Blak Douglas and Adam Geczy are teaming up again for an exhibition at The Lock Up Gallery in Newcastle called The Most Gaoled Race on Earth. And it comes with a warning: Parental Guidance Recommended.
The exhibition, which will be opened by Sandra Griffin with special guest, Glen Boney, is described as hard-hitting, and will explore racism and custody issues through site installations, sculptural objects and graphics. And if some find it controversial it is intended so, according to the artists, “[It] is a fact: per capita the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia are the most gaoled race on Earth [and] the works in this exhibition are prompted not by the spirit of ‘reconciliation’, or of conciliation, or of proselytization. They are prompted by anger.”
Extending the theme – and in partnership with the Newcastle Writers Festival – a panel discussion called Indigenous Australia: The Most Forgotten Race on Earth” will take place at the Newcastle City Hall on Saturday, 2 April (1.30pm – 2.30pm) with panelists including the artists, Adam (aka Blak Douglas) Hill and Adam Geczy, with Ellen van Neerven and Dr Joe Perry. Professor Jakelin Troy will facilitate.
Also in conjunction with the exhibition are two events planned for Sunday 20 March 2016 with Blak Douglas :
11.00am – 11.45am Adamriginal – the Didgeridos & Donts of Urban Aboriginal Arts, a program of song, puppetry, language, personal stories and Yidaki (didgeridoo), and interactive introduction to various language groups will take place at the Royal Exchange Arts Theatre 32 Bolton St. (For kids over 5yo).
Bookings essential here.
2.00pm – 3.30pm Pain in the Arts Youth Art Workshop (for kids over 15yo): exploring Aboriginal music and visual arts. Book your place here.
The Most Gaoled Race on Earth is the first of a two-part exhibition series, Part 2, The Most Stolen Race on Earth, will run at the Northern Centre for Contemporary Art (NCCA) in Darwin later this year.
