Syron Collection with Special Guest former High Court judge the Hon Michael Kirby

LEADING FIGURES  JOIN THE BATTLE TO SAVE SOME OF AUSTRALIA’S LEADING ABORIGINAL ART

There will be two special media events with prominent supporters of the controversial Aboriginal artist Gordon Syron will at the Chapel by the Sea, Bondi Beach.  The first of these events, Saturday 9^th July at 1pm will have as special guests Prof. Larissa Bahrendt and Jeff McMullen, while the second to be held at 6pm Friday 15^th July will have as special guest former High Court judge the Hon Michael Kirby. These three special guests are the patrons for this unsurpassed collection of Aboriginal art, ‘The Keeping Place.’ The events have been timed so as to be a part of NAIDOC Week.

The Syron collection was available for viewing while space was provided by the Redfern-Waterloo Authority before the collection was controversially evicted late 2010 due to the redevelopment of the site. Now homeless possibly Australia’s finest collection of Aboriginal art in private hands, is spread over several venues while most of it is in storage. The select representative pieces are currently exhibited at the Chapel by the Sea, Bondi Beach. Gordon and a number of prominent supporters led by the patrons above named, have been asking the State Government to purchase the collection and to ensure that it remains in public  space so all can have access to this brilliant collection. While huge amounts of money were found by the previous State Government for other projects nothing however could be found to purchase this collection. The patrons of ‘The Keeping Place’ and many others have come together to save this collection in an attempt to make sure it remains in public viewing as perhaps the most representative collection of modern Aboriginal art held in Aboriginal hands. The curator and Chapel’s minister, the Rev John Queripel, expressed his bewilderment and shame as to how ‘money could be found by the N.S.W Government for all manner of things from V8 races to the momentary display of fireworks yet nothing is available for this essential part of our nations ongoing history and heritage.’

The extensive collection features such well-known Aboriginal artists as Bronwyn Bancroft, Gordon Hookey, Christine Christopherson, Michael Riley, Adam Hill, Gordon Syron, Darren Cooper, Merv Bishop, Karen Casey, Tracey Moffatt, Carmel Nicholson, Euphemia Bostock, Daphne Wallace, Roy Kennedy, Jeffrey Samuels, Karla Dickens, James P. Simon, Laddie Timbrey, David Janganlinji, Shane “Yondee” Hanson, Genevieve Grieves, Tim Ives, Bev Coe and Michelle Blakeney.

The collection also contains: a didgeridoo collection, a book collection, a poster collection, a t-shirt collection, doll collection, artefacts and a rare sculpture collection. Robin Nganjmirra, eight (early) controversial Clifford 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, Dorsey Smith and 35 “Bunda” paintings from the Northern Territory and hundreds more.

Of his own work, Syron says ‘I don’t paint dots, my strength in painting is political", says Syron. "I use satire and raw imagery to send a message that Australian History has left out the Aboriginal people and their stories. Art is a way to convey and tell these stories. By turning around the picture - for instance to dress Aboriginal people in Redcoats and black boots and have white people standing naked holding spears on the shore when the first fleet arrived, as in my painting The Black Bastards Are Coming, it makes people understand and comprehend history in a different way.’

We would like to extend this invitation for you to join us at one of these gatherings. Gordon and Elaine Syron will be available for media interviews as will the patrons (Larissa Bahrendt and Jeff McMullen on the 9^th July) and Michael Kirby (15^th July) and the Chapel’s minister, the Rev John Queripel.

The Chapel by the Sea may be found, 95 Roscoe St, (cnr Gould St) Bondi Beach.

Press link to see Stateline Quentin Dempster's report on The Keeping Place
"Aboriginal urban art collection needs a home"
http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2010/09/10/3008952.htm

Jeff McMullen ABC - 60 Minutes presenter, Director of the Ian Thorpe Foundation, a spokesperson for the NT Territory Protest. http://www.icmi.com.au/Speaker/MCs_Facilitators/Jeff_McMullen/Biography

Prof. Larissa Bahrendt Professor of law at the University of Technology, victim of the stolen generation. http://www.businessday.com.au/money/investing/profile--larissa-behrendt-20100524-w5z1.html

www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/people/lunch-with-larissa-behrendt..  

The Hon. Michael Kirby Former High Court Judge

http://www.saxton.com.au/default.asp?sd8=10093

http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2011/04/05/3182477.htm?site=sydney

Sydney Councillor,Irene Doutney, Greens, Official Spokesperson for The Keeping Place.
 
The collection includes Gordon Syron’s most famous work ‘Judgment by his Peers’  - "Judgement By His Peers is in my view a national icon". (dated 18 Sept. 1995)  by Robert Tickner (Then Minister for Aboriginal Affairs)