"One must dig deep to unearth our histories, so that we may add our shell to the Shellmound of Healing that will build up to replace those torn down.
One must dig deep to keep going to share the story, even when its uncomfortable.
We are not buried people, we are here, alive.
Diverse, engaged and active."
a quote by Catherine Herrera 2010
As the name suggests 'Midden' is metaphor for collecting stories and a series of works exploring our beloved sea life, full of potential for sustenance and healing. Presented in Adelaide, the installment of works included a new video installation titled 'name that beach movie' and a performative response from invited guest artist James Luna, titled 'Knowing Your Points'.
'name that beach movie' is a video study specific to the fascination with coastal areas as a contested site. Most beach movies subconsciously say a lot about culture wars, often mirroring issues of belonging, identity, ownership, entitlement and consequent conflict.
"I like the notion of the ocean... it binds us, borders us, feeds us and then we become part of it again..." said James Luna in conversation about our shared art space, which has each of us working in combined autonomy and sovereignty. The new work 'Knowing Your Points' was a documented live performance and video installation.
The aim is to creatively enhance, reframe, re-mix and disrupt forms of storytelling to create informative art experiences and new ways of working for engaged audiences.
A new exhibition titled 'sights from sirens' with contributions from invited guest artists was presented in Japan in June 2014. This group survey exhibition of Aboriginal Women Photographers is a first for Australia, but as you will see here, the work and statements are very powerful.
Another installment of midden was in July, at blend(er) gallery in Joondalup, Perth, Western Australia, which consisted of a new series of prints which are still images from key scenes in the films featured in the video study 'name that beach movie' for the group exhibition titled 'Yey Sussurus'.
In 2012, the curated group exhibition 'love local Murri' was presented in Cairns. The exhibition showcased insider perspectives and the local wealth of creative talent including traditional and conceptual contemporary Aboriginal art such as shields, paintings, film, photography, portraits, video installation, prints and poetry.
We worry for our seas and waterways, and we worry for our cultural traditions and Indigenous Knowledges, so we bring these shows to you, in person and online, with good intention and good feeling.
Jenny Fraser
One must dig deep to keep going to share the story, even when its uncomfortable.
We are not buried people, we are here, alive.
Diverse, engaged and active."
a quote by Catherine Herrera 2010
As the name suggests 'Midden' is metaphor for collecting stories and a series of works exploring our beloved sea life, full of potential for sustenance and healing. Presented in Adelaide, the installment of works included a new video installation titled 'name that beach movie' and a performative response from invited guest artist James Luna, titled 'Knowing Your Points'.
'name that beach movie' is a video study specific to the fascination with coastal areas as a contested site. Most beach movies subconsciously say a lot about culture wars, often mirroring issues of belonging, identity, ownership, entitlement and consequent conflict.
"I like the notion of the ocean... it binds us, borders us, feeds us and then we become part of it again..." said James Luna in conversation about our shared art space, which has each of us working in combined autonomy and sovereignty. The new work 'Knowing Your Points' was a documented live performance and video installation.
The aim is to creatively enhance, reframe, re-mix and disrupt forms of storytelling to create informative art experiences and new ways of working for engaged audiences.
A new exhibition titled 'sights from sirens' with contributions from invited guest artists was presented in Japan in June 2014. This group survey exhibition of Aboriginal Women Photographers is a first for Australia, but as you will see here, the work and statements are very powerful.
Another installment of midden was in July, at blend(er) gallery in Joondalup, Perth, Western Australia, which consisted of a new series of prints which are still images from key scenes in the films featured in the video study 'name that beach movie' for the group exhibition titled 'Yey Sussurus'.
In 2012, the curated group exhibition 'love local Murri' was presented in Cairns. The exhibition showcased insider perspectives and the local wealth of creative talent including traditional and conceptual contemporary Aboriginal art such as shields, paintings, film, photography, portraits, video installation, prints and poetry.
We worry for our seas and waterways, and we worry for our cultural traditions and Indigenous Knowledges, so we bring these shows to you, in person and online, with good intention and good feeling.
Jenny Fraser
BUNURONG in HAWAII for the Cultural Animation Festival 2017
Opening Night Intro https://vimeo.com/216765340
BUNURONG In VENEZUELA for MICIV 2016
Muestra Internactional Cine Indigena Venezuela
http://www.yepan.cl/venezuela-peliculas-seleccionadas-para-la-iii-muestra-internacional-de-cine-indigena/
http://www.yepan.cl/venezuela-peliculas-seleccionadas-para-la-iii-muestra-internacional-de-cine-indigena/
NTBM In London for 'Networking the Unseen' Exhibition 2016
video work 'name that beach movie' was selected to screen for 'Networking the Unseen' at Furtherfield Gallery in London, United Kingdom.
theres a review of the group exhibition at this link http://www.aqnb.com/2016/08/17/networking-the-unseen-furtherfield-gallery-reviewed/
theres a review of the group exhibition at this link http://www.aqnb.com/2016/08/17/networking-the-unseen-furtherfield-gallery-reviewed/
LAUNCHED INTO OUTER SPACE FROM HOBART, TASMANIA
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video work australienation was chosen to be broadcast into outer space, via Cape Canaveral from the 2015 launch at the Odeon Theatre in Hobart, Tasmania.
Australienation was shot on the Great Barrier Reef, which is currently under threat. In 30 years time, when the Forever Now record is accessed, we will have seen the death of the Great Barrier Reef, and, as scientists predict, our society will bear witness to the death of sea life in general, all over the world. Part of the Forever Now Project, by Aphids, they contributed and collected from 118 different countries, Forever Now is this century’s response to the Voyager Records sent into space in 1977. It is a sequel and an update to that visionary gesture. Conceived and directed by Willoh S.Weiland. Curated by Willoh S. Weiland, Brian Ritchie, Thea Baumann & Jeff Khan. When Forever Now is received some 30 years later ‘they’ will hear and see what artists had to say in response to Voyager. To the task of communicating with the unknown in the 21st Century. A complex and articulate artistic collection that conveys come of the sublime irony and beautiful horror of being alive in 2014. A message for history again to judge. |
AT THE KAWASAKI CITY MUSEUM, JAPAN : SIGHTS FROM SIRENS

Sights from Sirens : 12 Aboriginal Women Photographers
Presented as part of the invitational JAALA Biennial in Japan, the exhibition will be held at the Kawasaki City Museum, June 7-15, 2014.
The Aboriginal contributions to the Biennial will be presented by cyberTribe and curated by Jenny Fraser, as a part of the 'midden' project and under the title of 'Sights from Sirens', a survey of Aboriginal Women Photographers.
Featuring: Michelle Blakeney, Gertrude Davis, Jo-Anne Driessens, Charmaine Green, Sharon Karami, Barbara McGrady, Sandy O'Sullivan, Colleen Raven, r e a, Vicki West, Nickeema Williams and artist/curator Jenny Fraser, and with writing from Tahlee Walsh.
click on the midden photos tab above for some of the works in the exhibition, and the biographies page for more info about the photographers and artists
Kawasaki City Museum info in English http://www.kawasaki-museum.jp/introduction
info about the JAALA Biennial at the Kawasaki City Museum
- the facebook page for the Kawasaki City Museum
- the facebook page for JAALA
- presented by cyberTribe http://cybertribe.culture2.org
- the facebook page for cyberTribe
This show of 12 Aboriginal Women Photographers, titled Sights from Sirens. is particularly significant as a large group exhibition of women photographers is the first ever large survey exhibition of Aboriginal Women photographers and they have been really enthusiastic about responding to the midden theme, with everyone making special efforts in offering our captured moments in goodwill for the consideration of Japanese artlovers. The group dynamic has been very motivating and its exciting to focus locally, but think internationally.
Presented as part of the invitational JAALA Biennial in Japan, the exhibition will be held at the Kawasaki City Museum, June 7-15, 2014.
The Aboriginal contributions to the Biennial will be presented by cyberTribe and curated by Jenny Fraser, as a part of the 'midden' project and under the title of 'Sights from Sirens', a survey of Aboriginal Women Photographers.
Featuring: Michelle Blakeney, Gertrude Davis, Jo-Anne Driessens, Charmaine Green, Sharon Karami, Barbara McGrady, Sandy O'Sullivan, Colleen Raven, r e a, Vicki West, Nickeema Williams and artist/curator Jenny Fraser, and with writing from Tahlee Walsh.
click on the midden photos tab above for some of the works in the exhibition, and the biographies page for more info about the photographers and artists
Kawasaki City Museum info in English http://www.kawasaki-museum.jp/introduction
info about the JAALA Biennial at the Kawasaki City Museum
- the facebook page for the Kawasaki City Museum
- the facebook page for JAALA
- presented by cyberTribe http://cybertribe.culture2.org
- the facebook page for cyberTribe
This show of 12 Aboriginal Women Photographers, titled Sights from Sirens. is particularly significant as a large group exhibition of women photographers is the first ever large survey exhibition of Aboriginal Women photographers and they have been really enthusiastic about responding to the midden theme, with everyone making special efforts in offering our captured moments in goodwill for the consideration of Japanese artlovers. The group dynamic has been very motivating and its exciting to focus locally, but think internationally.
AT TANDANYA INSTITUTE FOR FOUR ROOMS, ADELAIDE FESTIVAL
The Adelaide installment of midden was a collaboration between Murri artist Jenny Fraser and Native American artist James Luna, included in the 'four rooms' exhibition that marked the 25th Anniversary of the Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute, as part of the 2014 Adelaide Festival in South Australia. The works presented in Adelaide included new video installations titled 'name that beach movie' by Jenny Fraser and 'Knowing Your Points' by James Luna. The exhibition opened with a performance by James Luna on Tuesday 25th February at Tandanya, and ran until Sunday April 6. James Luna also spoke at the University of South Australia on the panel titled 'Re/generating contemporary practice' at as part of TURN, TURN, TURN for Artists Week, on Sunday March 2nd.
check out the short documentary made by Michelle Blakeney, by clicking here or on the 'Collaboration' tab above
links:
Four Rooms curated by Troy Anthony Baylis http://www.adelaidefestival.com.au/2014/visual_arts/four_rooms
Adelaide Festival Visual Arts Program http://www.adelaidefestival.com.au/2014/booking_guide/2014AdelaideFestivalVisualArtsGuide.pdf
Artists Week Panel http://www.adelaidefestival.com.au/2014/visual_arts/artists_week/day_three/turn_turn_turn
check out the short documentary made by Michelle Blakeney, by clicking here or on the 'Collaboration' tab above
links:
Four Rooms curated by Troy Anthony Baylis http://www.adelaidefestival.com.au/2014/visual_arts/four_rooms
Adelaide Festival Visual Arts Program http://www.adelaidefestival.com.au/2014/booking_guide/2014AdelaideFestivalVisualArtsGuide.pdf
Artists Week Panel http://www.adelaidefestival.com.au/2014/visual_arts/artists_week/day_three/turn_turn_turn
NAME THAT BEACH MOVIE II IN PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA
new print series in the group exhibition Yey Susurrus at Blender Gallery in Joondalup, July 2014, curated by Gemma Ben-Ary.
IN CAIRNS, FAR NORTH QUEENSLAND
a group exhibition curated by Jenny Fraser. See the photos page for more info and images.