This year the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) offers a dynamic program, of the best of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art, music, dance and fashion in this annual tropical celebration that celebrates the very best of Queensland Indigenous culture.
CIAF 2016 kicks off with the Opening Night party on Thursday 14 July. Guests will enjoy fine food and drink while watching a stage lineup led by music legends Buddy Knox, Roger Knox and Vic Simms, and a never-before-seen performance by the Pormpuraaw dancers and their totem, an eight-metre ghost net crocodile. The Gondwana Children’s Choir is to be a part of this memorable performance, opening the CIAF 2016 event.
The CIAF Art Fair exhibition, titled Cultural Bliss, is a collection of art from across Queensland, co-curated by CIAF Artistic Director, Janina Harding and renowned curator Hetti Perkins. Cultural Bliss features works by individual Queensland Indigenous artists and those from participating art centres and collectives.
According to Harding she chose the theme as a survey of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander happiness.
“Cultural Bliss will show works inspired by artists’ sense of emotional well-being,” Harding says.
“It gives participants a chance to re-define perceptions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their communities.”
A bustling Art Market will operate throughout the weekend, giving visitors the opportunity to buy smaller art works, jewellery and handcraft, directly from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists.
The now famous CIAF fashion performance, is this year called Jana Jaral (Respect), once again curated by Grace Lillian Lee and choreographed by Fiona Wirrer-George. The increasingly popular fashion spectacular has been extended this year, offering two sessions on Friday night 15 July at 6:00 and 8:30pm, so no one misses the opportunity to experience the talent of local indigenous designers and models.
“Jana Jaral demonstrates the respect of the old and new coming together, while developing new ways of sharing the strong messages of pride, preservation and acknowledgement,” Lee says.
The lawns around the Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal, dubbed The Green, will come alive with a dynamic event program, including: Dancing on the Green, high-energy daily entertainment of traditional and contemporary Indigenous dance and musical entertainment; Evening on the Green, a mellow evening of sophisticated jazz music by Wilma Reading and her trio; and the UMI Arts annual Big Talk One Fire concert featuring a line-up of local Indigenous talent.
The Green will play host to visitor participation with artist-led workshops, running throughout the weekend, providing hands-on experience with art and craft techniques including ghost net and traditional weaving, lino-cut printing and felt jewellery making.
Also held on The Green, Gungun Warruwarru (Children’s Corner) is a space where Queensland’s Indigenous artists share their art making skills with members of the next generation.
New to CIAF this year is the Chill Room, a multi-purpose venue catering for both Blak Release and CIAF Conversations. Blak Release is a selection of archival films, screen art and documentaries by and about Queensland’s First Peoples.
Harding says CIAF Conversations will provide visitors with the opportunity to hear from artists, including Stephen Page, Grace Lillian Lee, Brian Robinson, Ken Thaiday and Mavis Ngallametta in conversation with Murrumu Waluburra.
“Artists will talk about the process of collaboration and creation, the challenges of travelling with their work and the rigours of taking their art overseas,” she says.
The event will wind up late Sunday afternoon with a collaborative goodbye from CIAF 2016 performance artists, the Gondwana Children’s Choir and Cape York Aboriginal Academy Brass Band.
Events affiliated with CIAF held at other venues around Cairns include several exhibitions at Cairns Regional Gallery, Impact: New Media Works, features the work of artists Grace Lillian Lee, Brian Robinson, Toby Cedar and Claudia Moodoonuthi; the Tanks Arts Centre exhibition, Freedom of Expression showcases artwork from Indigenous inmates of four Queensland correctional centres; and three Kick Arts exhibitions featuring Badu and Moa islands print makers and Aurukun artists.
Cairns Indigenous Art Fair is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland’s Backing Indigenous Arts Initiative, a program that aims to build a stronger, more sustainable and ethical Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts industry in the State. It is also supported through the Visual Arts and Crafts Strategy, an initiative of the Australian State and Territory Governments.
The Cairns Indigenous Art Fair is part of Tourism and Events Queensland’s It’s Live! in Queensland major events calendar. Check out Queensland.com/events for a comprehensive calendar of exciting Queensland events.
The Cairns Indigenous Art Fair offers an exclusive opportunity to experience the traditions of Indigenous communities from Queensland in a true celebration of culture, art, fashion, music and performance. It will be held at the Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal, opening the evening of 14 July and running through to 17 July 2016.
The Cairns Indigenous Art Fair is part of Tourism and Events Queensland’s It’s Live! in Queensland major events calendar. Check out Queensland.com/events for a comprehensive calendar of exciting Queensland events.
View the full program online here. To plan your own individualised program download the event app here
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