2008 Update

2008 is nearly gone, and what a busy six months it has been since I last wrote on my Blogg. I am coming to the end of second semester year 2 of my degree at Griffith University South Bank. The longer I am here the easier it becomes. Exams and final assignments are paramount at present, so everything else has to just wait. Only one more year to go to complete my course.

Celebrating Mr Rudd’s Apology to all first Australians
When he delivered the national apology on Wednesday 13th February 2008, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd also promised practical measures to improve Indigenous lives. There is now debate over what the priorities should be when there are so many areas of disadvantage and dysfunction in Australia's Indigenous communities.
When Mr Rudd addressed Federal Parliament, he said the symbolism of reconciliation needed to be accompanied by substance - the practical measures that will hopefully improve the lives of Indigenous Australians.
Among the targets mentioned were halving the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians when it comes to literacy, numeracy, and employment opportunities, closing the 17-year life expectancy gap and reducing infant mortality rates. The question now being raised is where a good starting point to achieve some of these targets might be.
Tamara Mackean, the president of the Australian Indigenous Doctors' Association, is optimistic that a bipartisan approach will make a difference.” I think an approach that seeks to just get on with the business is going to be the key to moving things forward." my way to move things forward was to capture this moment on canvas for all Indigenous Australians.
The apology overwhelmed my family and me. The apology meant that the injustices were acknowledged; it was the finest thing that could happen to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait peoples and personally for our family. As an artist I have expressed my feelings on behalf of all first Australians living and those who have passed on. Drawing on the diverse lineages of cultural history and tradition across Australia I considered Parliament House as an important setting for the transformation of attitudes, fostering new dialogues, new engagements and new social and cultural milieus.
This piece of work ‘The Apology’ is conceptually rigorous, with consideration from the desert to the coast, living and past first Australians and evokes communal celebration. It is a balanced piece of artwork where I have taken white symbolism and integrated it with Indigenous symbols. I have incorporated my traditional lands iconic Gulaga Mountain and the most noted icon in Australia, Uluru, in respect for the desert people.

‘To just get on with business’ is a partnership I have established with the Heart Foundation. This celebration painting ‘The Apology’ was specifically painted for the Heart Foundation’s second East Coast Aboriginal Art Exhibition to be held at the State Library of Queensland from Tuesday 7th October to 14th October 2008. Funds raised through the sale of artwork will go exclusively towards funding a Heart Foundation Research Grant to improve the heart health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Six other well known East Coast Aboriginal Artists will contribute outstanding art work to this most worthy cause; Laurie Nilsen, Jennifer Herd, my beautiful daughter Raquel Jackson, Deb Taylor, Peter Mulcahy and Bianca Beetson. All work on display will be for sale and each artist will donate a commission of 25% from each piece sold. There will be a special Art Auction held during the Exhibition Cocktail Party on Friday 10th October. Each artist has donated a piece of artwork with all proceeds of the Auction going to the Heart Foundation.
The Heart Foundation saves lives and improves health through funding world-class cardiovascular research, guidelines for health professionals, informing the public and assisting people with cardiovascular disease. As a charity, the Heart Foundation relies on donations and gifts in wills to continue its lifesaving research, education and health promotion work.
The apology, and the Heart Foundation give a very meaningful purpose to the work I am doing, and is my way of ‘just getting on with business’, reinforcing the statement made by Mr Rudd ‘the symbolism of reconciliation needed to be accompanied by substance’.

I have posted this piece of work on the web site for all to see.

My next series of paintings
I am currently working on a new series of work called “On the Surface”
‘What does it mean to truly understand another person? I believe it is through empathy, the process by which we take the place of another, near or far, known or unknown. Empathy bridges the distance between human experiences, (Black and White) binding us to another in deeply personal ways that reflect our potential for shared experience and compassion. It is with this understanding that I will commit paint to canvas to develop my new series called ‘On the Surface’ it is my aim to have this series completed for my next major exhibition in 2009.

Undurba 30th Anniversary
I have spent the last couple of months working with Marilyn Carson - Undurba Indigenous Liaison Teacher and 75 Indigenous and Non Indigenous Children from Prep to Year 7 in preparation for the schools 30th Anniversary Celebrations. The children have painted their special message on canvas to be exhibited on the day.
It has been an interesting and rewarding exercise for me. There are 17 Aboriginal Children and 58 non Aboriginal Children taking part in the "Thank the Community Art Program". The Aboriginal children have learnt about culture, Aboriginal Art technics and protocols, and the non-Indigenous children have learnt understanding of Aboriginal culture and to have more tolerance through this understanding. The 58 non-indigenous children were chosen because of their artistic ability. The program has been so successful for the children, the Indigenous Liaison Officer Marilyn Carson, is trying to find funding to have an ongoing cultural program in the school for 2009. I have loved working with the children; the outcome has just been fabulous, with a couple of the children destined for bigger and better things with their art ability.


My exhibition at the State Library- 2008 Heart Foundation East Coast Aboriginal Art Exhibition.

The Art Exhibition which celebrates the strength, tenacity and generosity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders communities in taking a stand to join the fight against heart disease.
The Heart Foundation believes that by making real improvements in Indigenous heart health, Queensland can go a long way to closing the gap in life expectancy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. This year there were 6 other artists involved Raquel Jackson, Bianca Beetson, Jennifer Herd, Laurie Nilsen, Deb Taylor and Peter Mulcahy. There was a great selection of art on display and for sale; it just keeps getting better each year. Read the review by noted art writer Timothy Morrell on my web site under what’s new on the home page.

June 2008 Update

I have had a very busy 6 months since I last updated my Blogg. I had my art work excepted for the Pine Rivers Regional Art Gallery Exhibition in May, along with acceptance into The Churchie exhibition. I am making new friends along the way through these exhibitions.

I have a couple of combined exhibitions coming up in the next six months. I will be exhibiting at the Boboa Gallery in Latrobe Terrace, Brisbane on Saturday 21st June, and at the Queensland State Library from the 7th October until 14th October. The State Library exhibition will be raising funds for the Heart Foundation Indigenous Heart Research Programs.

I have signed up to go back to Griffith University in semester two, to finish year 2 of my degree. I have had a short break to sort out my business interests, but now it is back to the grind.

The apology to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people by Kevin Rudd on behalf of the Parliment was a very fine thing to happen earlier this year. Keep your eye open for my latest creation in celebration of this wonderful event. This painting will be launched September 2008.

My Journey Continues - January 2008

My Journey continues – January 2008
At the age of 60 my learning is continuing today through the discovery of Aboriginal culture and life. Through the passing down of stories and life experiences, all are adding to the richness of my understanding. Aboriginal culture is focused on recording the origins of life (Dreamtime). My life’s journey has been one of turmoil, anger and emotional highs and lows. Being part of the stolen generation has taken me from the point of anger for being denied the experience of being Aboriginal, to understanding why these choices were made. This part of my journey left me struggling for some time with my emotions.This loss of culture evoked some of my deepest feelings, to be reflected through my painting of Creation, Warrior Dreaming, Spirit of Innocence and Father Spirit being part of my Celestial Series and my linking to the Dreamtime. In support of the healing process for the generation of Aboriginal children, mothers, fathers and families of the Stolen Generation, I have committed to canvas a series of paintings depicting the lost spirits of Aboriginal Children. The next stage of my journey took me to a different level of understanding of the justice system, touching me to my inner core; where I could envisage what life was like before first contact to what had been endured over the past two hundred years. So profound was the effect on me I committed this image to canvas. I created Aboriginal Lore.These pieces of art have had a profound effect on white Australians who have viewed this work through my exhibitions. The general comment from the public was that it made the viewer feel the same connection to the past as the artist by the way the image evoked their emotions. This artwork also had a profound effect on close and distant family members. Once they saw this work, they realised my deep connection to my Aboriginality, and are now walking with me in support. What does it mean to truly understand another person? I believe it is through empathy, the process by which we take the place of another, near or far, known or unknown. Empathy bridges the distance between human experiences, (Black and White) binding us to another in deeply personal ways that reflect our potential for shared experience and compassion.

We have to know our history; we are people of our generation. We can look back with admiration, and hope to have some of those qualities that help us to remain true to our time. We have to acknowledge the complexities of our generation – our status and our connections. Through the approval of my community and family it has been acknowledged in my art that I have shown the positive of the dreamtime and how it was for the past 60,000years – I have endeavoured to carry on the age old tradition of telling Dreamtime and Historical stories through my art, in a passive mode. My journey into the future will be reflected in my next series of paintings ’Beneath the surface’.

More on My Journey

Since starting university in March, the year has gone by very quickly. I have experienced a range of emotions learning about the origins of aboriginal society and culture. It is a very exciting time in my life. These experiences have allowed me to experiment and broaden my artistic skills and abilities. I would like to invite you to visit my gallery and view the new editions I have just released. www.yuinart.com

Being part of the Griffith University community, a number of doors have opened for me. I was fortunate enough to be chosen to read for a part, and selected to perform in a short film called “The Walk”. The film was written by one of the Griffith University aboriginal lecturers, Marcus Waters, and tells of a story about racism between back and white and black and black. The film was shot at Beenleigh South Queensland on a cane farm not far from the coast. I play the part of the redneck farmer, with very little tolerance for the aboriginal boy dating my daughter. The film is currently being edited and should be available for release in New Zealand later on in the year.

I have also had the privilege of being part of the design team for the external wall of the new state library. The design measures 11mt x 7mt. The art team carved the design into panels of Hebel and Red Wood Timber. The panels will be moved to the Library and erected by September 2006. The team of aboriginal artists will have their names engraved into a brass plaque and placed near the wall.

Web Site you must visit. www.yuinart.com

Reflections on my journey

My reflection task is going to be about my journey covering pre-contact and first contact. This journey will take into account my beliefs, ideas, knowledge and values, from abstract concepts to concrete experiences. I will be taking my experiences throughout my life, up to the point of my first contact as an aboriginal in my mid fifties. Challenging some of my existing beliefs and having some of those beliefs affirmed. My reflection will take you through my personal growth and development and how that has impacted on my art practices and the impact on the people around me.

Throughout my life I was unaware that I was growing up with Aboriginals, this being my family and relatives. Due to the Government stolen generation policy, my grandparents and parents chose to hide this fact, and presented our collective family as Maori. I struggled all my life trying to connect with the Maori culture, where on numerous occasions I commented to my family that I felt more aligned to the aboriginal culture. It was through my eldest daughter Amanda’s family research, at the age of 55, that I was to be told I was of Anglo-Chinese-Aboriginal heritage. This news was received with great emotion.

My very first contact as an aboriginal man with the local community, being the Zillmere Community administrator, was a very negative experience where I was brushed off and told to go elsewhere for assistance. Through the family research, I was able to locate my grandmother’s brother’s family (Ahoy) in Armidale. To make first contact with this arm of my family, I made several phone calls with no response, undeterred I got into my car and drove to Armidale to meet with the family face to face. This initial experience was also negative, as my cousin Colin Ahoy implied that I was only following my Aboriginal roots to get onto the funding bandwagon. Both first contact experiences left me feeling disillusioned and confused. Three years on, I am
able to reflect on these instances with a greater degree of understanding and knowledge why the past events played out the way they did. Today I have an excellent relationship with the family in Armidale and with the local community in Brisbane.

My understanding of this first contact situation has come about from a number of scenarios and experiences, which has enabled me to grow my level of understanding through education and involvement with family and community. With the understanding of my Aboriginality came the understanding of how to communicate in a community environment giving all parties, family and community, common ground on which to come together. This understanding came from a number of areas such as my relationship with a police Aboriginal liaison officer Paul Coolwell, who in turn was my referee into QCA’s BOACIA program.

My learning continued and is continuing today through the discovery of Aboriginal culture and life within the University environment. Lecturers and fellow students passing down of stories and their life experiences, together with the formal studies are adding to the richness of my understanding. This life’s journey has been one of turmoil, anger and emotional highs and lows. This knowledge has taken me from the point of anger towards my mother and grandmother for denying me the experience of being Aboriginal, to understanding why they made these choices. To the sheer relief of not being subjected to the horrific injustices experienced by others who where forcibly removed from their families and denied a reasonable life and education. Both of these scenarios left me struggling for some time with my emotions.

This loss of culture evoked some of my deepest feelings, to be reflected through my painting of Creation, Warrior Dreaming, Spirit of Innocence and Father Spirit being part of my Celestial Series and my linking to the Dreamtime. Go to my Web site www.yuinart.com These pieces of art have had a profound

effect on white Australians who have viewed this work through my exhibitions. The general comment from the public was that it made the viewer feel the same connection to the art as the artist by the way it evoked their emotions. This artwork also had a profound effect on close and distant family members. Once they saw this work, they realised my deep connection to my Aboriginality, and are now walking with me in support.

The next stage of my journey took me to a different level of understanding and reflection with my involvement in the death in custody of Doomadgee and the meetings I attended through the support group. My involvement in presenting a partition outlining the message of dissatisfaction of the justice system to the Premier of Queensland touched me to my inner core. Throughout the semester I was also touched by our class on Pre-contact and First contact, where I could envisage what life was like before first contact to what had been endured over the past two hundred years. So profound was the effect on me I almost felt possessed to put this image in my head onto canvas. I created Aboriginal Lore on canvas. Throughout the semester I visited the exhibition on Broken Links. In support of the healing process for the generation of Aboriginal children, mothers, fathers and families of the Stolen Generation, I have committed to canvas a series of paintings depicting the lost spirits of Aboriginal Children. The first of this series has been completed.
These major events through Aboriginal history (post contact), has given me the impulse to record these stories of white injustice to canvas, as seen with my latest art piece Spirit Stolen.

In summary my relatively new experience with my Aboriginality has had my opinions shifted from a point of ignorance to a much-tempered realistic point of understanding. It is still with an element of frustration that I struggle with the inequalities and injustice experienced by Aboriginals from all walks of life. The racism within the white community towards Aboriginals and the racism within the Aboriginal community towards their own has me wondering where I fit into this turmoil. My journey has me committed to making a difference by passing on my life experiences through my ability to put these stories to canvas.