My country, I still call Australia home: Contemporary art from Black Australia

artist interviews in this publication. I particularly thank our guest writers Hetti Perkins, Brenda L Croft and Glenn Iseger-Pilkington for their thought-provoking contributions, and exhibiting artists, Tony Albert, Bindi Cole, Michael Cook, Alick Tipoti, Judy Watson and Ruby Tjangawa Williamson for their personal insights. A significant component of ‘My Country’ is the interactive children’s exhibition ‘Kangaroo Crew’, by exhibiting Queensland artist Gordon Hookey, presented in the Children’s Art Centre. A series of activities for young visitors and families, ‘Kangaroo Crew’ is based on a story written and illustrated by Hookey about four kangaroos who must work together after their home is overrun by a group of myna birds. The story is also published as The Sacred Hill, the Gallery’s sixth children’s publication. I gratefully acknowledge everyone who has helped realise ‘My Country’. Firstly, I thank the Queensland Government for their ongoing support of the Gallery and our initiatives, and make special mention of Arts Queensland, which has supported the participation of the Queensland artists in the exhibition through the Backing Indigenous Arts initiative. I also thank Gary Stafford, Managing Director, PanAust, the exhibition’s Major Sponsor, with whom we are delighted to partner for the first time; as well as longstanding Media Partner ABC Radio National. I acknowledge the support of Brisbane Airport Corporation for Gordon Hookey’s ‘Kangaroo Crew’, and Santos as sponsor of the Children’s Art Centre. The children’s publication has been made possible by the generous support of Solutions in Engineering. I thank the Queensland Art Gallery Foundation and the many generous individuals who have been instrumental in the development of our outstanding Indigenous Australian art collection, including Thomas Bradley; Karen Brown; Bindi Cole; Patrick Corrigan, AM ; Julie Ewington; Professor John Hay, AC , and Mrs Barbara Hay; Margaret Mittelheuser, AM , and Cathryn Mittelheuser, AM ; Daphne Morgan; Scott Redford; Win Schubert, through the Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Diversity Foundation; James C Sourris, AM ; The Thomas Foundation; Ashby Utting; and Brian and Rosemary White; along with our corporate supporters, most recently Gadens Lawyers and Xstrata Coal. I also thank Glenn Manser for lending Arthur Tjatitjarra Robertson’s Tjinytjira 2006 for the exhibition, which he generously plans to gift to the Collection. For this thoughtful and timely project, I commend exhibition curator Bruce McLean, Curator, Indigenous Australian Art; film program curator José Da Silva, Senior Curator, Australian Cinémathèque; and the Australian art department, headed by Julie Ewington, Curatorial Manager. I extend my gratitude to the Executive Management Team and all Gallery staff, especially to Aunty Joan Collins, the Gallery’s Senior Indigenous Australian Community Liaison Officer. As Australians, we have a deep respect for the unique cultures of our First Peoples. Through the work of these Indigenous artists, from every state and territory, we witness and honour their indelible connections to both the land and the nation. Charlotte Mye Meriam Mir people QLD Basket (detail) 2010 Check-woven polypropylene tape Purchased 2010. Queensland Art Gallery Foundation 10