Queensland Art Gallery Annual Report 2003-04

23 TRAVELLING EXHIBITION Important contemporary works from the 'Story Place' exhibition commenced a seven-venue regional Queensland tour in May 2004 at Hervey Bay Regional Gallery. The tour continued the Gallery's commitment to profiling the work of Indigenous Australian artists and strengthening relationships with Queensland's Indigenous communities. The 'Story Place' tour was supported by principal sponsors the Queensland Government (the Department of Education and the Arts, the Department of Employment and Training, and the Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy), ATSIC and Comalco. The tour of 'Story Place' is one of the largest travelling exhibitions presented by the Gallery in terms of major sculptural and installation works. A major performance program is planned for the exhibition's July 2004 opening at Cairns Regional Gallery, when many of the Indigenous artists and performers involved in 'Story Place' Opening Celebrations in Brisbane will have the chance to present their talent and culture to a Cairns audience. RESIDENCY In January 2004, Aurukun artist Craig Koomeeta returned to the Gallery to undertake a six-week residency. The residency program, 'Ngamp yotam ma kee antan' (Working together to achieve a goal), was the first in a series of new initiatives that aimed to continue the Gallery's partnership with Cape York communities and artists following the 'Story Place' exhibition. New works created during the residency were then featured in a focus display at the Gallery from March to June 2004. supplemented by demonstrations of traditional methods of sculpture, carving and weaving. Indigenous students from the Queensland College of Art, Queensland University of Technology and the Southbank Institute of TAFE presented floortalks to Gallery visitors, while curatorial and education staff provided lectures to the public. In addition, a discussion panel explored issues surrounding the educational experiences and needs of Indigenous Australians. The Opening Celebrations included a program of music and dance presented in association with the Queensland Performing Arts Centre. The exhibition focused on traditional performances and artists who have adapted their traditional cultures to embrace different musical directions, such as opera, jazz, country, folk, rock and hip-hop. Performers included dancers from Aurukun, the Injinoo dancers, and the Yidinji dancers. Musical performances by celebrated singer–songwriter Archie Roach, jazz and blues singer Wilma Reading, and Jodie Cockatoo Creed from Yothu Yindi, were highlights. Other events included a barbecue at Musgrave Park Cultural Centre to welcome visiting artists, and presentations on Australian bush tucker. CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS 'Story Place' featured a dedicated children's activity area, Googi's Place, which was named after Googi the flying fox, the mascot for the children's programs. Googi is an Indigenous (Jirrbal) word for flying fox, a recurring motif in Indigenous art and performance from the Cape. Googi's Place helped to familiarise and promote an understanding of Indigenous art and culture by children and their families. Children related to the art works through an activity book, specially designed art work labels and interactive tours. In addition, workshops and activities designed and presented by 'Story Place' artists were organised as part of the Opening Celebrations weekend. Kids made texture rubbings from Cape York's natural environment, learnt Indigenous words through the Googi Spin game, designed by artist Michael Boiyool Anning, and put Craig Koomeeta's dingo and crocodile back together in the bone puzzle activity. Ceramic artist Thancoupie taught children how to make their own symbols, patterns and designs from their initials in paint, while Desley Henry and Wilma Walker showed children how to make their own colourful woven bags with natural and man-made fibres. INTERNSHIPS One of the Gallery's most successful training initiatives of recent years has been the traineeship program for young Indigenous Queenslanders established in association with the 'Story Place' project. The Department of Employment and Training funded the appointment of five Indigenous trainees in 2001–02, with a further five traineeship places funded in 2002–03. The Gallery continued the initiative with two additional trainees in 2003–04. The program has provided training and employment opportunities for young Indigenous arts workers from the Cape York and Brisbane regions, and has been recognised as a model for innovative training programs. As a consequence, the Gallery's trainees have been recognised at the annual Queensland Training Awards in consecutive years. The latest award winner, Bruce McLean, followed the 2003 success of Tony Albert in being recognised as the regional winner, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year, in June 2004.