2008 Woodie Awards
Australia Cultural Artistry
Tory Glerum
Issue date: 11/29/07 Section: Arts & Features
- Page 1 of 3 next >
Aboriginal art and public policy were topics of discussion earlier this month when Anna Haebich, director of the Center for Public Culture and Ideas at Griffiths University in Brisbane, Australia, lectured in Golden Auditorium on Tuesday, November 12 in connection with the Core 329 Passion, Promotion, and Public Awareness: Thinking about Arts in the 21st Century. This visit was Haebich's first time in the United States.
The lecture began at 7:30 p.m. with an introduction by Professor Ellen Kraly of the Geography Department, who spoke of Haebich's accomplishments as an Australian Research Fellow and a writer of histories of post-war migration.
"She is a scholar of international repute in the areas of indigenous history, art history, and social justice issues. She has influenced the knowledge of Aboriginal history in deep and profound ways," Kraly said.
Kraly also referred to Haebich as "a scholar who remembers through her art and through her heart."
Haebich's lecture was titled, "Possession and Disposession: Voices, Silences, Paradoxes in the History of Australian Aboriginal Arts," and focused on Aboriginal history and identity through the lens of art. She began by discussing the geography and history of the Aborigine culture, how it survived the demographic catastrophe of colonization, and is still in existence today with art dating to back before the common era.
In regards to the art itself, Haebich said it was confined to anthropology museums before 1950, and then in the 70s experienced an explosion in to the public domain with government support. This fueled modern artists' interest in reinvigorating images of Aborigine culture.
"Art from some regions was more successful than others, and there were big issues and debates from local artists against art being bought from remote areas," Haebich said. "It mirrors the nation's past and present by expressing relationships and political changes over the years," Haebich said. "The 20th century was a time of political change, and there was ultimately a move away from art, but the artists established an exceptional legacy."
The lecture began at 7:30 p.m. with an introduction by Professor Ellen Kraly of the Geography Department, who spoke of Haebich's accomplishments as an Australian Research Fellow and a writer of histories of post-war migration.
"She is a scholar of international repute in the areas of indigenous history, art history, and social justice issues. She has influenced the knowledge of Aboriginal history in deep and profound ways," Kraly said.
Kraly also referred to Haebich as "a scholar who remembers through her art and through her heart."
Haebich's lecture was titled, "Possession and Disposession: Voices, Silences, Paradoxes in the History of Australian Aboriginal Arts," and focused on Aboriginal history and identity through the lens of art. She began by discussing the geography and history of the Aborigine culture, how it survived the demographic catastrophe of colonization, and is still in existence today with art dating to back before the common era.
In regards to the art itself, Haebich said it was confined to anthropology museums before 1950, and then in the 70s experienced an explosion in to the public domain with government support. This fueled modern artists' interest in reinvigorating images of Aborigine culture.
"Art from some regions was more successful than others, and there were big issues and debates from local artists against art being bought from remote areas," Haebich said. "It mirrors the nation's past and present by expressing relationships and political changes over the years," Haebich said. "The 20th century was a time of political change, and there was ultimately a move away from art, but the artists established an exceptional legacy."
Be the first to comment on this story