Judge
http://www.saxton.com.au/default.asp?sd8=10093
http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2011/04/05/3182477.htm?site=sydney
Sydney
Councillor,Irene Doutney, Greens, Official Spokesperson for The
Keeping Place.
The collection includes Gordon Syron’s most famous work ‘Judgment by his Peers’
– “Judgement
By His Peers is in my view a national icon”. (dated 18 Sept. 1995) by Robert Tickner (Then Minister for Aboriginal Affairs)