Kinship at the Cairns InstitutePresented by the Indigenous Art Centre Alliance (IACA)

above: Nancy NAAWI and Emma GELA, Garden ladies 2012, recycled ghost net.top: Sue PASCOE, untitled 2013, acrylic on linen.bottom: Wanda GIBSON, Magpie goose 2013, acrylic on canvas.

above: Edna AMBRYM, Eclipse over Yarrie 2012, linocut on paper.cover image: Doris KINJUN, Bagu 2013, ceramic.

The Indigenous Art Centre Alliance (IACA) proudly presents thefirst members exhibition to celebrate the opening of the new Cairns Institute building.

Kinship at the Cairns InstituteA group exhibition of Indigenous art from across Far North Queensland.

8 July – 2 August 2013

To be opened on Monday 8 July at 12.30pmby Solomon Booth, President, Indigenous Art Centre AllianceThe Cairns Institute building, James Cook University, Cairns Campus, McGregor Road.

QueenslandGovernment

Josiah OMEENYO, Back to my homeland 2012, acrylic on canvas.

WelcomeAs the Manager of the Indigenous Art Centre Alliance (IACA) and on behalf of the IACA Management Committee and members, I would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Elders past and present, of the land on which the new Cairns Institute building rests.

Kinship at the Cairns Institute is the very first group exhibition of art work from the community-owned and run Indigenous art centres of Far North Queensland (FNQ). This exhibition, conveying the strength of Indigenous art across the FNQ region, has been mounted in celebration of the

opening of the new Cairns Institute building and in the spirit of collaboration that exists between IACA and the Cairns Institute.

The art you will see here today is a selection from thirteen remote and very different communities, which emanate from the immense geographic sweep of Far North Queensland, from the Torres Strait Islands, through the Cape to Cardwell in the south,a diverse and complex region. Artistic expression is helping to bring this diversity together, binding Indigenous artists across FNQ through an affinity with land, sea and culture. This is kinship; an alliance of Indigenous art centres connected by a desire to create art with integrity.

IACA is the peak body that supports these remote FNQ Indigenous art centres. IACA works to support, develop and progress the profile of Queensland Indigenous art, economic development of artists through their art centres, and the maintenance and celebration of the rich and diverse culture of FNQ Indigenous communities.

This exhibition has been an inspiring artistic and logistical collaboration by the artists, art centre managers, IACA Management Committee and staff. It has been curated by experienced art centre manager, Jeannie Heynatz of Yalanji Arts and the exhibition displays paintings, prints, sculpture as well as woven and ceramic objects; all works are available for purchase. We sincerely hope you enjoy viewing Kinship at the Cairns Institute.

Pamela BigelowManager, IACA

Kinship can be forged from a shared affinity, common characteristics or through similar origins. Our exhibition, ‘Kinship’, reflects the relationship between artists, art centres and organisations such as the Indigenous Art Centre Alliance (IACA) that help to bring diverse groups and communities together from across Far North Queensland (FNQ) with a common desire to advance Indigenous art and culture.

Visually, ‘Kinship’ serves to demonstrate the wonderful disparity of styles, techniques, mediums, and innovations that occur across this vast region.

‘Kinship’ is also about relationships and partnerships, not only within the Indigenous arts community but also with the institutions that support it. Under a synergistic auspice arrangement, James Cook University through the Cairns Institute has supported IACA as it has grown and emerged to fulfil its role as the peak advocacy and support body for FNQ Indigenous art centres. So, when we were approached to help celebrate the opening of the new Cairns Institute building by presenting an exhibition, IACA wasonly too happy to oblige.

Now an independent body, IACA looks forward to building on our relationship with JCU to help advance the Indigenous art of Far North Queensland.

Solomon Booth, President, IACA Management Committeewith Anthony Murphy, Member, IACA Management Committee

The Kinship at the Cairns Institute exhibition is the culmination of a strategic and productive partnership between the Indigenous Arts Centre Alliance (IACA) and the Cairns Institute. We are very pleased that this exhibition has been mounted for the Opening Ceremonies for our new building.

We have an iconic new structure to house the staff and graduate students of the Cairns Institute, together with staff from IACA, a building that brings us together in our research focus on tropical societies.

This exhibition has the best of the work from artists across the 13 communities of the Cape and Torres Strait and represents a range of artistic media. We are proud to bring the IACA partnership with the Cairns Institute to this point of creative production.

Sue McGinty BA DipEd (UWA) MA PhD (UIUC)

Acting Director, The Cairns Institute,James Cook University

top: Sid BRUCE, Rainbow Serpent 2013, recycled ghost net and wire.bottom: Valmai POLLARD, So Many Warraba 2013, ceramic. above: Marlene HOLROYD, Jellyfish 2013, recycled ghost net and wire.