An Aboriginal Keeping Place… ...celebrating our survival… ….growing our culture… …protecting our heritage… …keeping our community strong… - by Larissa Behrendt, Professor of Law, UTS The Vision… To create a National Aboriginal Keeping Place / Cultural Centre in Sydney that celebrates our survival providing a space for the contemporary expression of our contemporary culture, protects our heritage and keeps our community strong. Our plan is to find a benefactor who will purchase the Black Fella's Dreaming Museum's collection and use it to found the Keeping Place for the absolute benefit of the Aboriginal communities. The benefactor will not sub-divide the collection. Artworks by Gordon Syron and photographs by Elaine Pelot-Syron will be loaned to and preserved by The Keeping Place. Aboriginal communities will benefit in the following ways: The Possibilities … A Cultural Centre – There is a need for a national cultural centre in an urban area that provides a space for the celebration of and for interaction with our contemporary urban culture. This can include the hosting of workshops on painting, sculpture, performance, music, the creation of Aboriginal cultural artefacts and creative writing. A Celebration of Survival – A space dedicated to the preservation of our culture & traditions and archives the history & stories of urban Aboriginal people. An Educational Environment – A space dedicated to teaching our culture and history is a place where Aboriginal and non aboriginal communities can learn about the diversity and vibrancy of our Aboriginal cultures. An Opportunity for Economic Development – A cultural space that focuses on showcasing contemporary Aboriginal culture also provides an opportunity for economic development by creating a place where Aboriginal artists can sell their art to the public. Self Development Programs: We hope that the cultural centre will be committed to developing youth leadership and prison rehabilitation programs. These programs will be aimed at developing self-esteem, confidence and vital life skills Opportunities for Employment and Training – The Keeping Place will provide a large range of opportunities for the employment and training of Aboriginal people in order to staff the centre, curate the material, educate the public and run the operations with transparency, accountability and good governance principles. The Collection… The heart and starting point for the Keeping Place / Cultural Centre is the Gordon and Elaine Syron Black Fella's Dreaming Museum. It is an important collection that contains many of Australia’s leading traditional and contemporary Aboriginal artists such as: Bronwyn Bancroft, Gordon Hookey, Christine Christopherson (Kakadu mining), Michael Riley, Adam Hill, Gordon Syron, Danny Eastwood, Darren Cooper, Merv Bishop, Karen Casey, Carmel Nicholson, Euphemia Bostock, Daphne Wallace, Roy Kennedy, Jeffrey Samuels, Tracey Moffatt, Karla Dickens, James P. Simon, Laddie Timbrey, David Janganlinji, Shane “Yondee” Hanson, Tim Ives, Bev Coe and Michelle Blakeney. The collection also contains: a didgeridoo collection, a book collection, doll collection, artifacts and a rare sculpture collection. Some other important traditional pieces are: two large bark paintings by Robin Nganjmirra, eight (early) controversial Clifford Possums, 4 early Gabriella Possums, 66 body paintings by Emily Kngwarreye and her family, Mary Dixon, Gordon Pupugamirri, Kamahi Djordon King, Djawida Nadjongorle, Abraham Dakgalawuy, Lindsay Bird Petyarre, David Cameron, Joshua Bangarr, Chris Ngaboy, Yarramunua, Vivianne Gilbert Muiya, Billy Petyarre, an early Michael Jagamara Nelson, an early Lily Sandover, 40 “Bunda” paintings from the Northern Territory and hundreds more. On May 14th, a catalogue of 1400 artworks in the Syron's collection was finished by the not-for-profit organisation & volunteers, headed by Rona Wade,
Executive Director and CEO,
UNILINC Limited, online. http://www.unilinc.edu.au/events/seminar_nov08_program.pdf A catalogue of 547 artworks has now been valued by Adrian Newstead, ex-CEO of Deutscher-Menzies Auctioneers and Director/Owner of Coo-ee Aboriginal Art Gallery. The acquisition of the Syron Collection will provide a significant foundation for the important cultural archive that the Keeping Place / Cultural Centre will host. Support Committee: Rhonda Dixon-Grovenor, Performer & elder, completing masters in Aboriginal studies/wellbeing Prof Larissa Behrendt, Prof of Law – University of Technology Sydney, NAIDOC, awarded Aboriginal person of the Year 2009 Djon Mundine, Senior Aboriginal Curator - Campbelltown Art Gallery Michelle Blakeney, Still Photographer & Youth Worker, Indigenous project officer, Marrickville Council Josephine Cashman, Indigenous Solicitor Genevieve Grieves, Indigenous Film-maker and Oral Historian (with work-experience at Koori Heritage Trust, Vic.) The Australians - SBS. Margo Neale , Special Advisor, Senior Curator National Museum Australia, Canberra Jonathan Bogais PhD, Advisor - The Keeping Place, Consultant to National Geographic International. Official Patron: Chika Dixon: Elder & respected leader of the Aboriginal people of Australia. Here's the link for The Keeping Place documentary:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37QvjbwcUs4 Director: Martin Adams Producer & Sound: Jason De Santolo DOP & Editor: Fabio Cavadini Narrator: Amanda King Speakers: Prof Larissa Behrendt, UTS (recently named Indigenous Person of the Year 2009) Adam Hill, Artist, Activist, & Musician Gordon Syron, Artist & Custodian of The Keeping Place
Artworks: Courtesy of The Keeping Place, Redfern. For more information please go to our website: www.blackfellasdreaming.com.au
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