Flying Arts Alliance Chair Prof John O’Toole Opening Address

Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to Flying Arts, the POP Gallery and this beautiful exhibition.

My name is John O’Toole, and I’m Chair of the Board of Flying Arts Alliance and your MC today.

First of all of course, we must pay our respects and thanks to the traditional guardians of the land these artworks are adorning, and for their careful curating of art, as a central part of the way humans live, in this place for thousands of years so I would like to make our acknowledgment of Country to those traditional owners, the Jagera and Toorbul people.  

Now on behalf of Flying Arts, I’d like to welcome all you distinguished art lovers and tragics, to the Metropolitan Launch of the 9th Queensland Regional Art Awards Exhibition, State of Diversity. Dr Christian Rowan, member for Moggill and Shadow Minister for the Arts, Mr Paul Venus from Holding Redlich, the sponsors of our major prize; Ms Sam Jorgensen from Tim Fairfax Family Foundation, our generous major donors; Ms Tania Hall from Arts Queensland, who also look after us so well; and our hardworking Board members.

This is our metropolitan launch of what is really a regional art award, so we are thrilled that several of our stellar prizewinning artists and two of the judges have managed to make it today to this far-flung South East corner of the state, and all of you guests and spectators too – I suppose some of you might even live here!  

Unfortunately, we have a few unavoidable apologies, from our Patron, the Hon. Paul de Jersey, Governor of Queensland; our faithful cultural patrons themselves, Tim and Gina Fairfax; and from our Arts Minister, the Hon Leeanne Enoch. Now the idea of a Metropolitan Launch of a regional art award is not as silly as it sounds – once upon a time we always did it this way – but today’s launch is actually setting the scene for our big gig, the proper Regional Launch in June, which is much more conveniently placed for everyone, you’ll agree, in Charleville! We hope to see those luminaries there, who are all loyal fans of Flying Arts… and of course to welcome for a second look some of you too. 

Talking of a second time, this is actually the second year running we’ve been honoured to welcome to our launch Dr Christian Rowan, Shadow Minister for the Arts, Hon Member for Moggill, and incidentally, I discovered last year, my wife’s mother’s best friend’s grandson! To you, Dr Rowan.

Address from Dr Christian A. C. Rowan MP, State Member for Moggil, Shadow Minister for the Arts

Good Evening Ladies and Gentlemen, 

It’s my pleasure to be here today at the Metropolitan Preview of the Queensland Regional Art Awards State of Diversity Exhibition as the Liberal National Party’s Shadow Minister for the Arts, and as the State Member for Moggill in the Queensland Parliament 

Being Shadow Minister for the Arts, I’ve been fortunate to see first-hand the full breadth and depth of artistic talent here in our great state of Queensland.  

Having had the opportunity to briefly examine some of the outstanding pieces on display here tonight, can I just say that plenty of that Queensland talent can be found right in this gallery.  

I’d particularly like to acknowledge the emerging artists living in regional and remote Queensland and the emphasis on showcasing the diverse elements of these remote communities. 

Having a been a former President of the Rural Doctor’s Association of Queensland, I understand that our rural and remote communities are an integral part of our economy, as well as Queensland’s history and culture. Importantly, art, is inextricably linked to many regional, rural, and remote communities.  

The importance of fostering artistic talent across Queensland cannot be understated. As Queensland’s Shadow Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, I know full well how valuable Indigenous art is to Queensland’s culture and arts community. 

We’re very fortunate to live in a state as diverse and nature rich as Queensland and I’ve been very impressed by how the artwork on display celebrates our great state. 

John Introduces Mr Paul Venus, Managing Partner of Holding Redlich

Thank you Dr Rowan. I can’t tell you how reassuring and confidence inspiring it is for us to know that on both sides of the House we have, as Minister and Shadow Minister for the Arts, got genuine art lovers… especially in an election year!  

 Now if there is anything better than politicians who are art lovers, then it must be lawyers with aesthetic taste and sensibility. Who better to demonstrate that this is not an oxymoron than our next speaker, Mr Paul Venus, Managing Partner of the sponsors of our major prize today, Holding Redlich!  

Address from Mr Paul Venus

Thank you very much John.  

I’d like to also acknowledge the traditional owners of the land upon which we meet and pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging.  

Holding Redlich is a law firm. We have offices in Brisbane and Cairns so regional Queensland is very important to us.  

I guess most people may or may not know that lawyers used to get paid by the word, so, we were thinking about this [when writing this speech] and I thought I should talk for the next two hours… or maybe not.  

I just want to quickly say thank you very much to Flying Arts for allowing us to be involved in this great event. We think it’s a fantastic event and the quality of the artwork never ceases to surprise me.  It’s new, it’s refreshing – it just shows how important it is to give a voice and to give a place for the artwork. Not just throughout regional Queensland but also here in Brisbane too.  

So, thank you very much and I look forward to continuing our association, John.  Cheers.

John Introduces Textile Award winner Barbara Stephenson

Thanks, Paul.  

And just as sincere thanks to all the other equally generous and faithful donors of this year’s prizes – many of them are here, this is audience participation time, and they are all worth a clap, please: First, our wonderful and deep-pocketed 500 Club donors; The Booth Memorial Fund of Annie Tan (Yuh Siew) and The Geoff Booth Foundation; David Crombie and Crombie Family Trust; Janet De Boer; Ironlak Art; the State Library of Queensland; the Johnson Art Series Hotel; and USQ Artworx; and to Sirromet for supplying all the wine you’re drinking.  

And next, get some real energy in those fingers as you clap our Panel of judges, who voluntarily go where angels fear to tread in order to decide which of the nearly two hundred entries get shown all round Queensland in the exhibition, and which of those are exceptional enough for an award. For their exquisite judgment, an admiring round of applause for the exhibition curator, Jonathan McBurnie, who sadly at short notice couldn;’t be here today, and his fellow judges, Robin Daw and Peter McKay – who are with us.  

Finally of course, without regional artists themselves, these awards wouldn’t exist, just as a world without arts wouldn’t be worth living in. For some of our artists, it was too hard to get here, because Brisbane is so remote. But luckily, as Charleville is so central, they will all be there!  The full list of their names is in the program. Meanwhile, many of the award winners and touring artists did make the trek so let’s welcome them with a standing ovation – you are all standing already, so that’s easy: 

Our Art for Life co-winners Rose Rigley and Pam Kusabs, Craig James and his best friend Ruby the Assistance dog, Helen Dennis, Barbara Stephenson, Emma Ward, Lillian Whittaker, Adrienne Williams, Bianca Tainsh, Kuweni Dias Mendes and Katrin Terton. 

Now to speak on behalf of all those artists who have made the world a slightly better place: Barbara Stephenson, from the feverishly busy Darling Downs Textile Group, our Textile Prizewinner with her artwork And Will the Blue Skies Go on Forever?

Speech from Textile Award winner Barbara Stephenson

In a world drowning in waste, I use rejected woollen blankets to create art. 

As our country heats up, our need for woolly cosiness decreases. Much woollen fabric has been replaced by modern materials made of micro-fibres that threaten the richness and diversity our environment. So, when I heard that State of Diversity was the theme of the 2019 Flying Arts Competition, I just had to enter. I am extremely grateful to be awarded the Textile Art Prize. And even more grateful to Flying Arts for having a dedicated textile art prize as this art is often dismissed or overlooked. 

Although I have been surrounded by art since I was born, I did not think of myself as an artist until recently.  

My father Peter Stephenson was an artist. My brothers and sisters and I all drew constantly usually on paper bags, butcher’s paper and the backs of school newsletters. New bought paper was only for special efforts. Under the house was Dad’s art kingdom with paint and pastel and poly–clay to play with. But I was happier upstairs with Mum in the sewing area. I delved into the scrap bag for treasures to sew clothes and fashion furniture for my dolls This is where my love of textiles began. 

Textiles are intrinsically entwined with human life. People have always used their hands and simple tools to spin, weave, knot and knit. Textile Art began when makers added a pattern or design to the nets, clothing and bedding of everyday living. Since then Textile Art has taken many forms. 

I love the rich tradition of textiles but am aware of its dark past – slavery, child labour and poor working conditions and pollution. Sadly, we still have human exploitation and environmental damage today. We also have huge textile waste piles and micro fibres and toxic dyes in the water supply. In a world drowning in waste products, it is heartening to see so many artists turning waste into materials to create art.  

I believe that art is for everyone. I worked for many years as a Kindergarten teacher in regional Queensland. Art allows children to express their thoughts and feelings at an age when they are still learning to express themselves in words. I particularly enjoy doing collage and junk art with children. It doesn’t use expensive equipment and materials. It doesn’t need to be hung or framed to be art. Art is about playing with materials and ideas. All children should be able to enjoy and succeed art. It is here that Flying Arts plays such a wonderful role in bringing art and art making to regional communities. The experiences are many and varied suiting different ages abilities and interests. Flying Arts really does provide Diversity for our State.  

I no longer teach so I have time to create art. My focus now is creating projects from items I can upcycle. I use from stuff I already have and the treasures others no longer want. My winning piece celebrates the diversity of Toowoomba and the Darling Downs with its endless blue skies and clouds so close it seems you could touch them. Yet world climate crisis threatens and I worry for our future. While art is only a small part of the solution, using waste to create something useful and beautiful really  inspires me.  

Hopefully between us, we will create awareness and real change for the future.  

John’s Concluding Remarks

Thank you Barbara – may your blue skies go on forever. Now, though the speeches are over, you’ve still got two more things to do with your hands before you can go and look at Barbara’s blue skies and the other artworks. Even though your fingers may be getting sore, we’ve still got people to thank, or we wouldn’t be here, let alone with this show: 

• The Queensland Government, through Arts Queensland 
• The Australian Government, which still supports the arts, even if it unfathomably doesn’t have an arts ministry any more 
• The Tim Fairfax Family Foundation 
• Regional Arts Australia 
• Toll, and  

• Travel Associates. 

They support everything we do. 

Now for those who’ve helped us get today’s show on the road – and up here today: 

• Queensland College of Art of Griffith University, and their gallery committee for the opportunity to use the beautiful POP gallery – and especially their gallery coordinator Nicole Holly and Arts Queensland building liaison Matt Jess; 
• Ben Werner who led the amazing install; 

• A super-special thanks to Jaivan Bowen who travelled all the way from Yarrabah to assist with the installation. Jaivin’s grandmother, Madge Bowen, is the winner of the Remote Artist award this year – her work is the dazzling and fascinating red textile hanging in the central space called Maramaka – see if you can spot the Northern Queensland fig trees! 
• Andy H, Natalie Maurer, Richard Stride, and all the new and regular volunteers who have helped with the install, and with looking after the exhibition during its opening hours.  

A last big clap for all of those unsung heroes in the backroom. 

Now, you’ve had a completely commercial-free program so far – but like all those ad-free shows and sports fixtures, the hit comes at the end.  

• Many of these artworks are on sale, so if you fall in love, splash out – though of course, you won’t be able to take them home with you till 2021! 

• We’ve just started our next campaign for the most heartwarming of all our programs, and one of the most expensive, our Small Schools Program, which bring artists and their skills to rural schools with less than fifty children, right across Queensland. Last year I visited three, in Dirrenbandi, Barcaldine and really remote Valkyrie, and saw for myself, and we are currently documenting, the transformative effects on those children and their teachers.   
• Both the Smalls Schools Program and this very exhibition couldn’t continue without the unsung heroes of our 500 Club. Though this is a very high class club, it’s not at all exclusive, so if you are generous or rash enough to want to join the club, just ask one of the Staff or the Board and we’ll get you signed up.   
• Or for any donation, there’s a form on the back of the exhibition program, and of course, on our website.
  

And, finally the promos: 

• During the display of the exhibition here there will be a number of mini-artists’ residencies involving exhibiting artists from this year’s touring show, kicking off with our special guest Ruby the assistance dog and her artist Craig James ,on Monday and Tuesday next week. 
• We have scheduled 3 ‘Hotspots’ in the 2020 Program, involving Scheduled Workshops and Artists Services to coincide with exhibition events both here and in the regions. There are a few places left in the Taking Care of Your Practice and Yourself workshop tomorrow if anyone is keen… See Julie Robson [She’s the one waving] for more details. 

Now go and do what you came for, look at some art, or drink and talk, or all three if you’re multi-skilled, till we throw you out at six – when if you’re still deep in that conversation, and getting hungry, you can just walk across across the road to Stone and Copper in Ivory Street. 

I‘ll leave you with the words of a nine-year old, the grandson of a former director of our beloved old Metro Arts, to which we are waving farewell from the city, but only as far as West End:  
“Gran”, he said “It seems to me that adults really aren’t very creative or imaginative, and they’d better start doing something about it!”  

So, go and do something about it!