(percussive music)
- I'd like to take this opportunity this morning
to extend a warm and sincere welcome
to all my Aboriginal brothers and sisters,
Non-Aboriginal brothers and sisters,
welcome to Gadigal land
(diggeridoo plays)
- We learned from white people, white people learn from us.
So, we're all together, black and white.
- [Narrator] In October, 2010, as part of the launch
of the Art and Soul documentary series and exhibition,
the Art Gallery of New South Wales
hosted a three day celebration
of Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander art and culture.
- It's been a very, very active three days,
and it's absolutely bred life and air
throughout the entire building.
- [Narrator] Over 60 indigenous artists, performers,
dancers, musicians, academics, and writers
participated in these events.
(music)
- I'm a bat! Hello!
I've been flyin' around the art gallery
for the last three days.
I haven't slept, nope.
I've been waitin' up, waitin' up, waitin' up
for the biggest mob of people to come here, and they have.
And we've been lookin' around at all
of these beautiful artworks all over the shop.
They got so much Black Fella Art in here, it's ridiculous.
- [Announcer] And, the crowd is building up now, down there.
(crowd talking)
- [Narrator] One of the highlights was
the Gurrir Gurrir joonba, from the Community of Ormond,
or Turkey Creek in the East Kimberlies.
(crowd talking)
- I am Gabriel Nodea from Turkey Creek,
I'm the leader for the dances, performance.
(crowd talking)
- [Dancer] I'll tuck my guts into that.
(foreign language)
- [Narrator] There were artists' presentations,
workshops, and demonstrations.
- It's been amazing.
We've had people queuing up
for each station here to print a bag.
Originally, we all thought it'd be just families
and children, but it's not.
It's been a lot of tourists,
and even had some other indigenous artists as well here.
So that was a big buzz as well.
(straw zipping)
- Make that loop, pull it through.
(crowd talking)
(guitar and drums music)
- I've done a watercolour painting
of, just some mountains.
(axe chopping wood)
- [Woman] Same shells?
- Yes, their different shells.
(women talking over each other)
- Meeting places for women or men?
- [Narrator] Artists and writers gave talks.
- Thank you, the C.V. sounds pretty impressive,
but if you live long enough, you get to do a lot of things.
- You're going into the desert,
but you're going to make a film at the same time.
So, you're just going with friends to a really cool place.
- The culture of these poles is really important
that now they in the gallery.
- What happens when the history is distorted?
- So this is an artist, who is really,
even those ridiculous pigeon holes
that we all constantly have to work with,
is challenging those, even just within her practise.
Without any more further ado,
or do you-
- Keep going
(laughter)
- Looking at this incredible line up of talent here,
- Is to us, to yolngu people, very, very important.
- I still say that I'm an activist, and not an artist.
As soon as I get in trouble,
I'm a damn artist, I can tell yah.
'Cause artists get away with all kinds of shit.
(slow music)
- [Narrator] There were a variety of performances
(slow music)
( music)
(singing in language)
- We will put it down here, and we'll get you to file past.
- [Woman 1] That's got chile in it.
- [Woman 2] I haven't tried some here.
- [Narrator] The green room became a meeting place
for artists from all over Australia.
(diggeridoo plays)
(singing in language)
(drum beats)
(stamping)
(laughing)
- [Narrator] The culmination of the weekend
was the Gurrir Gurrir joomba.
- It's my wonderful privilege, and great honour
to now introduce the Gurrir Gurrir Ceremony.
(singing in language)
(drum beats)
(audience applauds)
(dulicmer music)
- I just love it!
- Like a rock concert!
- Good feeling. - Yes
- Makes me think about home.
Where the big hill is.
- It means I keeping strong and alive,
and our spirit is still with us.
(singing in language)
- I think it's been really good.
I think, you know, everyone's happy.
I haven't seen too many grumbly faces.
Ahhh!