HUW DAVIES GALLERY 3 to 20 May 2012
Image: Julie Garran, Backyard 1
Access all areas 2012 represents PhotoAccess in all its diversity with 107 works by 57 members—from black and white prints made by hand in the PhotoAccess darkroom to astounding, sophisticated digital images by Josh Dykgraaf and Ed Whalan, and Scott Newman’s beautiful tintypes reminding us of the earliest processes of photography.
It’s interesting to speculate on the motivation of members in making and presenting work. Scott Newman says his interest in the tintype came about ‘… after searching for a way to make photographs that were not only about the image but also about the object.’ Sean Davey’s two works seem to call up the memory of personal moments in an innovative and evocative way. For Julie Garran making work is often about family, and her quirky images could not have been made without the cooperation of close, very willing tiny people. Kerry Reed-Gilbert’s My land, my spirit and The road to somewhere connect to her cultural roots as does Jo Kamira’s Ta Moko. Suan Chin Wong’s Spring celebrates a time of quiet contemplation on the verdant shores of Lake Burley Griffin.
We welcome those who are showing in a members’ show for the first time this year. We are pleased to see images from three members we have worked with on a digital storytelling project with Karralika supported by the 2012 ACT Arts Fund. Josie Alexandra, Joel Johnsson and Emily Sargeson are young members presenting work for the first time.
Seeing work on the wall, particularly in the context of a group show, is a real learning opportunity for artists and one of the very important outcomes of our members’ exhibitions. This year’s postcards show from 26 July to 12 August and Hang It Yourself from 18 October to 4 November are the next shows open to all members.
The continuing involvement of artists who have had solo HUW DAVIES GALLERY exhibitions is very pleasing. This year they include Andrée Lawrey, Barb Smith, John Macdonald, Kerry Baylor, Ian Copland, Suzie Edwards, Julie Garran, Lauren Hewitt, Barbie Robinson, Lorna Sim, Tony Stewart, Josh Wodak and Ed Whalan. Two of our current artists in residence, Robert Agostino with two striking black and white prints and Julia Boyd, with her liquid emulsion portraits Ben 1 and 2 are represented in Access all areas 2012.
Also represented in the show are board members and advisers who volunteer their time and expertise to help PhotoAccess with its work (Bob Burne, Ian Copland, Lauren Hewitt and Tony Stewart); staff members; tutors—Jane Duong and Richard Scherer in particular; and volunteers (including Alan Charlton).
Engaging and challenging work has become the standard for PhotoAccess members shows, and Access all areas 2012 continues the tradition.
David Chalker
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Joseph Lafferty has published material titled ‘No Access at PhotoAccess’, ‘PhotoAccess what’s really happening’ and ‘Indigenous Culture disadvantaged at PhotoAccess’ and similar titles over the past three years.
The claims Joseph Lafferty continues to make about our organisation, board members and management are offensive, false and malicious. We have advice that some of the material he has published is defamatory and could lead to a successful legal action.
Joseph Lafferty was expelled from membership of PhotoAccess following a General Meeting of the members on 13 December 2007 for persistently and wilfully acting in a manner prejudicial to the interests of the association. His expulsion followed two years of informal discussion and counselling by the Chair, management and several PhotoAccess board members, and a number of formal opportunities to justify his position on issues and argue for continuing membership of the association according to the principles of natural justice incorporated in the PhotoAccess Constitution. None of his allegations were accepted by the board or by the members of PhotoAccess. The board rejected his views on several occasions, the members rejected them on two occasions: first at the March 2007 Annual General Meeting and then at a specially convened General Meeting on 13 December 2007 leading to his expulsion.
A January 2012 posting titled ‘Indigenous Culture disadvantaged at PhotoAccess’ was particularly inappropriate in the light of PhotoAccess’ longstanding commitment to working with Indigenous artists and our many achievements over the years. The article ‘PhotoAccess and Indigenous artists’ on our website shows how wrong and malicious his comments are. His recent comments concerning the constitutionality of our action in expelling him and refusing applications for membership are also wrong.
PhotoAccess continues to provide wide access to the photo based arts for artists and other people who are willing to observe its constitution and code of conduct, and to respect and understand its mission and programs. Joseph Lafferty has consistently demonstrated an unwillingness to do so, before and since his expulsion and, accordingly, will not be allowed the privilege of membership.
We have written to Mr Lafferty requesting that he remove the relevant articles from his website and any other places they may be accessed and that he cease his campaign of offensive, false and malicious allegations against PhotoAccess, its board members and management.
If you would like further information about this matter call PhotoAccess on 6295 7810 or email contact.us@photoaccess.org.au
Tony Stewart
Chair
We are pleased to announce that The Mac Experts has agreed to provide PhotoAccess with an IT support sponsorship.
The Mac Experts specialises in on-site and remote support, maintenance and pro-active monitoring, hosted Exchange mailboxes and web site hosting for Australian businesses. Information about the Mac Experts can be found at Mac Experts or by phoning 1300 720 172
Images: Kerstin Styche
PhotoAccess has a long history of supporting Indigenous artists.
With assistance under the ACT component of the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy we have been able to provide emerging Indigenous artist residencies based on digital storytelling and exhibition projects since 2006. The ACT Indigenous Arts Officer has worked with us in the selection of artists and implementation of these projects.
The aims of the residency program are to:
• assist emerging artists to develop their practice and present work to a wider audience
• provide established artists with opportunities to acquire new skills and produce and show new work.
Support for artists in residence includes membership of PhotoAccess, use of facilities and equipment, free enrolment in courses and workshops, help with grants applications, informal mentoring and advice, technical and creative support with projects and, in some cases, exhibition opportunities.
Details of each residency and the support provided are decided on a case-by-case basis and normally run for one year.
We also work in partnership with community organisations to provide learning and exhibition opportunities for young Indigenous people in the photo based arts.
This is a brief summary of our recent work with Indigenous artists and young people.
2011
Kerstin Styche, a Wiradjuri woman with family connections to Western New South Wales, born and raised in Canberra, was our fourth PhotoAccess Emerging Indigenous photographer. Her NAIDOC Week exhibition Walan Budhang Yinaagirrbang (Strong Black Women) showed in the HUW DAVIES GALLERY in July.
Kirsten was also selected for our Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT) graduate emerging artist residency. Her second exhibition, Identity Through Our Eyes, showed in the HUW DAVIES GALLERY in November and December 2011.
Catalogues for both exhibitions can be accessed by following the links below.
As well as her two PhotoAccess residencies and exhibitions, Kerstin was presented with the Len Barratt Award for the outstanding CIT graduate in photography in October, and named ACT NAIDOC Artist of the Year in July.
Walan Budhang Yinaagirrbang catalogue
Identity Through Our Eyes catalogue
2010
Nick Radoll, Tyrell Kamira Sams, Lyndy Delian and Jo Kamira were involved with the ACT Indigenous Strategic Arts Initiative run in 2009 by Ed Whalan for PhotoAccess and Jennifer Martiniello for Billabong Aboriginal Corporation.
Their residencies and exhibition were supported under the PhotoAccess Emerging Indigenous Photographer program. The 4 Emerging Indigenous Photographers exhibition was shown in the HUW DAVIES GALLERY in July 2010, opening during NAIDOC Week.
4 Emerging Indigenous Photographers catalogue
2009
Our second Emerging Indigenous Photographer was Lyndy Delian, whose exhibition 12000 was shown in the HUW DAVIES GALLERY during NAIDOC Week in July 2009. Lyndy spoke about her work and exhibition at a Sunday in the gallery event on 12 July.
AUtonomies by Jessie Boylan with Emma King was based on the Australian Government’s ‘Intervention’ in Northern Territory Indigenous communities. Jessie is a non-Indigenous woman who has worked extensively with Indigenous communities in northern Australia. Emma King spoke about the project and exhibition at a Sunday in the gallery event and we assisted with a short tour of the exhibition later in the year.
Working with Billabong Aboriginal Corporation and coordinator Jennifer Martiniello, we conducted two 10-week workshops as part of a photography project for young Indigenous people under the ACT Indigenous Strategic Arts Initiative.
2008
Otis Williams was our 2008 Emerging Indigenous Photographer. Crossing, his exhibition based on the Fitzroy Crossing community in Western Australia was opened in NAIDOC Week 2008.
Images: Duncan Smith
Duncan Smith is a Wiradjuri man resident in Canberra. He is an outstanding cultural practitioner and leader. His PhotoAccess residency and Back to Country exhibition was supported by the ACT Arts Fund and the ACT Indigenous Arts Officer. Duncan spoke about his Back to Country exhibition and the return to Wiradjuri country project which was the basis for his images at a Sunday in the gallery event on 26 October.
We provided technical and creative support for a film project with partner Southside Community Centre. I’m Awesome U Know was made by 22 Indigenous primary school boys involved in the ACT On Track Program. The project was coordinated by Cathy Laudenbach (Southside Community Centre) and Edwin Daughtry (PhotoAccess) with support from Ed Whalan. The project was assisted by a grant from the ACT Arts Fund. I’m awesome U Know was shown in the Multimedia Room in October and November 2008.
2007
Our second Indigenous Artists Digital Storytelling Project culminated in a NAIDOC Week exhibition of digital stories and other works by three artists—River by Jenni Kemarre Martiniello, Wiradjuri Echoes by Duncan Smith and Telling My Story by Renee Smith; the project was led by Ed Whalan and assisted by the ACT Indigenous Arts Officer
2006
The first Indigenous Artists Digital Storytelling Project culminated in a NAIDOC Week exhibition of digital stories and other works by Indigenous visual artists Leise Guthridge (Sisters’ stories—Anna) and Liz McNiven (Spiritual Land)
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