Smoking ceremony was conducted by Blair Gilson. Welcome to Country by Auntie Marlene Gilson and opening on Thu 6 Jul 2017 with remarks by Professor Estelle Barrett, Research and HDR Coordinator, Institute of Koorie Education, Deakin University.

Deanne Gilson’s work focuses on reclaiming traditional knowledge, the colonial gaze and challenging Western portrayals of Aboriginal people. Her art practice and current research is concerned with the objectification of Aboriginal women and the impact of the male colonial gaze, and what was known of traditional ‘women’s business’. Examining how contemporary art can heal, disrupt and challenge the male colonial gaze through a reflective process, within Deanne’s research and art, her aim is to highlight and bring back women’s business through art practice as research and link this to the revived practice of ceremony.

Deanne Gilson is a proud Wadawurrung woman who currently lives and works in Ballarat, Victoria. Deanne completed a Bachelor of Arts (Visual Art) with Honours at the Arts Academy, Federation University Australia, in 2010 and is currently a PhD candidate at the Institute of Koorie Education, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria.

NB. Open NAIDOC week, Sun 2 Jul - Sun 9 Jul 2017, 12 - 5pm