Lance Chadd Tjyllyungoo wins the Bunbury Nyoongar Country Art Exhibition Overall Prize
Lance Chadd Tjyllyungoo has been awarded the overall prize for best in exhibition at the Bunbury Nyoongar Country Exhibition Opening on Friday 25th June. Lance’s work will be kept in the collection there as a result of this award. This annual exhibition is a celebration of Nyoongar culture and visual arts practice in the South West. Comprised of three discreet elements, Nyoongar Country features work by acknowledged artists, emerging practitioners and children, thereby ensuring the entire Nyoongar community is represented.
Peter Garrett visits Kidogo Arthouse on the Inaugural Day of the Resale Royalty Act in Australia
On a beautifully clear day (Wednesday 9th June, Federal Minister Peter Garrett visited Kidogo Arthouse to deliver a speech celebrating the inaugural day of the Resale Royalty Act. Miranda Farmer, a student of Kidogo Art Institute, offered the Welcome to Country, followed by Joanna Robertson’s introduction to Kidogo Arthouse and the MARRA MOORDITJ Exhibition on the walls. Peter Garrett then gave him speech to the waiting press and guests.
After the speeches, Kidogo Arthouse was bathed in sunshine and the guests milled outside. Artists provided a delicious array of refreshments which included kangaroo kebabs cooked on a barbeque on the beach, along with damper, nuts and fruits. Minister Garrett made the time to view the studios where the artists work with views overlooking the sparkling ocean of Bather’s Beach. The event was attended by leading figures in the Arts in WA, including Lance Chadd Tjyllyungoo; Janet Holmes a Court; Dr Stefano Caboni (Director of the Art Gallery of WA); Brad Petitt, Mayor of Fremantle; Melissa Parks, Member for Fremantle; Fred Cheyney; Henry Boston (Australia and the Business and Arts Foundation), Fred Lyons (Yirra Yaakin), Jude van de Merwe (Manager of Artsource). Everyone enjoyed the ambience of the gallery and the great welcome offered by the Aboriginal artists.
The following YouTube videos show the Minister’s visit, the students discussing their positive experience of Kidogo Art Institute, and Lance Chadd Tjyllyungoo talking about his work.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_dOTywsC_w
Joanna Robertson in discussions with the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney regarding the acquirement of Kidogo Art Institute Curriculum Documents
Joanna Robertson, Director of Kidogo Art Institute, recently returned from a whirlwind trip to Sydney, where she met with Euan Upston, the Chief Operating Officer of the Museum of Contemporary Art. Kidogo Art Institute and the MCA have been in talks since April regarding the MCA’s plans to become a Registered Training Organisation, offering accredited courses and operating out of a multi-million dollar purpose built facility overlooking the Sydney Harbour. The MCA have expressed an interest in procuring the curriculum documents designed by Kidogo Art Institute for accredited courses in Visual Art and Contemporary Craft. Discussions are at an early stage, and will continue over the next through months.
Joanna Robertson met with Museum of Contemporary Art Indigenous Curator with the view to improving the profile of Nyoongar artists over East
While in Sydney, Joanna Robertson also met with Keith Monro, the Indigenous Curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art with the view to adding some of the works of the Aboriginal art students from Kidogo Art Institute to the MCA collection. There was agreement that Western Australian Indigenous artists are not adequately represented in collections over East, and that the acquirement of some of the works of prominent and upcoming Nyoongar artists would enhance their collection.
Joanna Robertson meets with Lydia Miller, Executive Director, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts, Australia Council for the Arts
Joanna Robertson also had an excellent and productive meeting with Lydia Millar, Executive Director, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts at the Australia Council in Sydney. They discussed the ways in which Joanna can improve the profile of the artists on the East Coast of Australia.
Deborah Bonar shortlisted for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year Award from the Department of Workforce and Training
Deborah Bonar, a past student of the accredited Cert III course for Aboriginal artists run at Kidogo Arthouse, has been shortlisted for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year Award from the Department of Workforce and Training 2010. Due to Deborah’s incredible diligence and dedication to her studies while at Kidogo Art Institute, she was nominated for the award in April, and is now one of the finalists. Deborah held a successful solo exhibition at Kidogo Arthouse titled Vibrant in 2009, and most of the pieces on display were sold. She will attend an interview in July before the overall winner is decided.
