iDIDJ Australia Didgeridoo Cultural Hub

ididjaustralia · Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2007 8:25 pm Post subject: THE Ultimate Didgeridoo Project

I mentioned previously the proposed didgeridoo project that Brenda and Stephen Westley (formerly of Elcho Island Art and Craft) have approached me with and it looks like we're getting the process rolling along...

I'd like to see if there are people here on the Forum with particular skills that they could contribute to making this project a reality. A show of hands perhaps? Brenda has asked me to put together a:

In addition, Brenda has also asked me, to quote her:

Quote:

If you know:
- what research is needed, in what area, where it would/could be done, with whom and when..... - eg: yolngu/bininj/koori history of the didg or of an item in the display - what research is expected to be needed with person or museum (or both)
- anticipated time frames of each stage
- estimate/guess of any costs you may forsee (travel, wages, artist fees)

As the final stage outcome, I would like to tour it, what do you think??...I am going to Artback to see if they would be interested in touring the exhibition after we have presented it, or at least a selected part of it, along with the printed and visual material.

So I guess what I'm asking is if there is anyone out there, or in here more correctly, who would like to collaborate on this with me? My hands are a little full at the moment. The project is free-form at the moment and could include a festival and/or symposium as well as a travelling exhibition.

Ok, time to delurk you lot!

Guan

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kdidj · Joined: 23 Mar 2007 Posts: 255

Obviously I'll be willing to help Guan. My gallery and design experience should come in handy. Keep me posted of events and let me know what areas you'd like me to focus on.

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ididjaustralia · Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2007 8:59 pm Post subject:

kdidj wrote:

Obviously I'll be willing to help Guan. My gallery and design experience should come in handy. Keep me posted of events and let me know what areas you'd like me to focus on.

Thanks Kyle, you're a champ!

Ok, what we need is to write down what the project would actually entail. "What do we want to do?", "Why are we doing it?", "When will we do it?" etc. etc.

The "What do we want to do?" bit is really up to us. Brenda is giving me free reign I think on moulding a project together that has not been done before, that is exciting and interesting, and that adds to our knowledge of didgeridoo as it exists in 'Top End' culture.

The "Why?" bit, for me, is to increase public awareness of the didgeridoo and to 'demystify' this iconic Top End musical instrument. To add to existing knowledge of the didgeridoo that Aboriginal people are happy to share. Obviously there is also the socio-economic aspect as well as for countrymen, so jobs, income, production of art and craft, long-term sustainability for artisans - craftsmen and musicians alike etc. etc.

Maybe we should start with the "What" part, what do you reckon?

For me, I'd love to have an exhibition that presents a collection of instruments of varying vintage and from various geographic locations. Full provenance instruments preferably, and instruments with interesting stories behind them. Accompanying this exhibition would be a catalogue/book that is part coffee-table book with beautiful glossy pics of didgeridoos and didgeridoo players, but also with insightful chapters/essays by various scholars and others who would have something interesting to say about the didgeridoo. I'm thinking Marrett, Morphy, Barwick, et. al. Also perhaps perspectives from players, collectors, art history researchers etc. It won't be a fluffy book but something that is comprehensive and accurate that will be used as a standard reference book for all things didgeridoo. No such book exists at the moment.

That would be the core of the project. Other things could include a DVD doco with lots of didgeridoo playing by countrymen from different parts of the Top End (think surfing videos to surfers).

My brain is a bit fried at the moment so I can't think too much more, but look forward to hearing what others think of this.

Guan

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kdidj · Joined: 23 Mar 2007 Posts: 255

Sounds good. I'll have a serious think about this and send you an email with my thoughts.

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ididjaustralia · Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2007 9:22 pm Post subject:

Ok Kyle, we'll stay in touch on this. Anyone else too who wants to be a part of this, just holler!

This is only the beginning. Once we have written documents in place (proposals, time lines) these will be pass around to various institutions, organisations and funding agencies. Once funds are secured, then there's the doing part... the meetings, the community visits, looking thru museum collections, undertaking the research needed for the project. Maybe some of us here could be involved in the doing part, it could be a reason to visit Australia all expenses paid Smile

Guan

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flyangler18 · Joined: 23 Mar 2007 Posts: 394

Quote:

Anyone else too who wants to be a part of this, just holler!

Holler! I will certainly be willing to help in this project as well, Guan! My research and networking skills within creative agencies may prove handy.

Keep me posted and let me know specific areas to focus on.

Jason

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danielsaan · Joined: 10 Apr 2007 Posts: 132 Location: London

Me too!

I can proof read or something Very Happy

In all seriousness, if I can help in any way I will

Dan

martin · Joined: 22 Mar 2007 Posts: 101

I am willing to help in whatever way possible Guan.
My professional experience as you know is more on the scientific side. I have experience writing grant applications and stuff like that also.
I will think a little more about specific things that I can do do contribute.
Anything that involves travelling to OZ of course is also great.

Martin

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ididjaustralia · Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2007 11:00 pm Post subject:

Thanks guys for the interest!

I'll probably start putting ideas and more concrete 'do-ables' down on paper at the start of next week.

Cheers dears!

Guan

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itsadidj · Joined: 23 Mar 2007 Posts: 38 Location: New York

Sounds like a wonderful project/collaboration Guan!.............. and I'd love to offer any assistance I can.
As mentioned previously, I work at the New York Times and my specialty is photography so I'd be more than excited to be able to contribute on that front!

Peace,

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Yirrkala Arts · Joined: 01 Apr 2007 Posts: 53 Location: Yirrkala

Silly Guan - I have to find out about this from your forum?!

Certainly the Mulka Project, Buku's new multimedia centre, could be involved in this is some way, as a partner that could really help to attract funding and provide digital audio/video/photography facilities on the ground in Arnhem Land, while you help provide opportunities for training and money for Yolngu workers.

Just the obvious flag to raise up front... any publication attempting to represent all the different regions that uses the didjeridu in Australia, "traditionally" or otherwise, is risking lots of political and financial heartache. You've got to raise some pretty good funding to keep everyone happy! Wink

Hey - what about rather than a definitive book or DVD about didj, a series? Rather than getting everybody to play nice, every region can have its own publication. They can be sold as a set or separately, and each region/partner gets the profit that's entitled to them. But the whole would very much be branded as a companion set with matching production value, basic format, etc.

flyangler18 · Joined: 23 Mar 2007 Posts: 394

Any movement forward on this project, Guan?

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ididjaustralia · Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 6:17 pm Post subject:

Some good ideas there Randy... let me get my head around the project and see what is doable. Would be great to collaborate with Mulka!

Guan

ididjaustralia · Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 6:18 pm Post subject:

Hey Jason,

The project is going ahead but I've fallen behind on planning and actioning... ahhh... no time! I better get onto this asap.

Guan

flyangler18 · Joined: 23 Mar 2007 Posts: 394

Sounds good buddy. Keep me posted on what I can do Smile

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