Reconciliation Action Plan

Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art Reconciliation Action Plan 47 CASE STUDY: CHILDREN’S ART CENTRE ‘Below the Tide Line’, Children’s Art Centre, Gallery of Modern Art, 7 December 2019 – 23 March 2020 Erub Arts is a collective of 15 artists from Erub (Darnley Island), in the Torres Strait: Ethel Charlie, Solomon Charlie, Rachel Emma Gela, Sarah Dawn Gela, Florence Gutchen, Lavinia Ketchell, Lorenzo Ketchell, Nancy Kiwat, Nancy Naawi, Robert Oui, Racy Oui-Pitt, Jimmy John Thaiday, Jimmy K Thaiday, Ellarose Savage, and Alma Sailor. Erub Arts works with non-Indigenous artists Marion Gaemers and Lynnette Griffiths to make sculptures from ghost nets — fishing nets that have been abandoned or lost, causing great harm to marine life — to raise awareness of ocean pollution. The collective considers the partnership between Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists to be a central aspect of their practice. The artists work together from the onset of all major projects, discussing conceptual ideas, materials, techniques, and opportunities for audience participation. This partnership was celebrated with Gallery audiences through the QAGOMA Children’s Art Centre exhibition ‘Below the Tide Line’ 2019–20. Installation views of ‘Below the Tide Line’, Children’s Art Centre, GOMA / Photographs: Natasha Harth / Artworks © The artists and Erub Arts Presented in connection with ‘Water’, ‘Below the Tide Line’ was a creative, immersive space that featured a spectacular ghost net artwork display, a drawing activity and interactive screen-based animation exploring ocean conservation issues. The exhibition was made possible through close collaboration and consultation with the participating artists over many months of liaison, research, design and prototyping. When ‘Below the Tide Line’ opened to the public, another layer of collaboration was added to the exhibition as visitors contributed to the space through the interactive activities. During the exhibition period, the Gallery also presented a series of hands-on workshops that invited visitors to create a piece of coral using ghost net material. The workshop outcomes were incorporated into two coral structures on display in the ‘Below the Tide Line’ exhibition space.