Biography |
I work across media. My base practice in ceramics has extended into printmaking, collage, artist books and mixed media. The work inevitably speaks to my identity as an Indigenous Australian and explores place, culture and the history peculiar to NSW and particularly the lands of my Ancestors, Kamilaroi and Gomeroi of North Western NSW.
Strong design elements run through my work in all media, which are both personal to me but also link to Kamilaroi/Gomeroi traditional material cultural practices, specifically carving.
I teach ceramics to Goori students at Lismore Tafe and also teach art at Bal_unda, a correctional facility for young Aboriginal offenders, west of the Tabulam community. |
Abstract |
This presentation by Barratt and Evans will provide a summary and overview of this exciting and unique project.
In 2011 Julie Barratt embarked on a collaborative program to work with 5 Indigenous Artists from the Northern Rivers region in the production of artist books working across multi print media including etching, collograph, drawing, and digital art. The aim of this unique project is to go some way to addressing the imbalance between Indigenous and non-Indigenous books in the major State Library and gallery collections.
The 5 Northern Rivers artists chosen to take part in this unique project have been chosen on the basis that their artwork particularly suits the artist book aesthetic. Working in a close mentoring capacity with Barratt in the initial stages of book construction and printing and later with master binder Monica Oppen the project is assured to produce books of museum quality. The 5 artists have very different styles and work across various print media. The stories range from the historical and political to the personal.
This project has a timeframe of 6-8 months and as such will be completed by September 2011 to coincide with the Impact conference. As one of the participating artists Penny Evans will co present this paper with Julie Barratt to talk about the collaborative process and the outcomes of the project. One of the edition of each of the 5 artists' books will also be available to be viewed by the audience after the presentation upon request.
This pilot project is unique in an approach that combines mentorship, collaboration, print media and the artist book in a medium that takes an important step in giving a voice to Indigenous stories in a forum where previously there hasn't been one. |
Penny Evans