An Ocean Of Hurt...

I don't really know what this blog is for anymore. Is it for art? Is it for promotion of my art? Is it a progression of my artistic practice? Perhaps it's an artwork all in itself. Mostly today I want to share with you what I've been going through and how it's broken my heart.

Last week I miscarried. It's the second time in a year. It's left me confused. I don't understand. I'm fragmented/broken/shattered. Now I'm trying to put it all back together in a way that fits and somehow makes sense.

About three weeks ago I read out a letter I'd written for Women of Letters, it was addressed to the missing piece of my puzzle. My missing puzzle piece was the child I hadn't conceived yet. Here's the letter:

To my missing puzzle piece, 

You are so wanted. You are my heart’s greatest desire. In my secret place, you already exist. In my dreams I’ve seen you. You’re big and healthy and gorgeous, with big blue eyes. My husband and I have cried in anticipation of your conception. We’ve prayed tears of hope and faith that one-day you will be in our arms. We don’t know why it’s taking so long for you to join us and make us complete but we have faith that you will arrive at the perfect time. A small bundle of joy that we can love and nurture and find pleasure in. We already have your name; we just need your face.

When I was young, I thought that I could get pregnant anytime.  I don’t mean anywhere, like at the beach or the fish and chip shop or the skate park but I believed that just coming near a mans nether regions meant that I was going to get pregnant, it was as easy as zapping leftovers in a microwave.

As I got older, I had a few serious relationships and had myself put on the pill so I couldn’t get pregnant. I spent years on it. It messed with my hormones.

Then there came a point in my life where I developed a deep faith in God and I knew I didn’t want to do that anymore. I wanted a husband and a family. I decided that I wouldn’t be with another man unless I knew that he would be my husband and the father of my children. More than that, I resolved that I would not sleep with him until I was married to him. I went old school.

Then I met him, Dan, your future Dad, and he wanted the same thing. So that’s what we did.  It was not easy.  But it was well worth the wait.  I learned so much through that experience and a trust developed between us that I had never felt before.

So two years ago we got married and went on our honeymoon. We were both so excited to begin trying for a family straight away believing that it was going to happen instantly. Well something did happen. I got thrush and a UTI. There had been so little downstairs activity for so long, it just couldn’t cope. So there we were, on our honeymoon in the hospital in Bali trying to explain what was wrong so that I could get antibiotics so that we could resume our lovemaking and baby conceiving.

And we did. However, I kind of went crazy bonkers psycho. I obsessed about it. Two months and 13 pregnancy tests later, I realised I had lost the plot.

To be honest, up until that point, I still believed it was easy. At 36 years of age, I was completely unaware of anything to do with fertility, ovulation and egg white mucous. Sorry to go there. At the risk of exposing my stupidity (which, just to clarify, is often mixed with moments of pure genius), I didn’t even realise that I had to time having sex with my husband to fall in line with me ovulating. I literally thought I could get pregnant at any time during my cycle.

All those years of being on the pill could have been avoided had I just been told that there was really only a window of a few days that I could fall pregnant in. The pill messed with my hormones. Seriously, I could have done with that information years ago.

So now, many dinners out have been spent discussing ovulating. It’s quite a mealtime topic and finally, I’m an expert or eggs-spert perhaps.  Sorry.

You already have a brother or sister. We’ve never met him or her either. They only made it to a few weeks old. But in our minds, we had dreamt their entire future lives with us. We were devastated when we miscarried. Cried for days. Couldn’t believe that it hurt us both so much. It really exposed our hearts and our vulnerability. How can you love something so much that doesn’t even exist?

We have such amazingly full lives but are keenly aware of something missing. We had been so excited that we told everyone. Then we had to tell everyone the bad news. It was hard but our friends and family sustained us. It brought us closer.

We learnt that so many people go through the same thing too but no one really talks about it. It’s weird. I don’t quite get why we’ve set up this miscarriage etiquette where we don’t tell anyone we are pregnant until we are at 12 weeks. Who are we protecting? I get that it’s hard to share bad news with people but in my experience, sharing it and being supported by the community around me was the catalyst for healing. If we share the good times, shouldn’t we share the bad? We are designed to be in empathy with each other.

Now of course, people will lovingly lean in towards me and ask me while giving a subtle nod to my tummy ‘How’s it going?’ I never know what to say. If you are a close friend and I can be inappropriate, I’ll say ‘Great, still shagging away’. Otherwise, I don’t really know how to respond. Something like, ‘Good, we’re enjoying trying’ might work. I’m never really sure whether they’re asking about how efficient we are at making babies or if I’m pregnant already. Perhaps I should seek clarification. So awkward.

I know the day is coming when I’ll be able to say yes, it’s gone so well I’m actually pregnant. Our prayers will have been answered and we will give thanks to God. I’m not sure I’ll be able to wait the 12 weeks before I blurt it out, I don’t even know if I want to. I’ll be too excited and I know now that whatever happens I’ve got great people around me who are going to sit with me in the good times and the bad.

But you, my precious little baby to be, will be growing in my tummy and I’ll feel you and we will bond, even before you see the light of day. I’ll be your Mummy and Dan will be your Daddy and we will speak to you and sing to you and dream of what you look like. And the very thing we’ve longed for will be our reality. Not just a dream and a hope but a child of our very own.

We already love you, the missing piece of our puzzle.

One day after writing this letter, I found out we were pregnant. We were so over the moon. We completely allowed ourselves to fully surrender to the pregnancy and fall in love with our child to be. We didn't reserve any part of our hearts for just in case. We trusted God and let our friends and family know. Then the inconceivable happened. Again.

The sadness has consumed me. I watched myself, my husband, my hope and my dreams sink into the deep unknown waters of an ocean of hurt. I'm struggling to resurface. Yet somewhere deep in my heart, there's a small voice that says, this isn't over, the journey is not finished. This is a bump in the proverbial road and, that at the end, my unborn family is still waiting for me.

How do we trust God when it seems like he is allowing our dreams to be shattered? Sometimes, we believe that because we are good people that bad stuff shouldn't happen to us. But life is both joy and pain, ecstasy and suffering. It is no different with God. However, with God, everything has a purpose. We just don't always get to see the purpose whilst in the midst of the suffering. Our vision is not clear, out thoughts are twisted. But if we don't turn away from Him, there will come a time when we see the purpose in the pain.  It's happened before in my life and it will happen again.

I'm not there yet.  I'm not sure I will be for a while.  But I will still believe.

Question: Why do you think we don't tell people we're pregnant until twelve weeks?

Upcoming Shows and talks...

A couple of interesting shows that I have work in are about to open and well worth having a look at.  The first is:

Make Up: painted faces in contemporary photography 
Monash Gallery of Art

I'm loving this show.  Portraiture is one of my all time favourite mediums and this show displays some beautiful examples.  This is the catalogue.

I'm also giving an artist talk, alongside Eric Bridgeman just prior to the opening, this Saturday at the MGA from 2pm.  I hope you can make it.

The second is:

Ghost Citizens: Witnessing the Intervention which opens next Thursday night, 16th May with a public program on Saturday 18th May that I'm in.  Should be a fantastic show.  Here's the flyer:

Seedtime & Harvest

Last year I had the privilege of working with the Centre for Contemporary Photography and the Royal Women's Hospital to create new new large scale photographic prints for the foyer of the new hospital building. I've got a bit of history with the hospital. I was born there and so was my Mum. In fact, I was born on my Mum's birthday (3rd February) in the same hospital (The Women's) and delivered by the same doctor. I was my Mum's only child, so you can imagine we were close. Also, my grandfather, aunties, uncles and many other of my family have been born there. A Melbourne girl and family through and through. So when I was asked to make this artwork I was elated.

I spent time at the hospital trying to discern the heart and the culture of the place. I got to meet amazing people like Jo and Terori who run the Aboriginal Women's Health Business Unit. After two weeks there, I came away fully invested and wanting to celebrate The Women's while acknowledging the past.

There's a great article by Liza Power in 'The Age' that goes into much more detail about the whole process and specifically talks of the hospitals history of forced removal of babies, what' they've done about it and where they're headed, something that was close to my heart. Have a read. In the meantime, here's some snaps of the work.

Seedtime, 2012.

Harvest, 2012.

Installation shot, 2012.

Installation shot, 2012.

With Helena (RWH) and Karra (CCP), 2012.

Just When You Thought You Had It All Figured Out...

Something strange has happened to me over the last few years. I know what it is, it's just that it's hard to explain to everyone else. How do you explain that your entire way of knowing yourself and this world has shifted? Something that I thought was so concrete - me and my beliefs - were in fact, very fluid and changeable. A few years ago, I believed in God. I thought He existed but that He was kind of impersonal. It didn't matter whether or not I was particularly good or bad, believed in Jesus or another God because He loved us all and I was always going to heaven. Actually, I thought that people who really devoted their lives to God were of the weaker variety, that they needed a crutch, something to fill in the obvious holes in their intellect and strength. In the meantime, I found myself searching for the truth. I read The Secret, How To Heal Your Life, A New Earth and anything else Oprah recommended. Sometimes, I would stumble upon some principle that would impact me for a while, like positive affirmations, but nothing lasted, I was never permanently changed or radically more peaceful. Then I realised that the problem with all of these books is that they make me god, I'm the one who controls my reality. But how can I be god, I'm imperfect, I can't rely on myself, I often get things wrong, I have nasty and mean tendencies and I have no ability to do anything supernatural like create life. I was always left wanting more. The truth was elusive but I was still searching.

Years ago, I served two years in prison. I was 24 when I was sentenced to four years for supplying drugs with two years before parole. I deserved it too. I was out of control, a drug addict who was selling party drugs in nightclubs. I was breaking the law and in fact, was a law unto myself.  It wasn't big time. I wasn't raking it in or storing away bags of money like Gina Rinehart. I was using all my profits maintaining my addiction, while I slowly moved closer and closer to death. I'd had a tough life and started taking drugs at 13 and 11 years later, I was 42kg, overdosing regularly, going into psychosis often and had no control over myself and my actions. I wanted to stop but I couldn't. I was a spiritual prisoner long before I became a physical prisoner.

From the very first day in prison, I kept a diary. It's on display right now at the Museum of Contemporary Art at Circular Quay in Sydney as part of a show called Taboo, curated by Brook Andrew. I didn't realise it at the time but the diary tells the story of me meeting God. From the moment the first cell door was locked in front of me, God was with me. Now how does someone with a rational mind explain this away? I can't. I can only tell you of the experiential things that occurred to me. Every time I was put into a cell, there was something there that was just for me - a bible, a cross, a scratching on the wall telling me that Jesus loves me. There was a knowing - that I was not alone, that it was over, that I could stop running, stop being in charge, stop trying to stop the pain. And I was comforted. All by myself, in tiny cell after tiny cell, I felt an overwhelming sense of peace, comfort and love. Somehow in the core of me I knew that it had been the action of God to put me there. That this was His way of saving me. Then Betty and Anita showed up, visiting me over and over again. Two Christian volunteers who gave of their time, life and love, listening to my pain, comforting me and introducing me the bible. They were like a light from heaven in a dark place where no one really cared at all. They told me how God was not impersonal but in fact knew me by name, knew exactly how many hairs were on my head, had collected all my tears in a bottle and had sent His son Jesus to earth as a human to live a life where He did nothing wrong only to be punished and die so that He might take my punishment for me. Within a short time, I had decided to ask Jesus to take the reins of my life as I was making a mess of it and believed that He was the way.

The problem was that I didn't turn wholeheartedly to God. I just kind of said, yep, I'll have you but only when I need you and I'll still keep doing many of the things that I want even though I know they are not right and that they lead to pain. I must admit that I was also afraid of what people would think about me, having spent so many years trying to be validated by others to be ok within myself. I didn't want to be one of those people who was weak and needed a crutch. So I kind of secretly believed in Jesus for many years but still kept searching for an answer that was easier, required nothing of me and way more cooler, like Buddhism. But none of that worked either.

So a couple of years ago, I turned back to Jesus. I started praying regularly and reading the bible everyday. I got baptised in water and over the course of the next few months, something supernatural happened. The entire way that I viewed myself and the world changed. No one told me how to see things in this new way, it came from within. I started to see from an eternal perspective. I started to see from a spiritual perspective. Destructive, habitual behaviours that had been entrenched in me for years just disappeared. Things that I had invested so much of myself into no longer held the same importance. People who I had superficial relationships with began to fall away. I was no longer the same. I remember trying to explain it to a friend who is not a Christian and she remarked 'You are being born-again'. It blew my mind. It wasn't just some catch phrase that you attribute to a set of decisions but an actual spiritual process that you go through because of a decision. It was real. God was real and He is huge. The bible is real. Jesus lived, died and was resurrected. The supernatural power of God is real. The spiritual dimension is real. God's Truth is real. This changed everything.

With that revelation, I could no longer go back to living the way I was. I was forever changed into something new and it was both amazing and terrifying. When everything you know and thought you knew no longer makes sense and this whole new world of truth, life, love and sacrifice opens up to you, it takes a little while to get a grip on it all. Becoming the thing that you ridiculed, that you thought was weak and inferior can be hard to accept. Learning that it is in fact the opposite, the hard road, that you need more strength than most to go down it, that it requires more thought than the way I was living before has been a radically life changing experience.

So here I am, a girl who thought she had it all figured out, then God comes into my life and turns it completely on it's head. How do you begin to explain this? I'm still trying to figure it out. One thing I know for sure. This is my life's journey now. I will never go back. You can't experience the sacrificial love, compassion, mercy and heart of God and remain the same. You can't receive the miracle of being set free from bondage and keep the news of that freedom to yourself. My life and my art can only reflect this as I give all that I have back in gratitude to the one who created me and loves me.

Bindi Cole, in prison, 2001.

Taboo @ Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney..

Can you believe it's almost Christmas? My year has been one of trial and triumph. It's been tough but ultimately I'm better for it. Today though, I'm exhausted. I have decided to get fit, so I've been up early exercising (or trying to) and due to my level of fitness (none), it tires me out. I'm sure sooner or later, I will actually be able to cope with exercising and daily activity. Anyway, I digress.

The last few months, I've been working on new artwork for a show opening next week called TABOO. It's been curated by Brook Andrew and is showing at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) all through summer - 19th December 2012 to 24th February 2013.

I've made a new video and installation work titled EH5452 which I'm really excited about. Here's the artist statement:

EH5452 is a cathartic experience for Bindi Cole. Not many people know that she has spent years in prison doing time. This experience was a life changing one. However, Bindi still carries shame around it. Feeling like she doesn't want to share the experience for fear of what people will think, EH5452 is an attempt to alleviate the shame of the experience by bringing it to the light, staring it in the face and sharing it with the world, regardless of the consequences. EH5452 aims to turn something dark, hidden and shameful into something light, revelatory and beautiful. It's time to be who she really is, inside and out. 

Here's a still from the video:

I'm really chuffed to be a part of this exhibition. I've always loved the MCA and make time to visit it whenever I'm in Sydney. The show opens next week and is free for everyone.  I hope you can make it.

I'm also doing an artist talk on Thursday 20th December at 2pm along with Judy Watson, Eric Bridgeman and others. Please come and say hello.

That's it for now and remember Christmas is all about Jesus.

I Heart Cooking

Many of you will be unaware but I absolutely love cooking. This morning, I set the alarm for 7.15am just so I could get up and bake fresh scones. I'm kind of famous for my scones amongst my friends. I use a Nigella recipe from How To Be A Domestic Goddess. I've used it for years. The page is so covered in scone dough gunk that I don't even have to find it, it just falls open to it. My secret ingredient is to add a little cinnamon sugar. Then whipped cream and jam. I love it. As I sit here typing they are baking in the oven.

When I was much younger, I was a full on stoner. I spent most of my teenage years stoned. In my late teens I met Adel, a gorgeous young thing with red hair who had Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Adel was kind of house bound at the time. She would spend her days on a mattress in the lounge room watching daytime soaps and cooking shows. Then she would cook and she was simply brilliant at it. This suited me to a tee. I would go to her house, stoned, chill out in her lounge room, watch daytime soaps and eat her food.

Well, I'm no longer a stoner and that's a good thing but because of Adel, my love for cooking has developed into a real passion.

How White is Our Art?

I know that it's short notice and I'm terrible at keeping this blog thing up to date but I thought I'd post the details anyway, so that those of you who do bother to look here might get the information on time. This Thursday the 25th October 2012, I am a guest on the panel discussing - How White is Our Art. It is part of the A Question of Identity Series being presented by the Melbourne Festival and the Wheeler Centre.

I'll be joined by Lesley Alway, CEO of Asialink, African singer/songwriter Kobya, Michael Agar, whose works promotes cultural exchange between Australia and our neighbours and the discussion will be moderated by Damian Smith, curator and art critic.

It's $20 full price and $12 concession.  Here's the blurb from the website:

Some believe that multiculturalism is ‘a racism of anti-racists’ that ‘chains people to their roots’, as controversial French writer Pascal Bruckner has said. But curator Damian Smith believes that histories and traditions don’t need to be restrictive: artists can draw on these rich resources as part of the tapestry of creative expression. ‘In the hands of artists, culture can be a springboard to knowledge and transformation,’ he says. How is Melbourne’s chorus of cultures reflected in the art we produce and promote? Does the rich diversity of our markets and restaurant strips translate to our galleries and stages – or to the boardrooms of our major organisations, where decisions are made? And does it matter? Damian will conduct a many-voiced discussion on cultural diversity and the arts in Australia.

You can also follow the links above to get more information and to buy tix.

Hope to see you there. And just because I can, here's a little Monday morning goodness.

Conteporary Australia: Women & MoNOW

Happy belated Easter everyone.  I hope that unlike me, you did not indulge in copious amounts of chocolate but were much more restrained.

There are two shows I would like to draw your attention to.  The first has already opened and is garnering quite a lot of attention. MoNOW by weaustralians.org showcases a whole bunch of Aussie artists (including myself) with the hope of inspiring new ways of seeing contemporary Australian society and has programmed heaps of events that you might be keen to see.  Also, Dan Rule did a write up on the show in The Age called Reimagining Plato in playdough which at this stage you can read for free as you don't have to subscribe to read The Age online unlike other papers.  Here is the poster for MoNOW (I love the poster artwork by Paul Yore):

Next up is the Contemporary Australia: Women show at the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art.  The show is the second in the QaGOMA's Contemporary Australia triennial series - the most extensive regular presentation of contemporary Australian art in the country (according to the website).  I have made brand new work for this show and am very excited to show it, talk about it and see it hanging on a wall. It's an installation piece made out of about 10,000 emu feathers. Very exciting.

I will also be travelling to Brissy for the opening weekend.  Looking forward to the warm weather as Melbourne just starts to cool down. There really is an amazing list of artists participating as well as a Women In Film side program which I'm looking forward to seeing.

Here's a bit more info from an article by Bridget Cormack called Queensland Galleries shows both sides of women's work.

Hope to see you around the galleries....

Ab Blaster 40,000

I thought I might share this video with you.  I was asked to make new artwork for the 2010 Next Wave Festival Sports Club Project.  Obviously, the art was themed around sports.  Being someone who loves to poke fun at stereotypes, I thought I'd pull apart the notion that all Aboriginal people are good at sports.  Personally, I know plenty of uncoordinated blackfellas.  So I called upon two good friends of mine, Kamahi Djordan King and Bryan Andy, who so kindly volunteered their time and talent.  

I included a few portraits that I had taken a number of years (2007) back when photographing a calendar of Aboriginal sports stars.  The calendar, called Men In Black, was the major fund raising activity for the Unity Foundation which was run by Alan Murray and Xavier Clarke, both footy players from St Kilda Football Club (Go the Saints).  I don't know if this charity still exists but at the time they were providing support services for disadvantaged Aboriginal kids.  

The video hasn't had much of an airing so I thought I'd give it some shine.  Oh, I should also mention that it was edited by my amazing friend Joske of Joske Films.  I hope you enjoy it.  

Xavier Clarke & Allan Murray

Greg Ingliss

Xavier Clarke

Nathan Lovett-Murray & Andrew Lovett

Anthony Mundine

Contemporary Aussie Women...

Happy New Year everyone.  As always, I'm a lil bit slow (a late bloomer) but there you go.

Thought I'd start the year with some breaking news and some older artwork.  My intention is to try to get all my old work onto this blog.  Fingers crossed it won't be as long between posts.

So the news is the list of artists in the new Queensland Gallery of Modern Art exhibition showcasing Contemporary Australian Women artists has been announced.  Very happy to be a part of this show alongside some full on amazing artists.  Here's a link:

Contemporary Australian: Women

Here's a spiel I just stole from the website which makes me sound pretty pretty pretty flash.

Contemporary Australia: Women’ is the second in the Gallery’s triennial series featuring the best in current art from this country, and is the most extensive regular presentation of contemporary Australian art. This major group exhibition of over 70 works by 33 women artists and collectives recognises the outstanding contributions of women to contemporary Australian cultural life: it marks current achievements and will be a landmark into the future.

So, I've known that I'm in it for ages and have been making a new installation for the show.  It's almost finished and I'm excited for you to see it.  However, I'm going to wait till I put it out there and in the meantime, I'm posting some older work.

This series was commissioned as part of a show called A Time Like This.  It was a group show held at the Margaret Lawrence Gallery at the Victorian College of the Arts.  The show celebrated 100 years of women's suffrage.

I worked with artist Lorraine Connelly-Northey and writer, Jirra Lulla Harvey as well as featuring very beautiful Koori women.  We researched how women's voting rights had affected Aboriginal women and then branched out into the other big women's movements of the last century.  This work was created in 2008.

The Original Women's Land Army

How To Vote Part 1

How To Vote Part 2

Not Really Aboriginal...

I thought I might give you an update on some of my old work.  This seems to be a topical series to add right now giving the recent Andrew Bolt ruckus.  In fact, it was this series that brought me to his attention.  He ended up seeing a media release on the series which was part of the 2008 Next Wave Festival at the Centre for Contemporary Photography.  I made this series in response to certain prevailing attitudes that I was aware of.  The first being that when I identified as Aboriginal, people would often respond by saying, but you're not really Aboriginal.  This was because I don't fit the stereotype of what Aboriginal is ie. living in a remote community, very dark skinned and suffering from dysfunction.  However, my grandmother always taught me to identify as Aboriginal and to be proud of the heritage I shared with her. The second attitude was one of lack of integrity.  That, in fact, the only reason I was identifying as being Aboriginal was to obtain some amazing benefits that were to be had by being Aboriginal.

So I was well aware of these attitudes.  The response that I got from Bolt completely validated my thoughts and well, now, the rest as they say, is history.  My identity and integrity was challenged by Bolt, brought to the light in Federal Court and proved to be genuine and honest.  Now both his identity and integrity, on the other hand, have been brought into question.

Tip of the day:

You better make sure that the position you take when making artworks that provoke, is one you stand by as you may end up defending that position in court.

Catz

While I'm here in New York, I'm missing my lil furry son, Scribbles (the Gangsta cat) so much.  I miss him snoring like a human, being a grump, leaving fur all over my clothes, the trill sound he makes when he's happy, meeting me at the door when I get home and snuggling under the doona and spooning me when he's cold.  I've also spent the last day on the phone to my husband because Scribbles got into a fight and came out of it with three major wounds.  He's a tough 7.5kg thug of a cat.  So it must have been a serious fight for territory.  Anyway, in the meantime, until I see him again, I find solace in Simon's Cat videos and illustrations.  Enjoy....

Need some motivation?

Gosh, I know I do today.  Somedays it can be so hard to push forward through the things you need to do.  Somedays I just have no strength.  Then along comes something that just gives me that little push that I need.  Today, it was these words.  Hope they help you too.

Wise words..

Coming up..!

It's quite strange to be experiencing the victory over Bolt while living (briefly) in Brooklyn, NYC.  On one hand, it's nice to be away from it all and on the other, it would have been good to be in the thick of things.  Such is life and such is a busy one!

I wanted to let you know of a couple of events that I am participating in over the next few weeks.  While here in NYC, I am a part of two very exciting projects.  The first being the staging of the exhibition 'Saying No' at MoCADA.  'Saying No' explores how urban Aboriginal people reconcile spirituality.  This exhibition was first shown in Melbourne at the Arts Centre under the name 'Nyah-bunyar' and is a show I curated.  It is currently on at MoCADA as we speak until November 6th 2011.  There are a couple of talks that I would like to highlight:

Curators Talk with myself and Kalia Brooks (MoCADA Director of Exhibitions) @ 7-9pm, Thursday 29th September.

Guided Exhibition Tours with myself @ 6-8pm, Thursday 6th October and 1-2pm, Saturday 8th October.

The second project that I'm involved in is called Art in Odd Places and is an arts festival exploring ritual, ceremony, habituation, myth, obsession, superstition and liturgy.  My project is called 'The Shelter Under The Shadow Of His Wings'.  Again a few different events that I will be a part of that I highly recommend.  Firstly, the opening reception, where I will be staging the first part of my project at Theatrelab, 137 West 14th Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues @ 6-9pm.

I am then taking part in a panel called Ritual in Public Space with Dr Stephen Hazan Arnoff, May Joseph and Setha Low on Tuesday, 4th October, 6pm @ Pratt Manhattan Gallery, 133 W 14th St, 2nd Floor.

Lastly (for this post anyway), I will be staging my project, 'The Shelter Under The Shadow Of His Wings' during a tour of the festival by curators Kalia Brooks and Trinidad Fombella on Saturday 8th October, 4-5pm @ Our Lady of Guadalupe church on 328 W 14th Street.

I hope to see you at one of these events and please feel free to always come up and say hello... 

It's not so hip to be racist...

We won! We won! Such a relief and overwhelmingly good!  There is free speech, and there is then the responsibility not to hurt or incite hatred within the community. Noone doubts Bolt's right to express his views, but his are sometimes mis-informed, exagerrated and vicious. He needs to show and take responsibility.  Thanks to everyone who has been supporting me and the mob in this case over the last few years. I am thankful to have the opportunity to defend our right to identify as Aboriginal and to be proud.  And of course to stand up for my integrity as a person who has sacrificed and worked extremely hard to achieve. What a great day. 

Kristian Haggblom in Melbourne

Earlier this year I had an exhibition at the Perth Centre for Photography. Sharing the space with me was an artist called Kristian Haggblom. His photos are very beautiful and they have now come to Melbourne. I thought I'd share his amazing work with you and hope you have the chance to take a look.

You can view the details here: Beam Contemporary

Two new shows!!! A solo in Melbourne and a group in NYC..

I have two shows that I really want to tell you about. The first is my new solo show titled Seventy Times Seven opening at Nellie Castan Gallery at 6pm on Thursday 15th September 2011. This show is like a mini survey style show with a selection of works from over the last few years as well as a brand new video piece that I'm excited to show you. Hope you can make it.

Nellie Castan Gallery Link...
Seventy Times Seven Facebook Event Link...

The second is a show that I curated called Saying No which is now on at the Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Art in Brooklyn, New York City. This show was originally a part of the Melbourne International Arts Festival and was called Nyah-bunyar (Temple) and looks at the way urban Aboriginal people reconcile spirituality.  I also have the same new video piece that is showing in my solo show, exhibited in this show.

I will be heading over the NYC for a month on the 16th September to officially open Saying No and run a public program over there.

Saying No @ MoCADA, NYC Link...

There's lots happening right now and I hope that I see you somewhere out and about.

Bindi x

No Dots Down Here Edition 3 & 4...

Hi there folks and welcome to the first post for 2011.

Since posting edition two of No Dots, I have managed to put out another two! So, I hope that you enjoy them. I of course have had the help of so many great Victorian artists and writers who make the newsletter what it is. I am posting links to download both editions and it is really worth the read.

Edition 3 LINK: No Dots Down Here Edition 3

Edition 4 LINK: No Dots Down Here Edition 4..

Please let me know what you think.

If you would like to subscribe to receive the newsletter as it comes out (quarterly) or submit information/articles etc, please email art@koorieheritagetrust.com

While I'm at it, feel free to visit the Koorie Heritage Trust anytime. I work there part time, putting out No Dots, I have also had an exhibition there and I love the place...

bindi x

Whitewash - a video and soundscape on the waterwall at the NGV International...

Yes, well it truly is a big week and I have not had a moment to spare getting ready for it.  Head down, bum up as they say.

I am really excited about Whitewash.  It's great the the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) are supporting Reconciliation week by promoting political contemporary Aboriginal artwork that references evil government legislation like the White Australia policy.  So props to the NGV.  Also, when I was invited to do something, I was talking to a friend of mine, Ash Keating about what to do and he suggested projecting onto the water wall.  So props to Ash for that.  When I asked the gallery if it would be possible, I was sure they would say no.  But I was wrong.  I have a feeling this is the first projection ever onto the water wall.  It will be rear projected (from inside the building) onto rear projection screen material (mounted on the inside of the water wall - the dry side), at night-time, with speakers mounted outside for the soundscape.  Here are some photos I took of Ben who features in the video projection:

And here's the spiel:


Whitewash is a new projection & soundscape work by Bindi Cole that will be projected on the water wall at the NGV International at nighttime during Reconciliation week 2010. Whitewash explores Aboriginal stereoypes and their impact, the effect of government legislation such as the White Australia policy and the impact of colonisation on Aboriginal communities. Whitewash features Aboriginal performer, Ben Graetz and children from both the Geelong High Scool and Kunrunjang College.  The projection will run every night for a week from 6pm to 1am starting Thursday 27th May 2010.  Stay turned for details on a Friday night celebration with the NGV!!

So that's about it.  I hope that you have a chance to come and take a look and if possible join me for the celebration.  I will be able to confirm the details tomorrow.

bindi x