Art of the Skins: un-silencing and remembering

Abstract

Research Background:

Carol McGregor co-curated with Freya Carmichael and the kuril dhagun team at the State Library of Queensland (SLQ) the exhibition, Art of the Skins. The exhibition was displayed in the major exhibition hall at the SLQ, Brisbane (June to December 2016). It was underpinned by McGregor’s facilitation of over 55 Indigenous community workshops (conducted with Glennys Briggs) in the regions of Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast and Brisbane. The exhibition was comprised of six community cloaks that over 120 participants created. The stories of each cloak were recorded on touch screens as part of the exhibition. The team at kuril dhagun recorded the stories of the workshops which were displayed in the first room of the exhibition along with the research. Participant’s voices were recorded and played in the first gallery.

Research Contribution: It was the first-time since colonialisation that possum skin cloaks were created in these regions in Queensland. It was based on two years of primary research and community consultations. Before developing grants

Research Significance: The exhibition was funded by a number of research grants. One GC grant and two Sunshine Coast. Three Grant from State Library of Queensland. The cloaks have gone on to have very strong cultural lives. For example, the Kubi Kubi cloak has been use for. Each cloak has a committee that looks after the cloaks. Brisbane Cloaks in the Queensland Museum. It was reviewed in the Brisbane Times 26 June 2016. McGregor spoke about the exhibition at Museums and Galleries National Conference.