Dr. Nicholas Evans
Co-author, 'The Heart of Everything'
Nicholas Evans is Professor of Linguistics at the University of Melbourne. In addition to over one hundred articles or chapters on aspects of Aboriginal languages, he has written and edited some 10 books on linguistics, grammar writing and archeology. These include A grammar of Kayardild (1995), Kayardild Dictionary and Ethnothesaurus (2002) and A First Dictionary of Dalabon (with Francesca Merlan and Maggie Tukum (2004). His most recent book is Dying Words: Fragile Languages and What They Have To Tell Us (Blackwells, 2008). He has been involved in linguistic and anthropological work with the Kaiadilt community since 1982.
Louise Martin-Chew
Co-author, 'The Heart of Everything'
Louise Martin-Chew is a senior arts writer who has worked in the visual arts industry for over twenty years. She worked with the national touring agency Art Exhibitions Australia, 1986–1990 and was editorial manager of Art & Australia 1990–1992. Since, she has worked as a freelance writer based in Brisbane contributing regularly to The Australian, national art magazines, catalogues and books. She has written extensively on urban Aboriginal artists including Judy Watson, Fiona Foley, Richard Bell and Vernon Ah Kee as well as on the work of other indigenous artists including Dorothy Napangardi and Alick Tipoti.
Dr. Paul Memmott
Co-author, 'The Heart of Everything'
Associate Professor Paul Memmott originally trained as an artist and architect and branched into the research disciplines of people-environment studies and social anthropology. Since 1979, he has directed a multi-disciplinary consultancy practice in Aboriginal projects, providing culturally sensitive services to indigenous clients across Australia in both remote and urban contexts. He is the Director of the Aboriginal Environments Research Centre, University of Queensland and is widely published. He has had a close affiliation with the Lardil, Kaiadilt, Yangkaal and other peoples of the Wellesley Islands since 1973, including as expert witness anthropologist in their Native Title sea claim in the early 2000s. He released Gunyah, Goondie & Wurley: The Aboriginal Architecture of Australia, through University of Queensland Press in 2007.
Dr. Diana James
Author, 'Painting the Song'
Diana has worked with the Pitjantjatjara people of Central Australia since 1975 as a student of their language and culture, and reciprocally as an advisor in the arts and cultural tourism community owned enterprises. She worked as an arts advisor at Fregon, a bi-lingual teacher and arts educator at Papunya, Docker River and Pipalyatjara. Diana, together with Mantatjara Wilson, initiated the first meeting of the NYP Women’s Council in 1980 and served on the Council’s executive for two years. She was the co-founder and manager of the eco-cultural Aboriginal tourism business Desert Tracks Pitjantjatjara Tours with the Angatja family from 1988 to 2000. Diana holds a doctorate of anthropology from ANU and is fluent in the Pitjantjatjara language. Diana acknowledges with respect the generously shared oral wisdom tradition of song, story and performance of her Anangu teachers Nganyinytja, Ilyatjari, Andy Tjilari, Iwana Ken, Inawinytji Williamson, Mantuwa Treacle and Mantatjara Wilson and many others.
Her first book Painting the Song: Kaltjiti artists of the Sand Dune Country was released by McCulloch & McCulloch in May 2009.
Geoff Hogg
Author, Outer Site: the intercultural projects of RMIT Art in Public Space
Trained as a painter, Geoff Hogg was an early contributor to the revival of contemporary Public Art. He began his work with a strong interest in public forms including street installation, projection, integrated architecture and craft along with banner making, processional objects and in particular, large scale wall painting and drawing. This work grew from a concern to re-connect with under-valued sources and traditions in contemporary cultural life.
Professor Bernard Smith writes “In 1975 Geoff Hogg pioneered a new kind of mural that did not seek to reinforce ruling conventions but was addressed to the expression of local, regional, community, public and working people’s values”.
He has led over 60 large scale Public Art projects in Australia and overseas, bringing together diverse groups of artists, historians, craftspeople, community members, journalists, architects and related professionals. Pursuing his interest in cross cultural practice, he developed what are said to be the first joint Public Art projects between Chinese and overseas artists in China. In recent years he has worked extensively in Turkey, creating projects that draw on grassroots support at a local level in Australia to create links and develop imaginative connections for cultural dialogue and exchange.
Geoff Hogg is currently Coordinator of Public Art/Art in Public Space in the School of Art. Internationally renowned writer and art theorist, Lucy Lippard writes about this program: “Their practice as much as their projects provide a model for those all over the world who know that art really does build bridges and bears witness to its times”.
