"In the mean time" Exhibition

‘in the mean time’ is an exhibition responding to the governmental refusal to sign the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples which was recently considered by the United Nations General Assembly. The process was brought to a stalemate during the 61st session in September this year by Australia , USA , Canada and New Zealand . The Artists in the exhibition are representative of the four countries, commenting on the times that we live in.

Native American artist James Luna will show ‘Spinning Woman’ a video installation from ‘Emendatio’ his solo exhibition as part of the 2005 Venice Biennale. Showing alongside is Redfern-based painter Gordon Syron, an urban art pioneer with a penchant for the issues of (re)colonisation and Nadia McLaren offers her feature film documentary ‘Muffins for Granny’ a complex story of personal and cultural survival featuring interviews of six Native Canadian Elders who describe the physical, emotional and sexual abuse they suffered at Catholic Residential Schools.

Other artists in the exhibition examine a range of issues including cultural maintenance, media critique, pride, resistance and ecological sustainability through a range of contemporary artistic media.

The artists were brought together by Jenny Fraser, who says of the show “ ‘in the mean time’ highlights mean spirited actions that should never be suppressed, but brought out in the open and discussed in public forums and lounge rooms alike, communication is the first step towards problem-solving. This is not just a problem for Indigenous people, mean-spirited actions of governments affect most of us. The artists in this exhibition are strong people who offer food for thought”.

‘in the mean time’ will open at 6pm on Friday 7th December, 2007 at Raw Space Galleries, 99 Melbourne St, South Brisbane and close on Wednesday 2nd January, 2008, featuring James Luna, Gordon Syron, Christine Christophersen, Sharyn Egan, Nadia McLaren, Adam Martin, Andrew Hill, Bethany Edmunds, Kewana Duncan and artist/curator Jenny Fraser.

more info:

Raw Space Galleries - http://www.rawspace.org
'Muffins for Granny' by Nadia McLaren http://www.myspace.com/muffinsforgranny
Artist/Curator Jenny Fraser - http://www.geocities.com/dot_ayu/index.htm
contacts:
gallery@rawspace.org
dot_ayu@yahoo.com.au