Culture in Harmony

arpaka dance company

Photo: Dennis newie

with Nature

Contents

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Welcome Greetings Introduction Australian Delegation 8 8 9 9 10 10 11 11 12 12 13 13 14 14 15 15 16 16 Adam James Arpaka Dance Company The Chooky Dancers Dhinawan Glenda and Marilyne Nicholls Jenni Kemarre Martiniello Jenny Fraser Jess Beck Lyndy Delian Nunukul Yuggera Aboriginal Dancers Peter Sharrock Sharon Phineasa Tiwi Design Tjupi Band Vicki West Pauline Clague (Filmmaker) Penny Smallacombe (Documentary maker) Wayne Quilliam (Photographer)

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Emerging Indigenous Producers About our flags Supporters

Welcome

The Australia Council for the Arts Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Board is proud to present and share the cultural expression of Indigenous Australia as part of the worlds largest gathering of Indigenous Pacific cultures. In doing so, we declare and affirm our cultural identity, rights and dignity. We also express our spiritual connection to the environment around us. The Festival of Pacific Arts occurs once every four years and gives Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people the opportunity to share the best of our culture with our Pacific brothers and sisters, as well as build connections beyond our borders. In keeping with the Festivals theme Culture in Harmony with Nature, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Board is excited

to present the works of the Australian Indigenous artistic delegation. Since 1975, Australia has been represented at the Festival and is dedicated to increasing cultural cooperation in the Pacific. Showcasing the best of our artists and culture to the world is significant in creating an international awareness of the strength, vibrancy and dynamism of Indigenous culture. The Festival presents an opportunity for Indigenous peoples to share our artistic and cultural knowledge and celebrate a future with a greater understanding and respect. This year, we thank our Solomon Islands host and applaud our Pacific brothers and sisters for their warm welcome.

Lee-Ann Buckskin Chair Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Board Australia Council for the Arts

Greetings

The Festival of the Pacific Arts provides Australia with the unique opportunity to showcase the worlds oldest living culture alongside the many other vibrant cultures of our neighbours in the Pacific. In keeping with our mission to present the best Australian art to both national and international audiences, the Australia Council has invested in Australias participation at the Festival since it began in 1972. Through the exchange of stories and traditions, this festival allows Australia to deepen its engagement in the AsiaPacific region and, as suggested by this years theme Culture in Harmony with Nature, it allows us to explore our similarities as well as celebrate our uniqueness. I would like to congratulate the members of Australias delegation of artists for this years

Festival, each of whom is an exceptional representative of their communities and their cultural traditions, both past and present. This delegation has been curated with exceptional skill and care by Marilyn Miller, Wesley Enoch, Vernon Ah Kee, and Nadine McDonald-Dowd, together with the Queensland Theatre Company. The art centres representing the artists also deserve thanks for their vital role in providing guidance and support to the artists and assistance to the project team. Finally, the Australia Council acknowledges the support of the federal, state and territory governments for their support of this event. These relationships with our many government partners are essential in our efforts to bring the best Australian art to the world.

Kathy Keele Chief Executive Officer Australia Council for the Arts

Introduction

The inaugural Curatorial Team for the Australian Delegation is delighted to introduce, and eager to showcase, the talents and experience of artists from many nations around the country. This has been made possible through the support and infrastructure of the Queensland Theatre Company, unique in its standing as Australias only state theatre company with an Indigenous Artistic Director, and the closest theatre company to the Pacific. Some of Australias most exciting Indigenous arts practitioners in dance, music, weaving, glasswork, visual arts, multi-media, and storytelling will represent an array of artforms reflecting the diversity, skill and innovation of practice that have helped shape the artistic landscape of Australia. From the Torres Strait to the Bass Strait, and everywhere in between, artists will be representing their nations as a unified group within the Australian Delegation when they

embark on their journey to the Solomon Islands, to partake in an international celebration of Culture in Harmony with Nature. Joining other Pacific Island countries and thousands of artists, members of the Australian Delegation will showcase their talents and skills, as well as interact, collaborate, and share with our Pacific brothers and sisters. It is through such a major international cultural event as the Festival of Pacific Arts that neighbouring Pacific Island nations gain further understanding, appreciation and support of each others practice, whilst recognising the importance of challenges and growth of cultural expression. So, it is envisaged that through this experience, our Australian Delegation of artists will return imbued with a greater sense of pride, place and passion towards their own individual practices, while appreciating the practice of others. The Curatorial Team Vernon Ah Kee Marilyn Miller Wesley Enoch Nadine McDonald-Dowd

Australian Delegation
Australias delegation to the Festival of Pacific Arts 114 July 2012

Artists
Adam James Arpaka Dance Company Angela Torenbeek Christal Ware Dennis Newie George Pedro Georgina Uiduldam Hans Ahwang Harriet Naawi Harry Newie Majella Newie Mary Bin Awel Petrine Saunders Smiler Sinak The Chooky Dancers Djamangi Gaykamangu Djapana Wunungmurra Ganapunbun Gurruwiwi Guymangura Gaykamangu Lionel Dulmanawuy Garawirrtja Margaret Nyungunyungu Michelle Stevens Wakara Gondarra Dhinawan Jenni Kemarre Martiniello Jenny Fraser Jess Beck Curtis Argent James McKendry Jess Beck Lyndy Delian Nicholls Sisters Glenda Nicholls Marilyne Nicholls Nunukul Yuggera Aboriginal Dancers Ashley Ruska Donald Dodd Eugene Ruska Gavin Cust Leanne Ruska Michael Pitt Trent Thompson Pauline Clague (Filmmaker) Penny Smallacombe (Documentary maker) Peter Sharrock Sharon Phineasa Tiwi Design Dianne Davies Douglas Warlapinni Gordon Pupangamirri Maria Josette Orsto Romolo Tipiloura Tjupi Band Barnabas Daniels Ethan McDonald Jason Butcher Jeremiah Butcher Sammy Butcher Samuel Inkamala Vanessa Hutchins Vicki West

Australia Council Project Team

Heads of Delegation
Lee-Ann Buckskin Leo Akee Lydia Miller Chair Australia Council Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Board Torres Strait Island Representative Australia Council Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Board Executive Director Australia Council Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Division

Production Team
Marilyn Miller Vernon Ah Kee Wesley Enoch Nadine McDonald-Dowd Eliorah Malifa Sophia Sourris Mick Jessop Rowena Taylor Dr Elizabeth Elliott Wayne Quilliam Artistic Director/Curatorial Team Curatorial Team Curatorial Team Curatorial Team Festival Coordinator Project Coordinator/Tour Manager Production Manager Digital Content Coordinator Medical Officer Photographer

Emerging Indigenous Producers Mentorship

Merindah Donnelly Rhoda Roberts Lara Croydon Louana Sainsbury Lydia Fairhall Indigenous Program Officer, Market Development Head of Indigenous Programming, Sydney Opera House Emerging Indigenous Producer Emerging Indigenous Producer Emerging Indigenous Producer

Adam James is a proud Noonuccal/Goenpul man from North Stradbroke Island in South-East Queensland and is the youngest established Indigenous male country singer in Australia. His current music features strong, powerful, vibrant and fresh tunes that blend contemporary country with unique folk-rock. With two full studio albums under his belt in three years and a relentless pursuit of writing, Adam James is a popular songster touring his music across the globe.

Arpaka Dance Company

Arpaka Dance Company was formed in March 2003 at St Pauls Village, Moa Island and is led by Artistic Director Dujon Niue. Skilled in traditional arts, the group produces its own costumes and props, and has performed at many traditional song and dance feastings and gatherings in the Torres Strait, interstate and overseas. Twelve singers and dancers will perform in Kala Lagau Ya and Miriam Mir languages. The word Arpaka comes from the Western Island language that translates to dawning of a new day.

photo: charles page

photo: bailey imagery

Adam James

photo: courtesy of the artists

The Chooky Dancers

Coming from Elcho Island, a remote community in North East Arnhem Land, The Chooky Dancers have been acclaimed for their show Wrong Skin (Ngurrumilmarrmiryu), and gained popularity on Australias Got Talent and through the film Bran Nue Dae. Fans across the world are now absorbing a contemporary dance version of Zorba the Greek on YouTube. The Chooky Dancers dress in traditional cloth and body paint, and fuse traditional Aboriginal and contemporary forms of dance, comedy and clowning. The Chooky Dancers combine humour, skill, discipline, athleticism and dancing with their own traditional culture.

Dhinawan
Dhinawan is a descendant of Gamillaroi Bigambul tribe and is one of Indigenous Australias most engaging, articulate and entertaining cultural ambassadors. Founder and front man of Dhinawan Dreaming, Dhinawan (meaning emu in his traditional language) travels the world teaching the beauty of his culture, using the mediums of dance, song and storytelling to promote cultural awareness and understanding in a humorous, insightful and thoughtprovoking way. Audiences of all ages are immediately captivated by his dynamic, spontaneous, straight-from-the-heart cultural commentary.
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photo: kieron douglas

Glenda and Marilyne Nicholls

Sisters Glenda and Marilyne Nicholls of Swan Hill, Victoria use traditional and contemporary methods in their artistic work by connecting to country through environment. They utilise materials to produce culturally relevant pieces of art, drawn from inbuilt knowledge and skills handed down from their ancestors. Marilyne creates art by weaving the fibres of harvested fresh-water plants and recently had her work presented at Bunjilaka: Museum Victoria as part of the Women with Clever Hands: Gapuwiyak Miyalkurruwurr Gong Djambatjmala exhibition. Glenda skillfully creates ceremonial and contemporary feather craft using bird feathers. This year she was a recipient of the Koorie Heritage Trust Acquisition Award and the Copyright Agency Limited (CAL) Victorian Indigenous Art Award for her woven ochre net.

Jenni Kemarre Martiniello

Jenni Kemarre Martiniello is an Arrernte woman, Kemarre skin. Jennis background is in sculpture, textiles and photography, and in 2008, she began working in glass. In 2011, Jenni was a finalist in the Ranamok Glass Prize and also won a Canberra Critics Circle Award for Visual Arts for her first solo glass exhibition. Jenni is also an awardwinning writer and poet and has published seven books.
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photo: courtesy of the artist

photo: courtesy of the artists

Jenny Fraser
Jenny Fraser is a descendant of the Yugembeh clan of the Bundjalung Nation. A digital native, Jenny works within a fluid screen-based practice. Her work has been exhibited and screened internationally, including at ISEA/Zero1 in San Jose and the Interactiva Biennales in Mexico. Jenny founded cyberTribe, an Indigenous online gallery, aiming to encourage the production and exhibition of Indigenous art as an act of sovereignty. A celebrated artist, Jenny won an honourable mention at the 2007 imagineNATIVE Film Festival + Media Arts Festival in Toronto. In 2008, Jenny was the first to be acknowledged for video art in the 25-year history of the Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award, and in 2009, was nominated for a Deadly Award. In 2012, Jenny received an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Board Fellowship at the National Indigenous Arts Awards.

photo: courtesy of the artist

Jess Beck
Fresh from playing at The Dreaming (Woodford Folk Festival 2011/2012), Jess Beck recently made her debut on the Australian recording scene. Her honest, heartfelt pop melodies are anchored by a voice that is raw and unaffected, and her tight-knit band weaves elements of folk and jazz in with an otherwise distinctly Australian sound. A country girl and a descendant of Luritja people, Jess was nominated for a Deadly Award in 2010 for most promising new talent, and has already supported the likes of Jessica Mauboy and Dan Sultan. In 2009, Jess Beck found a musical connection and vision with identical twins, Jeffrey and Curtis Argent, and James McKendry. This unique collaboration finds influences from jazz, folk and pop through individual expression. During this rare opportunity, Jess will be performing live and unplugged with her core trio.
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photo: cybele malinowsky

Lyndy Delian
Lyndy Delian is a Wathaurong woman who traces her heritage to Blacks Town near Dunolly in Western Victoria. Lyndy lives in Canberra where she teaches the Indigenous Cultural Arts course at Yurauna Centre for Indigenous Education, Canberra Institute of Technology. In 2003, Lyndy founded, with Jenni Kemarre Martiniello, the ACT Indigenous Textiles and Glass Artists Group to support local Aboriginal artists.

Nunukul Yuggera Aboriginal Dancers

Performers from the internationally acclaimed Aboriginal dance troupe, Nunukul Yuggera are traditional custodians of the Brisbane/Ipswich, Stradbroke Island and Gold Coast regions. The group has toured all over the world, including Europe, America, New Zealand, Dubai and Asia, and has performed for the Queen, the Prince and Princess of Belgium and Richard Branson. Nunukul Yuggera won the Queensland Tourism Award for three consecutive years for their Aboriginal cultural experience, Riverlife Mirrabooka, showcased at the natural bushland of Kangaroo Point, alongside the Brisbane River.

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photo: courtesy of the artists

photo: courtesy of the artist

Peter Sharrock
Peter Sharrock is an Indigenous artist of Eastern Arrernte descent. A multi-skilled artist, Peter has excelled as a facilitator of numerous art workshops and was a finalist at the Telstra Indigenous Arts Awards in 2009. Peters work is a mixture of contemporary urban life with a connection to the land. Working with expressions of identity, Peters cultural ideals are expressed through contemporary art practices. Peter has exhibited in Australia, Wales, and Romania and his artworks are held in private collections in Australia, Wales, Romania, Germany, England and the USA.

photo: michael kluvanek

Sharon Phineasa
Sharon Phineasa is a descendant of the AitKoedal and Dhoeybaw clans of Saibai and Dauan Islands in the Top Western Torres Strait. Passionate about preserving culture through artistic expression, Sharons artwork is a fusion of traditional and contemporary influences while also drawing upon her grandfathers motto of working with what youve got. Sharons creativity and deep connection to culture has led to work across several artforms including painting, printmaking, collage, sculpture and carving. The source for her inspiration is the Kulba Adthil (old stories) passed on to her by island Elders, especially her grandfather who carved traditional artefacts. Sharon also draws on her childhood experiences growing up in the islands. With a strong connection to her ancestors, Sharon feels a great responsibility to pass on the knowledge and stories that have been handed to her.
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photo: amily phineasa

Tiwi Design
Established in 1969, Tiwi Design art centre is located at Wurramiyanga (formerly Nguiu) on the south-eastern corner of Bathurst Island, 80 kilometres north of Darwin in the Northern Territory of Australia. Renowned for natural ochre paintings on canvas, iconic ironwood sculptures and ceramics, Tiwi Design artists represent their culture through the tradition of dance and body painting. At the Festival, they will perform presentations of their well-loved and highly narrative dances in traditional nagas (material loin cloth). Tiwi artists strong sense of identity successfully facilitates an engagement with contemporary art and tourism industries, a testament to Tiwi culture negotiating a place within a contemporary geopolitical atmosphere. Tiwi Design is a founding member of the Tiwi Art Network an alliance between the three art centres on the Tiwi Islands.

Tjupi Band
Tjupi (Honey Ant) Band members come from Papunya, 250 kilometres north-west of Alice Springs. The group plays energetic and emotive desert reggae and is the foremost musical inspiration for people across Central Australia. Singing in Luritja (and also in English), Tjupi Band epitomises Central Australian desert reggae in many ways sparse and upbeat, with a driving kick and snare. Tjupi Bands songs are about loneliness for country, love lost, listening to Elders, following tradition, social issues, skin pride, tribal unity and, most importantly, pride of culture. From their childhood of growing up learning from the members of Warumpi Band, Tjupi Band forms part of the new wave of uniquely Indigenous Australian reggae.
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photo: ollie eclipse

photo: steve anderson

Vicki West
Vicki West is a Tasmanian Aboriginal artist, who descends from the Trawulwuy people in the north-east of Tasmania. Vicki works with a range of materials, including kelp, natural plant fibres, textiles and metal. Her artworks vary from large-scale sculptural forms and installations to very delicate and intricate works. Vicki regularly conducts community and educational workshops, and has exhibited widely throughout Australia since the mid-1990s. In 2008, Vicki completed her Masters in Fine Arts at the University of Tasmania, Australia (UTAS). Her artwork is held in a number of private and public collections around Australia.

photo: ralf haertel

Pauline Clague (Filmmaker)

Pauline Clague is from the Yaegl nation of the Far North Coast of NSW. She entered the industry via a television introduction course at the Australian Film and Television Radio School in 1994 and was part of the inaugural Indigenous Drama Initiative From Sand to Celluloid, producing Round Up by Rima Tamou and, since then, has produced ten short films and various documentaries. Pauline runs her company Core Films with fellow filmmaker Rima Tamou as the other key creative, with dramas such as Saturday Night, Sunday Morning, sa Black Thing and First Contact, but also helps to develop and mentor other filmmakers and their voices. From 20012003, Pauline was the series producer and Acting Executive Producer for ABCs Message Stick. During her time at the ABC, Pauline also directed and produced two compilation albums of Indigenous music and three live one hour concerts. Pauline continues to mentor initiatives like Yarning Up, the Indigenous Producers Scheme and films from the New Blacks. Pauline was the Indigenous training officer at the Australian Film, Television and Radio School from 20092011, developing 28 courses around Australia.
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photo: courtesy pauline clague

Penny Smallacombe (Documentary maker)

Penny Smallacombe is a member of the Maramanindji people, from the Northern Territory, Australia. She completed a cadetship with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and has a Masters of Arts (Documentary Producing) from the Australian Film, Television and Radio School in Sydney. Between 2004 and 2005 she worked as Producer/ Director of Message Stick for the ABC Indigenous Programs Unit. Penny also completed a two-year stint in Japan teaching English, as well as spending short periods in New York, getting acquainted with the many Indigenous peoples efforts that take place within the United Nations. Two years ago, Penny moved to Sydney to work for the Australia Council for the Arts and, for the past year, she has watched hours and hours of Indigenous television content to acquire for NITV (National Indigenous Television) and, hopefully, for viewers entertainment.

Wayne Quilliam (Photographer)

Adjunct Professor Wayne Quilliam is one of Australias most respected Indigenous photographers/artist/ curators/videographers and cultural advisers working at a local, national and international level. His award-winning career includes the coveted National NAIDOC Indigenous Artist of the Year, nominated as a Master of Photography by National Geographic, winner of Business of the Year for the Australian Indigenous Minority Supplier Council and finalist in numerous photographic and art awards. Wayne won the 2008 Human Rights Media Award for his work on the Apology and the prestigious Walkley Award for his social documentary on the Redfern Riots. Wayne is currently an ambassador for the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence and Reconciliation Australia. When not at home with his wife and daughter, he is generally found in communities throughout the country sharing his knowledge and teaching youth the expression of culture through the lens.
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photo: courtesy wayne quilliam

photo: courtesy penny smallacombe

Emerging Indigenous Producers Mentorship

Upcoming Indigenous performing arts producers Lara Croydon, from Queensland Theatre Company, Lydia Fairhall, from Queensland Performing Arts Centre, and Louana Sainsbury, from Belvoir/Urban Theatre Projects, will attend this year as part of the Australia Councils Emerging Indigenous Producers Mentorships (EIPM). EIPMs form part of a new program designed to assist Indigenous producers to develop their professional skills, expertise and knowledge in the Indigenous performing arts sector. The Festival provides a key opportunity for these Emerging Indigenous Producers to develop and deepen their Pacific cultural familiarity and networks, as well as gain invaluable hands-on experience working with a number of Australias leading Indigenous artists. This is a long-term strategic investment into the careers of the Indigenous producers, which will ultimately lead to a strengthened Indigenous sector. The goal is for them to support our Indigenous artists and arts organisations to effectively realise more projects, develop new relationships in new markets, enhance their market intelligence, build more targeted market development plans and generate income. The Festival of Pacific Arts is the perfect gathering ground for these Emerging Indigenous Producers to immerse themselves in Indigenous performing arts and culture and strengthen these ties.

LArA CrOYDON

LYDIA FAIrHALL

photos: courtesy the producers

LOuANA SAINSBurY

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About our flags

The Aboriginal Flag was designed by artist Harold Thomas and first flown on National Aborigines Day, 12 July 1971. Since then, it has become a widely recognised symbol of the unity and identity of Aboriginal people. The black represents the Aboriginal people of Australia; red represents the red earth, the red ochre used in ceremonies and Aboriginal peoples spiritual relation to the land; and the yellow disk represents the sun, the giver of life and protector. The Australian Government proclaimed the Aboriginal Flag a flag of Australia on 14 July 1995.

The Torres Strait Islander Flag was designed by the late Mr Bernard Namok and adopted in May 1992 during the Torres Strait Islands Cultural Festival. It stands for the unity and identity of all Torres Strait Islanders. A white dhari (headdress) sits in the centre, with a five-pointed star beneath it. The dhari represents the five island groups within the Torres Strait. The star is also a symbol for seafaring people as it is used in navigation. The symbolism of the colours is: green represents the land, blue represents the sea, white represents peace and black represents the Torres Strait Islander people. The Australian Government proclaimed the Torres Strait Islander Flag a flag of Australia on 14 July 1995.

The Australian Flag came into being after federation of the Australian states into the Commonwealth of Australia on 1 January 1901. It differed from the present day Australian flag because it included a six-point Commonwealth star as opposed to the seven-point star that represents all Australian states and territories today. The Union Jack was included to highlight Australias historical links with Great Britain, and the Southern Cross was included for its significance as a navigational feature in the Southern Hemisphere. From 1901 onwards, various changes were made to the original flag, and in 1954, the current Australian Flag was incorporated into the Flags Act 1953.

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Supporters
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Friends of the Festival

Logo Design (cover):

Our front cover identity was designed by Gilimbaa Creative Agency. The hand was originally designed by Jacob Nash for the 2008 Festival of Pacific Arts, to represent the connections between traditional and contemporary Indigenous cultures. With Jacobs approval, Gilimbaa Creative Agency took the 2008 design and modified it to complement the theme of the Festival. The hand as a motif represents the worlds oldest living culture, the Aboriginal culture; the wave signifies the Torres Strait Islander cultures of Australia. In the Festivals broader sense, the hand element represents Indigenous cultures of Australia and the wider Pacific and the wave element speaks to the idea of nature and how, together, these can work as one Culture in harmony with nature.
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tjupi band
Photo: ollie ecliPse

Australia Council for the Arts 372 Elizabeth Street Surry Hills NSW 2010 PO Box 788 Strawberry Hills NSW 2012 Phone 02 9215 9000 Toll Free 1800 226 912 TTY 1800 555 677 Fax 02 9215 9111 Email mail@australiacouncil.gov.au The Australia Council for the Arts is the Australian Governments arts funding and advisory body.

fopa.australiacouncil.gov.au australiacouncil.gov.au