Recent debates have raised a number of questions about the nature and ethics of western artistic practices that appropriate from nonwestern cultures. This forum intends to explore the colonial history of cultural appropriation in Australia, and to reflect on what continuities exist between contemporary and historical forms and strategies of appropriation.

Gertrude Contemporary Assembly is hosting this forum to extend and expand on the recent dialogue surrounding these issues following the exhibition of work by Melbourne fashion label P.A.M –by presenting voices that have direct experience in the issues at stake, and by providing a space for open discussion.

Speakers:

Paola Balla was a curator in the Melbourne Indigenous Arts Festival in 2012. She is an artist, community arts practitioner, Indigenous studies lecturer and, most recently, a Victorian Indigenous Art Award (VIAA) winner.

Texta Queen uses the humble felt-tip pen to explore politics of sexuality, gender, race and identity in tangent with ideas of self-image and inter-personal relationships.They have exhibited widely nationally and internationally for over 15 years and their work is held in the collections of major Australian art institutions.Texta also writes about race and racism.They are currently based between Melbourne and the Bay Area, California.

Dr. Odette Kelada is a lecturer in Australian Indigenous Studies at the University of Melbourne. Odette Kelada researches
and publishes on whiteness,race and gender in Australian writing and the arts. Key interests include the constructions of nation,body and identity in creative representations and the pedagogy of racial literacy.

Dianne Jones is an artist whose work deals with indigenous identity and cultural history.She is represented by Niagara Galleries. She also teaches a racial literacy course with Odette Kelada.

Assembly is a platform for open discussion in reponse to current events and ideas.

FOR ALL MEDIA ENQUIRIES, PLEASE CONTACT:

Pip Wallis, Curator – Communications Telephone +61 3 9419 3406
Email pip@gertrude.org.au
Gertrude Contemporary

200 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy VIC 3065 www.gertrude.org.au 

There are a few steps up into the gallery, but the gallery has a removable wheelchair ramp that can be put down on request.