Kooris invite us to visit, sit and stare at an Indigenous person
[Edited extract from public address]What: Come join in celebration of the relocation and opening of new premises of the Koorie Heritage Trust, Federation Square (Yarra-side opposite ACMI). Live performances Saturdays and Sundays.
Why: As quoted in The Age, Tues 30 June 2015, Trust chief executive Tom Mosby said "This is about us saying, 'we're not going to sit on the fringe any more'. This is about us being right in the centre and prominent, and that we're part of 21st century society." A range or artists including Jack Charles will participate. The welcoming eye-contact between artist, audience and passerbys are useful says artist Robyne Latham "to move past the shame, blame, guilt, all of those things that are in the collective unconscious of most of Australia, to go beyond that, to actually seeing the person".
How: Explore from Saturday the new centre over 2 levels. Ground-floor art gallery with store provides opportunities to peruse and purchase crafts, books and music. Upstairs, a selection will be displayed of the Trust's over 90,000 artefacts of eel traps, shields, jewelry, paintings and sculptures.
Who: The Koorie Heritage Trust offers a range of programs and services including the only public collection in Victoria dedicated solely to Koorie art and culture comprising artefacts, pictures and photographs as well as an Oral History Program and a Reference Library; cross cultural awareness training and tours; exhibitions; a Koorie Family History Service; and a retail shop.
Artist Robyne Latham's Inspiration: "...[My] work is a product of Aboriginal culture - a collectivist culture. There is no performer. All are participants. The performance is at the interface between two cultures, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal, free of guilt, shame, and blame."
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Koorie Heritage Trust, Federation SquarePauline Sloane, Curriculum Coordinator
Tel: (03) 8622 2611
Email: paulinesloane@koorieheritagetrust.com
Website: http://www.koorieheritagetrust.com/about_us
GEIFN Gatherers: "Experience first-hand how eyes are windows to the soul." | "i only have iiii 4 u" | "FaceTime Old School." |"In your face. In a loving way." | "Thankyou to this teacher, teachings and opportunity to share in this fearless, joyful and noble presentation." | "A real eye-opener" | "The energy in the room was welcoming, heart-warming and immeasurable" | "First thing is you'll need to lower your voice to hear properly" | "Stay to be speechless." | "Bravo. Emaho. Marvellous" | "Is it too early to ask for a mob version, I want to bring some brothers and sisters?"
