2018 Indigenous Ceramic Award shortlist announced

From August to November, Shepparton Art Museum (SAM) will host the 2018 Indigenous Ceramic Award (ICA), the sixth in the series of SAM’s biennial award, showcasing new and exciting developments in the field. It contributes to the Art Museum’s significant holdings of Indigenous ceramics by Indigenous artists, supports Indigenous artists to pursue aspirational projects in the medium of ceramics and provides a national platform to share personal, historical and deep cultural learnings from artist and Country.

The inaugural award was held in 2007, after extensive consultation with local community members, industry specialists and stakeholders across Australia. At the time, the absence of a ceramics-focused award, and an identified trend – that artists were responding to a perceived market pressure to focus or convert their practice to paint on canvas – created a niche opportunity. This view underpinned the development of the award – an initiative that could celebrate both the historical and contemporary uses of clay, whilst stimulating growth in the practice. The ICA celebrates contributions pertinent to ceramics by revered Indigenous artists such as Thanakupi, and significant communities like Bagot or Hermmansburg.

In 2018, the seven artists have been shortlisted and invited to present a substantial body of new work for display at SAM from 25 August to 11 November 2018. Artists are from across Australia, and their works reflect the diverse approaches to the ceramics medium in a contemporary context.

The 2018 shortlisted artists are:

• Dean Cross (Worimi, ACT): Cross will be presenting a site-specific work that will be responsive to the architecture that confines it and will continue to respond directly to the situation it is presented in. Cross’ work seeks to challenge the Western canon of memorial statuary.
• Jackie Wirramanda (Wergaia, VIC): Wirramanda’s work will incorporate the colours of Lake Tyrell, a site which is both locally and culturally significant to the artist; it is a place referred to by the old people as one where the earth met the heavens. The work will represent the Creation story of Larnankurrk (seven sisters) of Wergaia area.
• Jan Goongaja Griffiths (Miriwoonga/Ngarinyman, WA): Goongaja Griffiths’ work will present scenes from her family history, including her father’s experience as an Indigenous stockman working for rations at Victoria River Station, NT in the 1940s. The work will continue in her practice of creating small figurines.
• Janet Fieldhouse (Torres Strait Islands, QLD): Fieldhouse, who is participating in her fifth award, will deliver large-scale sculptural forms, exploring themes such as the narrative of storytelling, abstract scarification, the beauty of landscapes, and sharing of knowledge.
• Jock Puautjimi (Tiwi, NT): Puautjimi will present lidded and unlidded vase forms which continue to explore Tiwi graphic mark making. Some lids will have symbolic sculptural pieces affixed. Puautijimi will also present representations of traditional pukamani poles.
• Penny Evans (Gamilaraay/Gomeroi, NSW): Evans will deliver pieces working with Thanggall and Giinbay (large and small freshwater mussel) ceramic forms, utilising terracotta, black and white clays.
• Yhonnie Scarce (Kokathat/Nukunu, VIC): Scarce will present a work that combines her signature glass vessels with ceramic forms, making reference to the oppressive behaviours that occurred during Aboriginal domestics’ employment, and how Aboriginal women were kept; hidden, covered and imprisoned.

Judging the finalists in the 2018 ICA are: Stephen Gilchrist, Associate Lecturer of Indigenous Art, University of Sydney; Genevieve Grieves, Manager, First Peoples Department at Museums Victoria; and Dr Rebecca Coates, Director, Shepparton Art Museum.

The 2018 ICA’s Project Curator is Belinda Briggs, Shepparton Art Museum’s Community Engagement Officer – Indigenous, working with Anna Briers, Curator, SAM.

Previous Awards winners include Kaiela Arts artists, Jack Anselmi and Cynthia Hardie in 2016; Bankstown Koori Elders Group in 2014; Janet Fieldhouse in 2011 and 2007; and Danie Mellor in 2009.

The 2018 ICA is developed in partnership with the Sir Andrew and Lady Fairley Foundation and Mr Allan Myers AC QC, supported by the University of Melbourne (Learning and Engagement Partner).

Important Dates:

• Exhibition opens to the public: Saturday 25 August
• Exhibition official opening and award announcement: Saturday 25 August
• Exhibition dates: Saturday 25 August to Sunday 11 November

sheppartonartmuseum.com.au