Queensland Art Gallery Annual Report 2003-04

STORY PLACE: INDIGENOUS ART OF CAPE YORK AND THE RAINFOREST 20 More than two years in the making, the Queensland Art Gallery's 'Story Place: Indigenous Art of Cape York and the Rainforest' was the first major survey exhibition of historical and contemporary Indigenous art from Cape York Peninsula to be presented in Australia. It proved to be a major success attracting more than 142 000 people — including nearly 20 000 children — and achieving a 2003 Queensland Government Reconciliation Award for Business for the Gallery. The Gallery is immensely proud to have worked with the artists and communities of Cape York to present such an important project, which has contributed to the ongoing process of reconciliation. 'Story Place' was more than an exhibition. The project involved extensive consultation and collaboration with Indigenous communities, a major program of opening events, commissions and acquisitions of art works for the Gallery's Collection, a major publication, video documentation, a children's program, a traineeship program, and a regional exhibition tour. 'Story Place' delivered tangible social and economic benefits to the people of Cape York, by recognising the work of artists from the region, fostering the work of new artists and arts workers, and contributing to the revival of art-making practices in the Cape York communities. THE EXHIBITION The term 'story place' describes an area of particular significance for Indigenous people — birth places, abundant food and water sources, or places relating to spiritual or cultural beliefs. From ancient ancestral stories to personal stories of life in far north Queensland today, the exhibition offered compelling insights into the art and culture of one of Australia's most isolated, yet culturally rich, regions. It redressed a lack of attention for the artists of Cape York, compared to that accorded to Indigenous art from Arnhem Land, and Australia's Central and Western Desert regions. 'Story Place' specifically celebrated the art and culture of the Indigenous peoples of Cape York Peninsula, but also generated a broader recognition of the region's uniqueness. The exhibition featured extensive video documentation of selected artists and brought together more than 300 historical and contemporary works of art. These works included sculpture, paintings, works on paper, and ceramic, fibre and ceremonial objects by more than 80 Indigenous artists from the Peninsula's three diverse cultural regions — west Cape, east Cape and the rainforest. While the Wik people of western Cape York Peninsula have become widely known through their historic native title claim, they are also renowned for their distinctive sculptural tradition. The sculptures produced by the men of the Aurukun community are some of the most visually arresting ceremonial sculptures of Indigenous Australia. 'Story Place' included works by senior Aurukun sculptors such as Arthur Koo-ekka Pambegan Jr and Joe Ngallametta, as well as young artists such as Craig Koomeeta. Works by renowned ceramic artist Thancoupie also featured in the west Cape component of the exhibition. From east Cape York, the work of a group of young painters and printmakers known as the Lockhart River Art Gang — including Rosella Namok, Samantha Hobson and Fiona Omeenyo — was profiled. The east Cape's strong fibre-work tradition was represented by the basketry of Wilma Walker and Dorothy Short, and the work of east Cape painter Joe Rootsey — once described as 'Queensland's own Namatjira' — was also exhibited. The rainforest component of 'Story Place' included artists Michael Boiyool Anning and Danie Mellor whose works are inspired by the beautifully crafted shields and swords of the traditional Indigenous people from the rainforest area of far north Queensland. Rainforest peoples are also renowned for their weaving and basketry, and the bicornual baskets made by Desley Henry displayed the impressive traditional fibre crafts of the region. ACQUISITIONS The Gallery acquired many significant art works by artists represented in 'Story Place', and several were specially commissioned for the exhibition and the Gallery's Collection. Works acquired included large-scale bonefish and flying fox story place installations by Arthur Koo-ekka Pambegan Jr, law pole installations by Joe Ngallametta and Ron Yunkaporta, crocodile and dingo sculptures by Craig Koomeeta, and basketry — kakan by Wilma Walker, jawun by Desley Henry and puunya by Dorothy Short. Also acquired were ceramic works by Thancoupie and Cornelius Richards; wooden shields by Michael Boiyool Anning and reclaimed metal shields by Danie Mellor; paintings by Roy McIvor, Walter Jack and Samantha Hobson; and small-scale animal sculptures by Garry Namponan and Jubilee Wolmby. PUBLICATION AND WEBSITE A 240-page book was published by the Gallery in association with the 'Story Place' exhibition. Richly illustrated with over 200 full-colour photographs of the art work, people and country of the Cape, the book presents the art and culture of Cape York through a series of essays, interviews, and artist and community profiles. A special 'Story Place' website <www.qag.qld.gov.au/storyplace> was also developed to enhance the exhibition experience for visitors. SPONSORSHIP Strategic alliances across government organisations and with the corporate sector were integral to the realisation of the 'Story Place' exhibition and project. Principal sponsors were the Queensland Government (Arts Queensland, the Department of Employment and Training, the Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy), the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) and Comalco; major sponsors were The Courier- Mail , Network Ten, and Australian Posters; and supporting sponsors were HarrisonNess, Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Screen Offset Printing and Tourism Queensland. OPENING CELEBRATIONS AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS Held over 26 and 27 July 2003, the 'Story Place' Opening Celebrations featured traditional and contemporary performances, artist talks and demonstrations, lectures, panel discussions and children's programs, as well as an official opening by the Honourable Peter Beattie, MP , Premier of Queensland and Minister for Trade. More than 100 artists, elders, performers and representatives from Cape York, as well as 25 local Indigenous performers, participated in the opening events. Artist Arthur Koo-ekka Pambegan Jr opened the exhibition by 'singing in' the law poles which were commissioned for the Gallery's Collection. Artist talks were presented by sculptors Jubilee Wolmby, Joe Ngallametta, Ron Yunkaporta and Craig Koomeeta; fibre artists Wilma Walker and Desley Henry; and renowned ceramist Thancoupie. These artist talks were