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The guests arrived as the sunset dramatically over the Indian ocean
The large gallery was bathed in candlelight...
The exhibition on the walls was by local metropolitan Aboriginal artists, many who are students at Kidogo Arthouse
The guests were served non-alcoholic cocktails and canapes
Joanna Robertson, Director of Kidogo Art Institute with Fred Lyons, Director of Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company
The delicious array of curries was prepared by artists, staff and friends of Kidogo Arthouse
After drinks, the guests find their seats in the beautifully decorated gallery
Joanna Robertson, Director of Kidogo Arthouse welcomed the guests to the gallery
Ms Robertson gave an inspirational speech about following your dreams, and the beginnings of the course for Aboriginal artists at Kidogo Arthouse
Neville Collard, Senior Policy Advisor at the officer of Minister Kim Hames, gave a rousing Welcome to Country
Miranda Farmer, a student at Kidogo Art Insitute explained the benefits of the art course designed by Joanna Robertson
Andrew Turk
Toogar Morrison, well known Bibbulum Nyoongar artist
Barbara Matters, Indigenous Curator at the Bernt Museum
Andrew Turk
Helen Corbett, former UN representative for the Indigenous Women's Corporation
John Buckley, student of Kidogo Art Institute
Ken Hayward, Kulbardi films at Murdoch University
Phillip Doughty, student of Kidogo Art Institute
Peter Farmer, established Nyoongar artist and former student of Kidogo Art Institute
Kieran Wong, Architect with CODA and member of Fremantle Council Working Group
Herbert Marshall, student of Kidogo Art Institute
Ashley Reid, student at Kidogo Art Institute
Ron Bradfield, Manager Indigenous and Regional Development, Artsource
GALLERY - Gallery
The guests arrived as the sunset dramatically over the Indian ocean
The large gallery was bathed in candlelight...
The exhibition on the walls was by local metropolitan Aboriginal artists, many who are students at Kidogo Arthouse
The guests were served non-alcoholic cocktails and canapes
Joanna Robertson, Director of Kidogo Art Institute with Fred Lyons, Director of Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company
The delicious array of curries was prepared by artists, staff and friends of Kidogo Arthouse
After drinks, the guests find their seats in the beautifully decorated gallery
Joanna Robertson, Director of Kidogo Arthouse welcomed the guests to the gallery
Ms Robertson gave an inspirational speech about following your dreams, and the beginnings of the course for Aboriginal artists at Kidogo Arthouse
Neville Collard, Senior Policy Advisor at the officer of Minister Kim Hames, gave a rousing Welcome to Country
Miranda Farmer, a student at Kidogo Art Insitute explained the benefits of the art course designed by Joanna Robertson
Andrew Turk
Toogar Morrison, well known Bibbulum Nyoongar artist
Barbara Matters, Indigenous Curator at the Bernt Museum
Andrew Turk
Helen Corbett, former UN representative for the Indigenous Women's Corporation
John Buckley, student of Kidogo Art Institute
Ken Hayward, Kulbardi films at Murdoch University
Phillip Doughty, student of Kidogo Art Institute
Peter Farmer, established Nyoongar artist and former student of Kidogo Art Institute
Kieran Wong, Architect with CODA and member of Fremantle Council Working Group
Herbert Marshall, student of Kidogo Art Institute
Ashley Reid, student at Kidogo Art Institute
Ron Bradfield, Manager Indigenous and Regional Development, Artsource
“A Feast of Ideas”: Kidogo Arthouse hosts dinner and ideas forum for Perth’s Aboriginal artists to have their say about their future
On Friday 20th August 2010, Art Philanthropist and Director of Kidogo Art Institute, Joanna Robertson funded and hosted an extraordinary and powerful dinner party to support urban Aboriginal artists at her gallery, Kidogo Arthouse on Bathers Beach in Fremantle.
The dinner and forum, ‘A Feast of Ideas’, was attended by over 100 people including most of the local Aboriginal arts community, mining representatives, galleries managers, university lecturers, and industry leaders.
Aboriginal artists in the region were invited to come together over a lavishly catered meal and to speak up and express their ideas on what action needs to be taken to provide support for artists living in the metro region to thrive and paint their best works.
Once the invitations were sent out, the idea grew and grew, becoming a vastly important event with over a hundred people from both the Indigenous population and Aboriginal organizations in attendance.
Against the backdrop of a dramatic sunset over the Indian Ocean, “Welcome to Country” was offered by Senior Policy Adviser to Kim Hames, Neville Collard, who emphasized the importance of the location of Kidogo Arthouse as a meeting place in Aboriginal history. After a welcome by Joanna Robertson, the guests sat down in the beautifully candlelit and decorated gallery, surrounded by a high quality exhibition showcasing the enormous talent of the local Aboriginal artists, for a delicious buffet of curries, side dishes and condiments, followed by an excellent array of desserts. The event was catered by the staff, lecturers and Aboriginal artists studying at Kidogo Art Institute.
After the dinner, the discussion began in earnest. The hugely important and positive impact of the work and vision of Joanna Robertson and Kidogo Arthouse on the Aboriginal community was clear. Ron Bradfield, Manager of Regional and Indigenous Development from Artsource, paid tribute to the lengths that Joanna had gone to make Aboriginal people feel welcome. “Kidogo Arthouse is a place run by a non-Aboriginal person where Aboriginal people of all tribes can come and not feel “shame” – that is a very rare thing,” he said.
Toogar Morrison, a well-known Bibbulum Nyoongar artist said, “This Irish woman has offered Aboriginal people a place with heart, a place where there is no shame, and I can see the minds of the people in this room moving. Now we need a place like they have in the Eastern states where we can meet and rediscover our culture with honesty and integrity.”
The overall consensus was that the Aboriginal artists living in the Perth and Fremantle area desperately need a place where they can practice their art, be mentored, exhibit and share stories of culture (many, being of the stolen generating, gain knowledge of their culture and heritage whilst they paint together) in a prominent, tourist friendly location in the vicinity of Kidogo Arthouse. The arts centre could also be a place were the locals and visitors can meet and interact with the artists, watch them paint and learn about their rich and fascinating culture.
Joanna Robertson, Director of Kidogo Art Institute, summarized the feelings of the group: “In such a wealthy city as Perth, it is incredible that there is no place for Aboriginal artists to meet and work, and for locals and visitors to meet Aboriginal artists (apart from Kidogo Arthouse) and learn about their lives and culture. Painting in the company of other artists and discussing their lost culture is crucial to Aboriginal people. Kidogo Arthouse runs a mentoring art program for Aboriginals, but is bursting at the seams, and a new venue needs to be found nearby where artists can continue the work they have begun here – a place that will still exist in 30 years time and will be the pride of the state in fostering a thriving local Aboriginal art and craft industry.”
Kieran Wong, architect from CODA and member of the Fremantle Cultural Development Council Committee offered to invite the council down to Kidogo Arthouse to meet the artists. “The current mayor Brad Petitt has reduced the number of committees to allow more work to be done on smaller scale projects,” he said. “Given the energy in the room tonight, perhaps a new arts centre for Aboriginal people could be one of those projects.”
It is early days in the lobbying for an arts centre for the Aboriginal art community of Fremantle, but the dinner at Kidogo Arthouse on Friday night went a long way to outlining and clarifying the needs of the Aboriginal community – from a grassroots perspective and understanding.
On Friday 20th August 2010, Art Philanthropist and Director of Kidogo Art Institute, Joanna Robertson funded and hosted an extraordinary and powerful dinner party to support urban Aboriginal artists at her gallery, Kidogo Arthouse on Bathers Beach in Fremantle.
The dinner and forum, ‘A Feast of Ideas’, was attended by over 100 people including most of the local Aboriginal arts community, mining representatives, galleries managers, university lecturers, and industry leaders.
Aboriginal artists in the region were invited to come together over a lavishly catered meal and to speak up and express their ideas on what action needs to be taken to provide support for artists living in the metro region to thrive and paint their best works.
Once the invitations were sent out, the idea grew and grew, becoming a vastly important event with over a hundred people from both the Indigenous population and Aboriginal organizations in attendance.
Against the backdrop of a dramatic sunset over the Indian Ocean, “Welcome to Country” was offered by Senior Policy Adviser to Kim Hames, Neville Collard, who emphasized the importance of the location of Kidogo Arthouse as a meeting place in Aboriginal history. After a welcome by Joanna Robertson, the guests sat down in the beautifully candlelit and decorated gallery, surrounded by a high quality exhibition showcasing the enormous talent of the local Aboriginal artists, for a delicious buffet of curries, side dishes and condiments, followed by an excellent array of desserts. The event was catered by the staff, lecturers and Aboriginal artists studying at Kidogo Art Institute.
After the dinner, the discussion began in earnest. The hugely important and positive impact of the work and vision of Joanna Robertson and Kidogo Arthouse on the Aboriginal community was clear. Ron Bradfield, Manager of Regional and Indigenous Development from Artsource, paid tribute to the lengths that Joanna had gone to make Aboriginal people feel welcome. “Kidogo Arthouse is a place run by a non-Aboriginal person where Aboriginal people of all tribes can come and not feel “shame” – that is a very rare thing,” he said.
Toogar Morrison, a well-known Bibbulum Nyoongar artist said, “This Irish woman has offered Aboriginal people a place with heart, a place where there is no shame, and I can see the minds of the people in this room moving. Now we need a place like they have in the Eastern states where we can meet and rediscover our culture with honesty and integrity.”
The overall consensus was that the Aboriginal artists living in the Perth and Fremantle area desperately need a place where they can practice their art, be mentored, exhibit and share stories of culture (many, being of the stolen generating, gain knowledge of their culture and heritage whilst they paint together) in a prominent, tourist friendly location in the vicinity of Kidogo Arthouse. The arts centre could also be a place were the locals and visitors can meet and interact with the artists, watch them paint and learn about their rich and fascinating culture.
Joanna Robertson, Director of Kidogo Art Institute, summarized the feelings of the group: “In such a wealthy city as Perth, it is incredible that there is no place for Aboriginal artists to meet and work, and for locals and visitors to meet Aboriginal artists (apart from Kidogo Arthouse) and learn about their lives and culture. Painting in the company of other artists and discussing their lost culture is crucial to Aboriginal people. Kidogo Arthouse runs a mentoring art program for Aboriginals, but is bursting at the seams, and a new venue needs to be found nearby where artists can continue the work they have begun here – a place that will still exist in 30 years time and will be the pride of the state in fostering a thriving local Aboriginal art and craft industry.”
Kieran Wong, architect from CODA and member of the Fremantle Cultural Development Council Committee offered to invite the council down to Kidogo Arthouse to meet the artists. “The current mayor Brad Petitt has reduced the number of committees to allow more work to be done on smaller scale projects,” he said. “Given the energy in the room tonight, perhaps a new arts centre for Aboriginal people could be one of those projects.”
It is early days in the lobbying for an arts centre for the Aboriginal art community of Fremantle, but the dinner at Kidogo Arthouse on Friday night went a long way to outlining and clarifying the needs of the Aboriginal community – from a grassroots perspective and understanding.