WARNING This item displays the names of some deceased members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait community. No offence is intended, however members of the Indigenous Australian community should be aware of its content if imagery or text associated with recently deceased members of their community does cause cultural harm or offence. BACK BY REQUEST 28 MARCH 2008 With the Australian Federal Government’s apology to the Stolen Generation on 13/2/08, I’ve seen quite a few ‘Sorry’ Tshirts doing the rounds. I like most of the designs I’ve seen, however I wanted to create something that highlighted the apology, but also points out that there’s a lot more things (both bad and good) that we can’t afford to forget. Enter the Sorry Cloud based on Tag Clouds that you see on the web these days (see example here ) The basic premise is that sites tag news items and the cloud displays those tags in varying font sizes e.g. the more interest in a particular tag, the bigger the font. It gives people a quick way to see what’s big in the news at that particular time. My cloud is a representation of what I think should be most important. The tags are made up of issues, people and events. Some I consider to be important because they are issues that need to be tackled, others I have included as important because I think they should be celebrated. It was important to me that the cloud wasn’t just full of negative sentiment. I understand that this is highly subjective and many will agree or disagree. I don’t expect anyone to agree with every level of importance that I have assigned to each tag. Even as I was putting it together I struggled with how much weight to give some tags. I eventually decided that it started as a symbolic image and didn’t need to get too literal in it’s application. I also acknowledge that the tags that have made it to the final product are by no means an exhaustive list of issues/people/events. Again, it is simply a representative snapshot. Finally, I am new to redbubble and new to public political comment. I think the image is within the content guidelines, but am happy to be advised if this isn’t the case and will be happy to amend the design to conform if required. Also available on a Card
This picture of a lovely laughing child was taken some years ago now while I was driving out from Meekathara in the WA central desert on my way towards the Gun Barrel Highway. At a tiny camp called Wiluna I stopped to look for some art and come across this family sitting in their car in the shade. This child’s sweet face has stayed with me all this time but today, this momentus day, is the first time I’ve felt like I could display it. Little Debbie and her family are impoverished by anyones standard but they clearly have love and strong family bonds. This child represents what we that is we white Australians are saying sorry for. Sorry that we couldn’t see value in our fellow Australians. The first settlers here in this wide brown land. Sorry that we took little children away from their family and their country and people. Only a relatively short time ago this child and her mother would have fled at my approach fearing my whiteness and the dreadful things we whites perpetrated upon them in the name of the law. So from the bottom of my heart Debbie I would like to say Sorry. Sorry Sorry indeed I am very sorry. And I hope that now we can all go on together in peace and trust and mutal respect. For all the little Debbie’s white and black and brown and pink and yellow lets all step forward together hand in hand and welcome whatever it is that comes next….....
Captured in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara lands, during a tour with Desert Tracks in 2006. For me, a symbol of Black and White Australia coming together. Free of fear and ignorance, we may find a common way forward. Love, peace and happiness to you all. AP Lands, South Australia, 2006. [Creative Effects: Brightness and Shadow adjustments, Omni spotlight with Photoshop]
On Wednesday 13 February 2008, the Federal Australian government will begin the process of saying ‘sorry’ to our indigenous population. / Primarily for the forced removal of aboriginal children from their parents. These children were then put in orphanages or white foster families. / The individuals involved have come to be known as the ‘stolen generation.’ / This Government is the first one to agree to say ‘sorry’ for the events of the past which have permanently scarred relations between indigenous and european/celtic Australians. / It is considered by many to be vital to the healing process for all Australians. / I for one think it’s great.
In celebration of something that has been a long time in coming.
Original is, cast-iron statue of Aboriginal woman on rock; at Colebrook Reconciliation Park on Shepherds Hill Road, Eden Hills, Sth Australia. It is part of a tribute monument (31 May 1998), on the site of the original Colebrook Home for Aboriginal Children 1943-1972, commissioned by Colebrook Tji Tji Tjuta Dreaming Committee, with assistance from the Blackwood Reconciliation Group. [I have applied texture and tonal effects to my original photograph, for emphasis and effect.]
Original stone carving/statue (part of the Fountain of Tears) is at Colebrook Reconciliation Park on Shepherds Hill Road, Eden Hills, Sth Australia. This is part of a tribute monument (31 May 1998), on the site of the original Colebrook Home for Aboriginal Children 1943-1972; commissioned by Colebrook Tji Tji Tjuta Dreaming Committee, with assistance from the Blackwood Reconciliation Group. [I applied a texture + tonal effects to my original photograph, for emphasis and effect.]
This is not ment to be a Flag Re-Creation of any one flag On Wednesday February 13th 2008, The Federal Australian Government has Said Sorry to our Proud Australian indigenous People of this Great Land which we all Live together I am Proud as an Australian That our Government has finally Said Sorry and I have made this to show in some way my Support
The 21st Century has arrived. We have said ‘sorry’ to our indigenous population. There’s talk of a republic. So here’s my suggestion for a new flag. An INTERIM flag for using on the way to the great republic that shall unite all brothers – regardless of colour, origins or sexual preferences. It’s not the ultimate australian flag. It’s an interim one. Which means we could have it for the next 100 years. Assuming anyone anywhere liked it enough to even think of using it. I just thought it time to throw something in the mix…. Do not be shy. Break the rules and comment your opinions – good or bad. I invite honest comment and debate.
This is from a series of commissioned mandala’s I have recently completed for a couple who wanted to put several around their beautiful garden. They wanted them to shine in the moonlight. They sent me these photographs with a little note….we enjoy your work amongst the flowers and the moonlight Carl Jung said that a mandala symbolizes “a safe refuge of inner reconciliation and wholeness.” It is “a synthesis of distinctive elements in a unified scheme representing the basic nature of existence.” Music – Debussy Part of my Egyptian Series
mixed media painting on canvas . the story of indigenous australians and white settlers through history, from the first landing and consequent battles to todays cultural divide. the river is the symbol of life and forgiveness and the hands reach out in friendship between red earth of native australia to fertile farming land.
a simple sorry shirt for all those times when you just know your going to need to be wearing it …...... sorry is such an underused word and if you wear it on your chest then maybe you’ll never get glared at again….... well that’s a bit optimistic but it’s worth a try….....:)
in honour of tomorrow(national ‘sorry’ day) ,the original owners of Australia and the children taken from them.
This sculpture by Stephen Broadbent in Bold Street, Liverpool was meant to represent Reconciliation between people – faiths and the slave trade which Liverpool was connected with in the past.
Watercolour of a surreal time-warped Sydney Harbour Bridge. The two figures at the focus of the picture represent the contrasting ancient and modern cultures in Australia beginning to come together in trust of each other.
Silver-gelatin photograph on varnished wood. / From exhibition “Would Photographs Reflect in the Round?” AD163, Glebe, Sydney, 1993.
I had a bunch of old Cokin filters from back in my film days, and I tracked down some adapter rings to get them on the new gear. This was shot with Cokin’s Star filter. That’s what created the dramatic rays of light that seem to shoot across the clouds in this shot. Very little post processing was done here. July 2008 Canon 50mm 1:1.8, f14.1, 1/2000, ISO 400, Cokin Star 16, Canon XSi (450D)
Reconciliation Place in Canberra. For more information on my photographs you can visit my blog at http://michaelolive.wordpress.com/
This picture was taken of my son with one of his best friends. I did not know at the time that it was a foreshadowing of my son with his future brother from Ethiopia. This is kind of our theme print for our adoption.
Will verify sizing soon. Def. have to do a “re-shoot”.
Shopping for goodies at the bazaar in Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina.
When time and a little distance are the only things that will work
landscape, oil on canvas
Below are the links to the documentary entitled “For The Bible Tells Me So,” dealing with homosexuals who came from conservative Christi…
Below are the links to the documentary entitled “For The Bible Tells Me So,” dealing with homosexuals who came from conservative Christian families. Your thoughts? Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13
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