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Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art
l-r Archie Roach / The Medics / Bunna Lawrie
MEDIA RELEASE
10 MAY 2013
PUBLIC CELEBRATION, ARCHIE ROACH, THE MEDICS AND BUNNA LAWRIE TO OPEN ‘MY COUNTRY’ AT GOMA
A free day of talks and discussions, culminating in a one-night-only Up Late event with live music from Archie Roach, The Medics and Bunna Lawrie of Coloured Stone, will mark the opening of the Gallery of Modern Art’s exhibition ‘My Country, I Still Call Australia Home: Contemporary Art from Black Australia’ on Saturday June 1.

Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) Director Chris Saines said talks, discussions, film and performances on the opening day would expand on the themes of the exhibition, which includes more than 300 art works by 115 artists from every state and territory.

‘We are honoured that Archie Roach will perform as part of My Country Up Late,’ Mr Saines said.

‘Roach’s life story and career is one of the most inspiring in Australian music. Over numerous acclaimed albums, and collaboration with the likes of Paul Kelly and his life partner the late Ruby Hunter, he has established himself as an important storyteller for Aboriginal Australia and the Stolen Generations.

‘Also performing is one of Australia’s most lauded new rock groups, The Medics.

‘Formed in Cairns in 2007, The Medics recorded two EPs and moved to Brisbane before releasing their acclaimed debut album The Foundation in 2012. For this performance, they will be joined by special guest Bunna Lawrie, founder of seminal Aboriginal rock band Coloured Stone.’

Mr Saines said a Welcome to Country by Traditional Elders and official opening by Minister for the Arts Ian Walker MP on Saturday morning would be followed by a day of talks and discussions with exhibiting artists, curators and writers.

‘Gordon Hookey will talk with children and families about his major Children's Art Centre exhibition ‘Kangaroo Crew’ and Reko Rennie will discuss his site-specific commission Trust the 2% 2013, which will adorn the GOMA Foyer wall,’ he said.

‘Exhibition curator Bruce McLean, Curator, Indigenous Australian Art, QAGOMA, will be joined in conversation by artist Archie Moore to talk about works from his series On a Mission from God 2012.

‘Delving deeper into the themes of the exhibition, curator and writer Hetti Perkins will host a discussion with exhibiting artists Michael Cook, Megan Cope and Fiona Foley, while writer, artist and academic Brenda L. Croft will chair a panel with Gordon Hookey, Douglas Watkin and Judy Watson.

‘The cinema program My Life as I Live It: First Peoples and Black Cinema, will commence with a screening of Essie Coffey’s My Survival as an Aboriginal at 4pm in Cinema A.

‘Exhibition Media Partner ABC Radio National will broadcast their Weekend Arts program live onsite from 2pm,’ Mr Saines said.

All programs and performances, including Up Late, are free to the public.

‘My Country, I Still Call Australia Home: Contemporary Art from Black Australia is on display at the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA), Brisbane from June 1 to October 7, 2013. Entry is free. The exhibition is supported by PanAust as Major Sponsor, and Radio National as Media Partner. This project has received financial assistance from the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland’s Backing Indigenous Arts initiative.

Gordon Hookey’s ‘Kangaroo Crew’ will be in the Children’s Art Centre, GOMA from June 1, 2013 to January 27, 2014, and is sponsored by Brisbane Airport Corporation. The Children’s Art Centre publication The Sacred Hill is sponsored by Solutions in Engineering. The Children’s Art Centre is sponsored by Santos GLNG Project.

For program times and more information, see www.qagoma.qld.gov.au/mycountry

 
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