Barry Ferrier

Barry Ferrier

Barry Ferrier (aka Barry Ferrier) is a Byron Bay based Australian musician, songwriter /composer and multimedia designer.

Website URL:

A Thousand Bands

How many bands, duos & musical ensembles have I played in? The time when I could count them all is long past. I formed my first band at high school with school mates Michael Edwards (piano), Leo Botham (Bass) , and Roy - name eludes me now (drums). We played instrumentals made famous by the Shadows and some of my early intrumental compositions influenced by these surf guitar hits. Later I answered an ad in the local Manly Daily and, while still at school, landed a job as lead guitarist with a local rock band - I can't remember the name of the band now - and began playing at hotels while still underage, with my Vibratone guitar and a homemade guitar amp which once sent me flying across the room with electric shock.  One vague memory from those teen years was supporting Masters Apprentices at Beacon Hill High School basket ball court. 

 

I met Sydney songwriter and UK ex-pat Roderick Morgan during my first year at the University of Sydney, who was a big influence on my songwriting and we began jamming together. I still jam with Roderick four decades later when I visit Sydney. I was about 19 when I bought a Burns Bison from Roderick's friend Keith Grey. I was asked by a guy in my psychology class at uni to play at a concert at Hyde Park - it turned out to be a very large Christian gathering - an audience of thousands in the park -  and that's were I met my future wife, the extraordinarily talented vocalist Cammie Lindon, who was headlinging the show, and another singer, who also became a lifelong friend, Malcolm Smith.  After that meeting Cammie and getting together with her and Roderick Morgan, she would drop around to my terrace house in Chippendale in her school uniform for rehearsals.  Cammie and Roderick I began performing at coffee shops and restaurants around Glebe. We played original songs and pop covers in an unplugged acoustic style, much influenced by the harmonies of Crosby Stills & Nash, and developed a love of harmony singing.

,/P>

 

I was meanwhile studying Psychology at Sydney Uni, but fate intervened and I successfully auditioned for Jesus Christ Superstar. This fork in the road changed my life forever.

After Superstar I joined the cast of Steve J. Spears' Africa: the Savage Musical. While touring with this show Cammie Lindon contacted me and sent me tickets to a Leo Kottke Concert at Sydney Town Hall, where she, at 16, had been chosen as support act - she sang two of my original songs in her set and I flew up from Melbourne to be in the audience, a memorable event to hear my songs performed in such illustrious company.

 

 I had formed the art rock band "Passage" with Billy Miller, Richard Kaal & Martin Falls during my years with JCS, and this was to be a precursor to the Ferrets and we recorded a single for Jon English's new label, produced by Michael Carlos.  I later toured with the Ferrets as bass player.

 

After working on some theatre restaurant shows in Melbourne at the Flying Trapeze with members of "Africa" I successfully auditioned for Joseph & the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. During this period  I began working with Jeff St. John and also met Andrew Wilson the musical director of the Lindsay Kemp Company who became a close friend. Through this meeting I was engaged as co-composer for Kemp's upcoming production of "Salome". So I turned down a part in Mad Max when the company offered me a position working  in Melbourne on "Flowers" at Her Majesties and later Comedy Theatres, and during this period I joined two of the cast members of Africa: the Savage Musical - Rod Freeman Smith & Glenda Lum to perform a madcap rock cabaret "Kabaratz" at the iconic Flying Trapeze Theatre Restaurant. It was there I met Colin Hay of later "Men at Work" fame. I performed with Colin at the 76 Sunbury Pop Festival and he sang the lead role on my first demo of the Howson/Ferrier opera "Squizzy". 

I had met a talented unknown Chris Clark through Roderick Morgan and I began performing across Sydney in a duo with Chris, who coud do a perfect Paul McCartney impersonation, and we had a residency at Ali's Oasis in Birkenhead. Colin Hay came up to Sydney on my invitation and stayed at my parent's house in Dee Why and went to the audition for the musical "Ned Kelly" I had been offered by Faith Martin my theatrical agent in my place because I felt already too committed to take up a role - and Colin won a role in that production. I remember one particular night during that period when he came to Ali's Oasis and I persuaded him to sing some songs - and his incredible voice drew people from who knows where - wthin a half an hourt the restaurant was full of people mesmerised by his talent.

A few years later, Chris, Cammie and I got together again with Roderick Morgan (Old Man Crow) to perform "the Milky Way Cabaret" at the Flying Trapeze in Melbourne. Out of this I formed "Skeleton Crew" with Cammie and the rhythm section from Sasha -Peter Leighton & Chris Doyle. Skeleton Crew became very popular around Sydney venues and headlined at UNSW Roundhouse supported by the Iva Davies group confusingly known as "Flowers' who went on to great success as Icehouse. I had secured a contract at Alberts of record my Magical Frank musical in collaboration with librettist Frank Howson and Ted Albert began to mentor me and produced and engineered the album. Skeleton Crew later recorded a single at Alberts King St studios with Bruce Brown at the helm, which was never released and  we then went on to tour north Queensland with a residency in Rockhampton, finally arriving in Billinudgel on the North Coast - (which region was later to become my home) where we played a residency in a truck stop for three months, till a flood intervened. We were then offered the ooportunity by Rodney Bain to play the music for a revival of Africa at the Victorian College of the Arts theatre in Melbourne.

 

It's hard to recreate the faded chronology, but during my season with Joseph & the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat I also formed a band with Malcolm Smith and a drummer named Alex (now living in Nimbin) - we began rehearsing with John Paul Young but then instead went on to back Phil Jones (of Phil Jones & the Unknown Blues and who later reaching massive European prominence with the psychedelic rock outfit Quintessence) as the Shiva's Fire, playing regularly at the legendary French's Winebar in Oxford Street, the legendary Bondi Lifesaver  and a whole range of gigs in Sydney & Newcastle. There is a dim memory of us backing the wonderful vocalist  Dobie Grey who was touring Australia in the 70s, at a Double J concert. I worked with Jeff St. John & Sasha for two years. I was playing the headline with Jeff at Cheqeurs the very first night Cold Chisel played (as our support) in Sydney. An astonishing vocalist, who was disabled by polio and sang from a wheelchair with a powerful voice and dramatic fair, Jeff was highly competitive and would beat me at every game - cards, chess, scrabble when we travelled to overnight gigs in Newcastle. He would pick me up in his modified EH Holden station wagon with hand controls.

I had had a brief stints backing  Gordon Waller of "Peter & Gordon" fame, who was in Australia to play the Pharoah in "Joseph & the Åmazing Technicolour Dreamcoat" (I was a cast member). 

 

 Let's jump ahead (I'll fill in the gaps later) to 1980 when I travelled to Mullumbimby to visit friends and have a break from my hectic music life. I went to Durrumbul Hall on NewYears Eve featuring a three band  (Michael Barnes, Gordon Heazlewood and Carl...) called the Feelers . 

 

"The Feelers" eventually morphed into "Innerspring" with the addtion of Fred Cole on keys, Peter Jaggle taking over the drums, Doug Rea taking over bass.

 

Academic Career & PhD Abstract

ACADEMIC CAREER

 Barry graduated with a Bachelor of Arts form the University of Sydney majoring in Psychology in 1974. He completed a Diploma of Music Composition under Dr. James Penberthy and Richard Mills at Southern Cross University in 1984. He began lecturing in Music Business and tutoring in guitar at Southern Cross University in the mid eighties and graduated with  Bachelor of Letters (Honours) from Deakin University in 1987. In the 90s  Barry Ferrier was appointed Assistant Professor of Multimedia at Bond University on Queensland's Gold Coast, where he also lectured in the School of Film and TV in Video Production and Music Video. He has held lecturing positions in multimedia and music at Griffith University at Southport, Southern Cross University in Lismore  and for three years at Central Queensland University. He has also taught multimedia and graphic design at Kingscliff TAFE for five years and the School of Audio Engineering  in Byron Bay. He began studying for his Doctor of Philosophy in music and Southern Cross University but two years work on his thesis was destroyed in a housefire in 1994. He later began a new PhD project focussing on the emerging multimedia art technology which he completed through Southern Cross University in 2007.

Multimedia as Meta-Art:

The processes and aesthetics of interactive digital art. A folio of Original Multimedia and Supporting Documentation

© 2004 Barry Ferrier, B.A., Dip. Music (Comp.), B.Litt. (Hons.).

A dissertation presented to the School of Contemporary Arts, Southern Cross University, Lismore NSW, in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. June, 2004.

Pete C. & Dr. Baz

Since the Doctor was asked to fill in for John Hill in the Byron Bay soul band "The Propellers", Doctor Baz has found a great connection with their frontman and highly respected Byron Bay based blues singer and guitarist Peter Claydon who is known widely as Pete C., (also frontman to the local legends "The Soul Shakers") . They hit it off so well they have gone on to form a unique blues duo and begun perfroming locally after a debut gig at the legendary Railway Froiendly Bar in Byron Bay.  With diverse and mature music skills,  powerful  authentic blues feel and  is a classy, and full bodied gritty sound, they immediately shone with all the hallmarks of a classic blues outfit . They kicked off with a residency at Mullumbimby ex-Serviceman's Club billed as "Acoustic Lounge Adventures" and have performed regularly at the legendary Railway Friendly Bar in Byron Bay.

Kobya & Dr. Baz - African beats, World Music & Classic Reggae

“KOBYA” (aka Carlos X Panguana) grew up in the African township in Maputo, the capital city of Mozambique, a country gripped by war for many years. He became the youngest member of Xingombela youth dance troupe at age of 7.

 After playing professional soccer as a teenager, he packed his bags and headed to Gauteng, also known as Johannesburg or city of gold, in South Africa, to join his other family members. As he had damaged his knees playing soccer, he joined the fashion world and studied photography. The struggle for the right to be recognized as a human being intensified as the South African government imposed a state of emergency. KOBYA had no other choice but to join the struggle as freelance photojournalist and reporter. He was later forced to flee as a political refugee.

Music remained his lifeblood through out the journey. He is evolved into a gifted performer singer song writer and versatile multi-instrumentalist, In his unique and vibrant music he mixes roots (Marrabenta Mozambique Popular dance Music) & classic reggae, occasionally throwing in some lovers rock, to create his own original blend of contemporary world msic and pop. He tells his story with grace and ebullience, covering social and environmental issues, love, war and the despair of his fellow Mozambicans... while celebrating life.

The salt of the Earth journeyman, KOBYA learnt how to abstract his craft turning pain to joy. This amazingly down to earth, warm character combines his sense of humor with powerful soulful and rich tenor voice, to reach out his young and old fans across race, age and culture.

In recent years he moved to he musical Mecca of Byron Bay, Australia and at a local anti-CSG rally he met a kindred soul in the fellow musician and celebrated local character Barry Ferrier, aka Dr. Baz.  Their instant rapport led to a spontaneous musical chemistry and firm friendship that set them on a path to create ecstatic fusion music together. Dr. Baz has a pedigree of top level music credits and brings soarng lead guitar and keyboard pyrotechnics and a soulful musical feel to their exciting shows. These two men from such different worlds demonstrate through their obvious affinity and camaraderie how music can be a bond that transcends cultural barriers.

 

Their music puts a smile on your face and makes you want to sing and dance! Kobya continues to explore and express his soul on this musical journey, he is currently working on a new album 'MoFyah' dedicating his work to the Highest Force, giving thanks through his lyrics as a free man & advocate of Truth, with the collaboration of Dr. Baz's wizardry on soaring guitar and keyboard pyrotechnics. 

This fascinating World Music and reggae duo  performer with a dynamic rhythm section and dynamic guest players, drawn from the impressive ranks of the Byron Bay music community.

 

TWO SONGS ARE AVAILABLE AS A SAMPLE (ABOVE IMAGE) .PLEASE CLICK MP3 player.

Kobya Dr. Baz

 

Curriculum Vitae

 

B.J. Ferrier Resume



...C u r r i c u l u m ...V i t ae...

 

B. J. Ferrier,

PhD, B.A. (Sydney), B. Litt. (Hons.), Dip. Mus. (Comp.), Dip. I.T. (Web Design)


B.J. Ferrier has academic, multimedia production/design and performing arts/music strands to his CV.

The version presented herein is a complete chronological list of work experience.


 

EDUCATION

Southern Cross University, Lismore, N.S.W.
Doctor of Philosphy (PhD) 2006
Multimedia as Meta-Art: the processes and aesthetics of interactive digital art”; includes a folio of experimental multimedia art with exegesis; received University Scholarship;
Supervisor: Dr. Michael Hannan, Head of the School of Contemporary Arts, S.C.U.

Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria
Bachelor of Letters (Honours), 1994
Major: Performing Arts (Theatre Directing). Honours thesis was a study of  the technical, performance and cultural issues involved in the mounting of a major Qld. multimedia/theatrical production aimed at tourists, depicting the Australian Aboriginal Dreamtime, entitled ‘Dreamtime People", for which author was also score composer/audio designer.

Southern Cross University, Lismore, N.S.W.
Diploma of Music (Composition), 1984
Major: Composition. Studio-based, equivalent to Bachelor undergraduate degree. Teachers were the eminent Australian composers Dr. James Penberthy and Richard Mills.

University of Sydney, Sydney, N.S.W.
Bachelor of Arts, 1980
Double Major: Psychology/Fine Arts
Minors: Philosophy, Anthropology and Economics.

Certificate IV in Workplace Training and Assessment completed 2003

Diploma of I.T. (Web Development)


 

ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS:

Central Queensland University, Gold Coast International Campus, 2006;

Lecturer: New Media Histories and Technologies;

SAE School of Audio Engineering; 2005

  • Lecturer, Introduction to 3D Animation using Maya 6.0;
  • Guest Lecturer: Multimedia Production issues;
  • Lecturer: dynamic web-pages using PHP, Actionscript and CSS

Central Queensland University, Gold Coast International Campus,
2002-2005

  • Lecturer, Multimedia Design (Interface Design, Interactive Design & Web)
  • Lecturer, Multimedia Development (CD ROM Development, Shockwave)
  • Lecturer, Digital Audio

Southern Cross University, School of Contemporary Arts
2003-2004
Lecturer , Multimedia III; (HCI Design, Interactive CD production using Director; Web-sites using Shockwave Internet technology)

Griffith University, Conservatorium
2002
Lecturer, Digital Production Methods
Lecturer, MIDI Music and Media

Bond University,
1999-2004
Assistant Professor, Multimedia
School of Information Technology :

  • Multimedia 1 (Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver)
  • Multimedia II (video editing, 3D animation, interface design)
  • Multimedia III
  • Interactive Media Programming (Flash Animation, Actionscript programming, Digital Audio design)
  • Multimedia Special Topics
  • Post-graduate supervision

School of Film and Television

  • Lecturer, Video Production 1; Camera, lighting, sound, script development, production; non-linear editing using Adobe Premiere, and Speed Razor.
  • Lecturer, Music Video Production

North Coast Institute of T.A.F.E., Kingscliffe College
2001-2005
Teacher and consultant, Digital Arts and Media; Courses developed and taught over this period:

  • Digital Arts & Media Production Design & Development;
  • Image Capture and Manipulation
  • Scripting for Multimedia,
  • Marketing,
  • Writing Copy
  • Digital Industry Studies,
  • Occupational Health & Safet
  • Business and the Law
  • Video production and editing
  • Web design
  • Digital Audio Recording and Editing,
  • Principles of Animation
  • Music Industry Studies.

· Facilitator, LearnScope Project (an Australian Flexible Learning Community initiative, funded by A.N.T.A.) focusing on the development of dynamic online collaborative learning experiences, using simple web technologies to facilitate distance learning and collaborative on-line design projects.

Southern Cross University ; School of Contemporary Arts
1996-99
Lecturer, Music Industry Promotion & Publicity

 

Southern Cross University; School of Contemporary Arts
1987-9
Lecturer, Professional Studies
Tutor in Video Post-production Sound
Tutor in Electric Guitar
Tutor in Music Composition


PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES

Australian Performing Rights Association since1974
Musician's Union
North Coast Entertainment Industry Association
I.G.D.A.

Music Managers Forum
Australian Interactive Multimedia Industry Association


AWARDS & HONORS

  • A.S.E.A award for excellence in the arts. "Solomon and the Big Cat"; KITE Theatre Company in association with the Queensland Performing Arts Trust at Q.P.A.C.; composed and performed musical score. 1985
  • Dept. of Ethnic Affairs Multicultural Award for film production; for the film "Green Tea"; composed score and post-production sound. 1994
  • Golden Reel Award for Community Radio; "Bushfire Radio" for Central Australian Media Association, Alice Springs; produced 20 half-hour radio broadcasts featuring songs and music.
  • Dolphin Award for Music Theatre; North Coast Entertainment Industry Association Award 1994
  • Dolphin Award for A Capella Music; North Coast Entertainment Industry Award. 1994
  • Twice winner of the Dolphin Award for Blues; 1995 and 1996 North Coast Entertainment Industry Awards
  • NCEIA Dolphin Award for Music Video "Slim Pickens & Dr. Baz"

 


EMPLOYMENT and EXPERIENCE

(Projects completed in Multimedia Production/Design and Music/Performing Arts)

 2012-2022 

  • Marketing Manager for Enhanced Energy Recovery (now Oasis Energy), Australian Organic Network Pty Ltd, and for the Public Group Ltd,  producing logos, business cards, websites, brochures, powerpoints and corporate videos. Managed social media for these three companies. For Public Group have gained 15000 US instagram followers and 25000 Facebook followers
  • Marketing Manager for The Tenant in Common Exchange (ticX). Managed social media accounts for ticX and the Organic Consumers Association of Australia - for OCAA have gained 38000 followers on LinkedIn.
  • Continued performing as a solo entertainer. 100 (plus) performances per year.
  • Performed at the "Splendour in the Grass Festival" with Val Ockart.
  • Wrote and performed "Heaven & Hell: the Friendship of the Big O & the Man in Black" based on the lifelong friendship of Johnny Cash & Roy Orbison, 2 man show with Slim Pickens, toured NSW
  • Began farming certified organic ginger, garlic & turmeric as Byron Bay Organics.
  • Performances with African musician Kobya; 
  • Performances with Pete C. & Dr. Baz + the Propellors (blues).
  • Designed websites for : music-leads.com; byronbayvision.com; organic-consumers.com.au (Organic Consumers Association of Australia); affordable-housing.com.au (Affordable Housing Solution); kobya.com.au (African musician Kobya); andycowan.com.au for blues pianist Andy Cowan.

2007-2016  Ongoing performances as musician entertainer in hotels and clubs of the North Rivers NSW and SE Queensland/Brisbane; average 100 performance per year; in the groups Snapshot (commercial pop duo in an 'unplugged' style); Slim Pickens & Dr. Baz (delta blues and cajun); Kellie Knight Band (performed at the Byron Bay Blues Festival and in duo with Kellie at the Adelaide Fringe Festival); Aysha & Dr. Baz (performed at Splendour in the Grass Festival). 2015 Airlie Beach Music Festival with Fiona Walsh; 2015 Gympie Music Muster with "I Hear That Train a-Comin' : The Johnny Cash Story". Designed cover for "Scarlet Fan" + promo videos, for novel by Australian author Melody Lemonde; 

Examples of Websites designed and developed: Ray White, Hong Kong; Ray White Platinum Partners, Surfers Paradise; Real Estate World Group, Surfers Paradise; Macadamia Castle, Newrybar;  Eagle Insurance, Byron Bay; Byron Music, Byron Bay; Edge Hairdressing, Byron Bay;  Adult Dildo Vibes, Burringbar; Byron Bay Jewellery; scarletfan.com - author's website; poemshapes.com - author's website; Sydney Organic Trading Company; Earth Salt Life (Himalayan Rock Salt, Sydney) earthsaltlife.com.au; secretmensbusiness.com (Angus Waddell, Olympian); Bangalow Naturopath; Cooper Communications, Ocean Shores; andycowan.com (Melbourne musician); byronecopark.com Eco Village, Byron Bay; internationalorganicnetwork.com (Organic Food Wholesaler); certifiedorganicsolutions.com.au (Consultant); Byron Green Building Centre; Byron Cars; Caribean Roti King (Broadbeach); circuscomedy.com (comedian/acrobat); Cook Books from the Heart (organic cookbook onine shop); Cosmetic Surgery Thailand (Coolangatta); Dean Bohn Builders (deanbohnbuilders.com.au); Design Evolutions (Town Planning Consultant, Byron Bay); Doncaster Sporting Gear, Canberra; East Timor Children's charity (swim school); Global Resource Brokers (Surfers Paradise); Gold Coast Holiday Apartments (rental agency, Surfers Paradise); Compass Curtains (Byron Bay); ifixpoperty.com (Handyman, Byron Bay); Institute of Diabetes (naturopath, Southport); Joan Lawman Beauty (beauty salon, Byron Bay); Juno Energy (solar installations, Byron Bay); Lightworks Online (lighting shop, Byron Bay);  matesrates.com (political protest, Mullumbimby); northernriversbasagent.com.au (Book Keeper, Lismore); nrcareersexpo.com.au, Lismore; pacificsurf.com.au (Holiday Apartments, Tugun); Pizza Paradiso, Suffolk Park; Rusty Miller Surf School, Byron Bay; Ryan Mediation Law, Coffs Harbour; Sharaine Natural Skin Care, Sunshine Coast; Timber Kit Homes, Billinudgel; Tonu Shane, sculptorAustralian Circus Artists, agency website, Byron Bay; Yamba Golf Club; Brunswick Heads Bowling Club; Rural Machinery Repair Service, Federal; Atlas Currency Exchange, (Byron Bay); Sacred Architecure (Arion Ocean Architect, Mullumbimby); Rob Aungle, (Structural Engineering, Mullumbimby); Sweet Pork (pork products Alstonville); accomseek.com.au (accommodation directory) Doncaster Sporting Centre (Canberra); homedecorideas.com.au (Byron Bay); edgehair.com (Hair Salon, Byron Bay); itmarketing.com.au (Canberra web sales); signworld.com.a (Canberra Signwriter); whygoldbullion.com.au (Gold Consultant, Byron Bay);

 

1997-2007 While working as an academic at a number of universities and Kingscliff Colleg of T.A.F.E.  continued ongoing performances as musician entertainer in hotels and clubs of the North Rivers NSW and SE Queensland/Brisbane; average 100 performance per year; solo and in the groups Snapshot (commercial pop duo in an 'unplugged' style); Slim Pickens & Dr. Baz (delta blues and cajun); the Purple Drippers (50s rockabilly); Waiting for Brian (alternative rock); The Black Pearls (original r & b)

2007

Freelance web-site design and development, Inner Spring Media 

Designed Doc Span web-site and CD cover "The Treatment" (http://docpsan.net)

Designed MIX web-site for North Coast Music industry Association (http://nceia.org.au)

Voice-over/narration for "Afghan Willy "; documentary on a charismatic aboriginal camel handler and the muster of feral camels in North West Queensland; Croc Lumley Productions

"Traditional Mongolian Yurts" (corporate DVD production); video post-production, sound design and editing. wwwgreenhs.com.au

Designed Byron Bay Information Portal Guide to Byron

Westfield Finance TVC; video post-production/animation editing and sound mix

Performed at the East Coast Blues & Roots Festival, Byron Bay

Performed at Blues on Broadbeach , Gold Coast, with Slim Pickens & Doc Span

2006

Performed at the Tamworth Country Music Festival with Slim Pickens and Errol Walsh

Performed at the Syjrock Music Festival, Norway with latin/flamenco trio Poco Loco

2005

Festival performances, performing with Slim Pickens:

  • East Coast Blues & Roots Festival, Byron Bay;
  • Blues on Broadbeach, Gold Coast Queensland
  • Syrock Music Festival, Vaeroy, Norway
  • Sement Blues Festival, Kjopsvik, Norway
  • Gympie Muster, Aramoor State Forest, Queensland

2004

· Produced CD album of original compositions for Gav Hamilton, entitled “Boogietown”.


· Collaborated on CD album entitled “Cactus” for “Slim Pickens and Dr. Baz”.


· European Tour, with performances in Norway, London and Ireland, and a headline performance at the Sjyrock Music Festival, Vaeroy Norway, performing delta blues as “Slim Pickens and Dr. Baz”.


· Completed web-site for Organic Fish Australia, Pty Ltd.

1998-2003 The Little Gallery, Maryborough, Qld.
Digital Video Animator/soundtrack composer
Commissioned to create 4 x20-minute hour video animations using digital special effects techniques to create 'Take Your Space Now: a healing journey through colour and sound'; based on 60 oil paintings by the artist 'Duane'; (to be released on DVD later in 2004); produced promotional web-site and designed product packaging. Click here for more info.

2003
· Performed at the prestigious international East Coast Blues Festival, Byron Bay, performing delta blues as “Slim Pickens and Dr. Baz”.

Freelance work 1999-2001:


· www.tarot-chesta . Web site for print artist Chester Harris promoting limited edition hand printed tarot cards


· Event Manager for Thursday Plantations Laboritories “Homecoming 2001”, outdoor concert featuring Daryl Braithwaite and a fireshow spectacular


· Corporate video for Prosperity Seminars, Australia (Brisbane).


· Conducted a course in Web-site design for the staff of Lismore Skill Centre


· Design assistance for Seed-savers Web-site


· Designed web site for Possum Creek Lodge (holiday accommodation)


· Produced corporate video for International Seminars Pty Ltd


· Web-site for Arion Ocean Design, Architects


· Producer, camera, editor & sound design for 1 hr documentary video entitled “Red Gold”, on the history of the red cedar industry on the NSW Far North Coast and recent experiments in cloning (now in post-production).


· Graphic design: CD cover for Brendan Smoother (Country Music Artist)


· Graphic design : Stationary, print ads & business cards; Dolphin Café Lennox Head


· Live vision mix (2 camera shoot), graphic design of packaging and duplication for Dance Studios at Ballina, Alstonville & Mullumbimby (NSW) end of year concerts


· Designed Poster for pop band “Crank

· Mastered and Duplicated CDs for vocal artist Shanti Ramal

1998 Catholic Education N.T. “The Kukunari Show” Bathurst Island
Community artist/video producer
Commissioned to make a documentary on a health & education project run by 5 community artists among young Tiwi Islanders, to help combat youth suicide. This project included shooting and editing a half hour television segment on a daily basis for 6 weeks, which was broadcast nightly on the Bathurst Island Community TV network. (Click here for a slideshow of images of Tiwi life and art, captured during this project).

1998 Young Drums Percussion Orchestra, Aberdeen, Scotland
Video Documentary Producer/cameraman/video editor
commissioned to produce a video documentary of the "Young Drums" tour to Scotland to perform at the Aberdeen International Youth Festival.

1997 Knoch Tea Tree Exports,
Video Editor/sound editor/composer
record voice-over; video edit & post production audio for "Wild Harvest: the Gold standard for Tea Tree Oil"; corporate video explaining the superior medicinal qualities of organically grown wild-harvested tea tree oil. http://www.ttexport.com.au/

1997 Durrumbil Jazz Festival Committee
Video producer/cameraman
Commissioned to shoot archival footage of the inaugural Durrumbil Jazz Festival

1996 to 1997
Futera Pty. Ltd., Melbourne, Victoria
Graphic Artist
commissioned to design a set of 120 collectable cards entitled "Hemp DownUnder" for the makers of the Australian Cricket Board cricket cards. Click here to view.

1997 Young Drums Inc.,
Web site designer
designed and implemented website collating information for the Young Drums fund raising efforts towards the Aberdeen Youth Festival tour. Click here for profile.

1997 North Coast Entertainment Industry Association, Lismore, N.S.W.
Video animator/titler
produced the on screen video animations and winners/sponsors video titles for "the Dolphin Awards" presentation night

1990 to 1997
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association,
tutor in digital music technology, sound engineering
short residential courses for trainee aboriginal sound engineers employed at the C.A.A.M.A. recording and television studios, Alice Springs; held at ISMedia Studios. (www.caama.com.au/.)

1997 Humble Pie Co., Billinudgel, N.S.W.
jingle composer / animator
produced a “dancing pie” T.V. commercial; composed & recorded jingle

1997 Chincogan Fiesta Committee,Mullumbimby, N.S.W.
Video documentary producer
commissioned to produce a documentary of the 1996 Chincogan Charge (cross-country endurance race) and the annual street parade.

1997 David Birch and the Nightcap Band
recording producer/graphic artist
Producer and guitarist on the album, a track from which won the N.C.E.I.A. award for best rock song. Designed CD cover and web-site for the music album “Byron Journey

1996 Tangentyere Aboriginal Council, Alice Springs, N.T.
Video Producer
Cameraman, video editor and post-production sound for "Tangentyere Wardens", a half hour docu-drama commissioned by the Alice Springs Council of Elders to explain and celebrate the role of aboriginal wardens in Alice Springs community life; shown on ABC Imparja. Produced the soundtrack. For a profile of Tangentyere Council : www.atns.net.au/biogs/A000509b.htm

1996 Papua New Guinea Government,
Digital Sound Editor
post-production sound, and audio sweetening using ProTools; a documentary on reaforestation techniques

1996 North Sydney Council, Sydney; N.S.W.
Digital Graphic Artist
commissioned to use digital media technology to produce images based on aboriginal rock art, which were etched into aluminium plaques and are displayed as the final images in the Berry Island foreshores nature walk known as "The Gadyan Track".

1996 Pitjanjatjara Land Council, Ernabella, Amata , Pitjanjatjara lands NT
Audio and Video Producer
Commissioned to re-record a contemporary version of the Pitjanjatjara Land Rights Song in communities through the Pitjanjatjara Lands and make a documentary video of the process, as a health & education initiative, celebrating the unique Central Australian lifestyle. http://www.atns.net.au/biogs/A000304b.htm ; See images of the Pitjantjatjara lands here.

1996 Shane Warne, Swann Sport, Melbourne, Vic.
Graphic Artist
graphic design for Shane Warnes' stationery and business card. http://www.auscricket.com.au/currentnews_oct04_warnerecord.htm

1996 Slug'em Art,
multimedia producer; graphic artist
Commissioned to produced an pilot animation/promotional video, featuring a collection of 3D sculptured "KritterZ" by artist Chris Job;
Graphic design of a promotional book featuring same; created website for Slug'em Art

1995 Hughes Engineering, Ballina, N.S.W.
Multimedia producer
this company designs, constructs and exports 9-seat mobile virtual reality cinemas; they commissioned a series of 4 minute “adventure” videos with music/sound/titles, to which the computer controlled hydraulic motion of the portable theatre was programmed (similar to the Batman ride at Movieworld). Exported to Europe. http://www.lightwing.com.au/

1995 Eartha Kitt, Australian National Tour
Music Director
band-leader & guitarist for legendary vocalist and cabaret artist Eartha Kitt (“Catwoman” from Batman TV series), including the nationally televised performance at the Gold Coast International Jazz Festival, & performances at Perth & Canberra Entertainment Centres & the State Theatre, Sydney. Visit http://www.usca.edu/aasc/kitt.htm for a profile of Eartha Kitt.

1995 Adult Community Education Inc., Lismore, Coraki, N.S.W.
Tutor in Radio Production
designed and delivered a two week workshop in community radio production and sound collage

1995 Young Drums Inc., Lismore, N.S.W.
Video Producer
shot & edited Young Drums music video entitled "Chinatown"; edited live concert footage shot by ABC of their performance of "Thus Spake Zarathustra" at Brisane's Piazza. Click here to visit Young Drums web-site.

1994 Nathan Cavalieri, Gold Coast International Jazz Festival, Surfers Paradise,
Music Director
Band-leader and guitarist, accompanying guitar prodigy Nathan Cavalieri.

1994 to 1995
Boulevarde Films, Melbourne
composer
commissioned to compose an opera entitled "Squizzy Taylor" which went into production as a feature film; Boulevarde Films subsequently was bankrupted through embezzlement and the project abandoned. The opera still exists in manuscript & demo tape. Click here for short account of the macabre life Squizzy.

1993 to 1995
Ismedia Studios, Bangalow, N.S.W.
Project recording engineer/producer/music video maker
produced and recorded music albums for country/folk music artist David Birch, fingerpicker/entertainer Tim Rickards, and Irish singer/songwriter Willi McElroy; produced video clips for African dance/ reggae artist "Kibwe" (broadcast on A.B.C.)

1994 "Dreamtime People", Sanctuary Cove Theatre, Qld.
Composer and Music Director
commissioned to create the music score for a hi-tech multimedia production staged as a permanent tourist attraction depicting Aboriginal Dreamtime mythology; show featured lazer lighting, and synchronized computer animation on 3 giant video screens; cast of 9 aborignal actors from the Black Swan Theatre Company

1994 LightWing Industries, Ballina, N.S.W.
Video producer
produced corporate video for award winning light aircraft manufacturer and flying school. http://www.lightwing.com.au/

1993 Australian Film Commission, Brisbane
Film score composer
Compose and record music score, plus foley and sound editing for the film "Moments of Cruelty" dir. Guy Morgan; prod. Colin Oddy.

1985 to 1991
Queensland Performing Arts Trust, Brisbane
Composer/music director
Composed & music directed productions for 5 years including "Three Legends of Kra" by Robyn Archer, starring Diane Cilento, with 150 voice choir; conducted 35 piece orchestra during the nine performances; directed by Nigel Triffitt. http://www.qpac.com.au

1991 Catholic Music Teachers Association of N.S.W., Cabarita Beach, N.S.W.
music technology workshops
developed & presented a 3 day "Computer Music in the Contemporary Classroom" workshop

1986 to 1990
Kite Theatre Company, Brisbane, Qld & extensive touring
Composer/Music Director
Composed music for 5 joint productions between Q.P.A.T. and the Kite Theatre Company : the award winning "Solomon and the Big Cat"; "Whose Beach is it Anyway?" (toured nationally); innovative music technology based "Kris Makes a Machine"; "Sounds Good"; "The Day the T.V. Busted"

1990 Queensland Department of Education, Brisbane, Queensland
Composer and post production sound
Composed and recorded the score for the film "Openings" which highlighted the careers of women academics in Queensland; directed by Avrill Stark

1985 to 1990

Queensland Performing Arts Trust, Brisbane Queensland
Project development/Music Composition
On contract to the Education Office of the Queensland Performing Arts Complex:

· A series of public workshop/lecture/demonstrations of state-of-the-art digital music and video technology, featuring sampling of body percussion with audience participation, live video with digital special effects, triggered by audience-composed music; one lecture was broadcast live with phone-in feedback / participation, on statewide T.V.

· developed and conducted a series of music/video workshops for the disabled, and another series for terminally ill teenagers, composing music in a group using MIDI percussion triggers, and sampled sounds to tell stories; digital music and live video effects allowed for creation of "instant" video clips with positive body image and life experience outcomes.

· developed and conducted workshops for a small group of leading Brisbane young composers in compostion techniques using the Fairlight C.M.I.

· Digital music/video Installation, Concert Hall Foyer

· Live digital music performance, Foyers program, supporting "The Thunderbirds" live
stage production, Lyric Theatre

· Workshop in story-telling incorporating digital sound collage

1988 Brisbane Expo' 88, Brisbane, Qld.
Video Producer
Commissioned to produce an “art video” to be projected on a giant screen on the Expo’ Riverstage, as a visual complement to the UNESCO International Youth Orchestra's performances of Gershwin's "An American in Paris"; (collaborated with Paul Rainsford Towner).

1988 Brisbane Expo' 88, Brisbane, Qld.
Music Composer and soundscape design
Commissioned to compose and record quadrophonic soundtracks for the 17 hi-tech animatronic 'floats' which toured the Expo' site daily as part of the QANTAS $3 mil. "Light Fantastic" parade project

1988 N.T. Arts Council, tour of remote communities, N.T.
music director/tutor
toured with Bill Davis, and leading aboriginal contemporary musicians including Frank Yamma; 26 concerts in 28 days with daily workshops to aboriginal communities in music technology, P.A. systems and lighting

1987 Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association, Broome, W.A.
Recording Producer
Recorded traditional and contemporary aboriginal music of the Kimberley region. Artists recorded included "Scrap Metal" (featuring the Pigrim brothers) and 'demoed' the songs of Jimmy Chi which eventually became the hit stage show "Bran Nue Dae". www.caama.com.au/.

1985 to 1987
"Giant Steps", pop/rock band based in Byron Bay
band leader and business manager, graphic designer; music video director
innovative professional rock band; toured N.S.W.; support artists for leading Australian contemporary music acts including Cold Chisel, Black Sorrows, Divynals, Dragon, Goanna, Icehouse; produced a large body of experimental music videos; music video "Much More" broadcast on A.B.C. "Rage"

1986 La Boite Theatre, Brisbane, Qld
Composer / music director
Compose songs and incidental music for Grant Frazer's hit play "Summertime Blues". http://www.laboite.com.au/default.htm

1986 N.T. Department of Education & the Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association, Alice Springs
Radio producer/music arranger/composer
produced, in collaboration with Bill Davis, two series of 20 half hour radio programmes, entitled “Bushfire Radio” featuring songs, stories, and amusing "health jingles" featuring innovative digital audio collage and early experiments in digital music; aimed at fostering sense of place and local community pride and creativity; an album was released which is still selling today, and the first series won a CBAA "Golden Reel Award" for community radio, and was runner up in the international "Pater Awards". http://www.cbaa.org.au/content.php/404.html

1985 "Dreams and Machines" Vols 1 and 2, Byron Bay, N.S.W.
recording artist/producer
Released retrospective double album of excerpts from various experimental music commissions; designed packaging and advertising material

1985 Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association, Alice Springs
music industry consultant
commissioned to research and prepare culturally appropriate music business contracts and supporting explanatory material for use between C.A.A.M.A. and aboriginal bands and artists; resulting documents were translated into aboriginal languages; gave workshops in Copyright, A.P.R.A., professional issues relating to a rock band as a small business; also produced and recorded a series of 'call sign' jingles for C.A.A.M.A. radio

1982 to 1985
Music Farm Recording Studios, Byron Bay
session musician
worked as session guitarist and vocalist on a huge variety of projects including "The Pirate Movie" soundtrack, regional, state and national TV commercials including Cadbury's, Solo, Coca-Cola

1985 Queensland Performing Arts Trust, Concert Hall, Brisbane, Queensland
Writer/Director and Composer
commissioned to write and direct a multimedia concert/performance art piece entitled "Dreams and Machines", featuring the (then state-of-the-art) 'Fairlight Computer Music Instrument' (C.M.I.), 'Fairlight VoiceTracker'and 'Fairlight Computer Video Instrument' to demonstrate the future of digital technology in a multimedia performing arts context; also featured live video and live video synthesis effects projected on a giant screen, a 10 member modern dance group, wind quintet, 5 piece rock band, vocalists and additional digital technology. http://www.qpac.com.au/at_qpac/venues/concert_hall/

1985 Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association, Alice Springs
Music recording technology consultant
employed to research, purchase and set up a mobile recording studio with the aim of recording contemporary aboriginal music. Studio later permanently located at Alice Springs. Toured Qld, NSW and WA recording aboriginal music

1984 La Boite Theatre, Brisbane, Qld
Composer / Music Director/ Actor
Wrote & Composed (and programmed the digital music score) for "Goodnight World" , a rock musical spoofing the spate of doomsday theories and religious cults; cast of 20; 3 additional musicians; excellent review in "the Australian". Script assistance by Gerald Frape. Theatre in the round, directed by Mary Hickson. http://www.laboite.com.au/default.htm

1983 Sydney Water Authority, Coffs Harbour
Soundtrack composer/post-production sound
Composed & edited sound for "Sinbad the Sewerage Sailor"; a light-hearted documentary for schools, explaining the contemporary approach to waste treatment; directed by Paul Rainsford Towner.

1982 N.S.W. Education Department, Lismore, N.S.W.
Soundtrack composer
Composed soundtracks for video program distributed to schools, entitled "This is Australia Today"

1982 The Palms Theatre Restaurant, Bangalow, N.S.W.
writer/director/actor
wrote and directed the season of "It's No Picture Show"; starring Barry Ferrier, Rodney Gooch, Glenda Lum, Gerald Frape.

1981 Rochdale Theatre, Lismore Theatre
composer/actor
recorded the soundtrack and acted lead role in "Beach", surrealist theatre piece, written and directed by Paul Rainsford Towner

1978 to 1980
R.C.A. Corporation, Sydney
Recording Artist
Recording original songs as the duo Lindon/Ferrier with multi instrumentalist/vocalist Cammie Lindon, and managed by Harry Widmer;
· Support act in acoustic mode for Ry Cooder at the Palais Theatre, Melbourne
· toured as the support for the Norman Gunston Chrismas Show; (yes, really!)
· television appearances included Molly Meldrum's legendary "Countdown" and the Ray Martin Midday Show.

·live broadcast for JJJ network in duo with Cammie Lindon

1978 Australian Broadcasting Commission, Sydney , N.S.W.
Composer / Music Director
Composed recorded & produced music for ABC Radio drama's production of " The White Bird"

1978 Nimrod Theatre Co., The Stables, Sydney
Composer
Composed incidental music to the production of Anthony Schaffer's "Whodunnit?"

1977 Lindsay Kemp Mime Company, The Roundhouse, London
Music Composer/performer
Performed in the influential Kemp production of “Flowers” in New Arts Cinema, Sydney and Comedy Theatre, Melbourne;
Composed the innovative quadraphonic electronic score for Kemp's "Salome"; this score described by the London Times as "thrilling"; 18 month sell-out season at London’s Roundhouse. (Collaborated with Andrew Thomas Wilson). Click here for a profile of Lindsay Kemp.

1977 "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour DreamCoat",
York Theatre, Seymour Centre, Sydney, N.S.W.
Actor/vocalist
Among a cast of Australian stars including Mark Holden, played "Simeon" and "Potiphar",

1977 "The Ferretts", Melbourne
Bass Guitarist
Toured as bass guitarist with No. 1 charting pop group, former members of the original "Jesus Christ Superstar" cast.

1977 "The Astounding Optimissimos in 'Paradise: Depression Style'", Pram Factory, Melbourne
actor
experimental comedy directed by Jean Pierre Mignon (Australian National Theatre)

1977 Flying Trapeze Theatre Restaurant, Melbourne, Victoria
writer/director/actor
co-wrote and performed in the ensemble production of experimental theatre/cabaret show "Kabaratz" ; wrote and directed the season of "The Milky Way Cabaret Show" which later toured as "The Silent Scream Show". Experimental mixed media production with projections and sound collage.

1976 J. Albert & Son, King St. Studios
Composer/ Recording Producer
Recorded an album of the rock musical "Magical Frank", featuring Reg Livermore, and 'King of Pop' John Paul Young, the Ferretts and Arthur Dignam; this mixed-media musical theatre piece ran for 1 month at the Total Theatre, Melbourne

1976 Crest International , Melbourne
Record producer/composer
composed "The Boy Who Dared to Dream" in collaboration with lyricist Frank Howson; produced L.P. recording starring John Waters, Trevor White and Tommy Dysart, numerous mixed-media stage productions

1975 National Rock Theatre, Melbourne
actor/musician
campus tour of politically inspired musical comedy entitled "Africa: the Savage Musical"; written & directed by Steve J. Spears (of ‘Elocution of Benjamin Franklin’ fame)

1975 American Express Corporation, Sydney
actor
appeared with Karl Malden, as “the hippy handbag snatcher” in the internationally released American Express commercial

1974 Jesus Christ, SuperStar”; Harry M. Miller Productions, Capitol Theatre Sydney & Palais Theatre, Melbourne
Actor/Vocalist
played an Apostle, and worked as utility understudy for minor parts including Peter, Caiaphus and the Pharisees etc, thus enjoyed a stage apprenticeship playing a different role most nights.

1970 to 1974

2JJ live concert appearance; MD for Dobie Gray (of "Drift Away" fame); band leader/guitarist.

Jeff St. John Band, Sydney
lead guitarist
band leader for legendary Australian vocalist

1974 Sunberry Pop Festival, Melbourne Victoria
musician
performed as guitarist with Colin Hay of "Men at Work"

1972 Australian School of Radio & Television & the A.B.C., Sydney, N.S.W.
actor and music arranger
lead acting role in the film "Second Time Straight" written and directed by Craig Kirshner; also produced soundtrack song "Feelings" and incidental music

1970 Composed the music in collaboration with Roderick Morgan for an experimental 16mm film made by student film maker Phil Noyce


Other Self-penned Musicals - Magical Frank & Squizzy Taylor

Barry Ferrier met playwright and later film maker Frank Howson in the cast of Jesus Christ Superstar through a mutual acquaintance with opera singer Peter North who played the deep voiced Caiaphus in the show. They first collaborated on the childrens rock musical "The Faraway Land of Magical Frank". Frank Howson submitted the demo tape (which Barry made with Billy Miller later of the Ferrets fame, Shayna Steward - known for her work with the progressive rock band the "Tully",  and other cast memebers and musicians form Jesus Christ Superstar, which was recorded live on a two track TEAC at an old house on the harbour at Manly) to Alberts Productions in Sydney and it found its way to the desk of the head of classical music Dr. Franz Holford. A distinguished figure in Australian classical music, Holford saw great merit in the musical compositions and took on the project with a passion. In what was a very unusual move for the staid Alberts classical music catalogue, the company began recording an LP album of the music . The featured singers were Billy Miller as "Magical Frank", Arthur Dignam as "Merlin", Reg Livermore as "the Owl", John Paul Young as  "the Kid' and Shayna Stewart as "the Princess", with Barry and Frank also playing cameo roles as "The Man Without a Smile" and "The Gardner" respectively.

CEO  Ted Albert, who as a teenager had been the engineer on the Easybeats recordings, took time out from his huge commitments heading up the Alberts Music corporation to take a personal interest in the project and took on the role of recording engineer with Barry Ferrier producing.

Ted Albert and the very young and inexperienced Barry Ferrier formed an unusual friendship from hours in the studio together, and Ted began mentoring Barry's career for a short while, until historical events changed the course of this project.  The album was completed including the cover art but at this crucial point Alberts were swamped by the huge success of AC/DC and shelved all the projects they had in hand as tax write-offs as the rallied to meet the challenge of having such a world wide mega success on their hands. The album was never released and still languishes in their vaults, Ted Albert having died prematurely from a life long heart issue.

Frank Howson secured a season for the musical at the Total Theatre in Melbourne and the show was performed for a six week season with the Ferrets supplying the musical backing, actress Lisa Peers as the Owl, Graham Matters as Frank, Frank Howson as the narrator and Bill Binks, Peter Noble and Tommy Dysart (both cast members of the original Jesus Christ Superstar) also appearing. 

Because of a contractual dispute that erupted between Frank and a potential venue, Barry  also wrote, in record time (one week!),  the music for a second children's musical with Frank's libretto entitled "The Boy Who Dared to Dream".  This was later recorded by Crest International featuring the voices of Trevor White (Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar), John Waters, Brenda Kristen, and Barry Ferrier and it too was performed for a season in Melbourne.

 

Barry and Frank also collaborated on a jazz opera based on the life of notorious melbourne underworld figure and ganster Leslie "Squizzy"  Taylor. The original demo featured Colin Hay of Men at Work as Squzzy and Frank secured an album deal with Mushroom Records which was to star Wendy Matthews and John Paul Young. The pre-publicity for the album during the 10BA tax period for film making turned out to be a mistake as a movie on the same theme was rushed into production  which scuttled the Howson Ferrier album project.

In the 90s Frank secured funding for a film version of the opera, and a second demo was made of an updated version which Barry Ferrier also was using as a PhD project. The project seemed to be jinxed however, - a housefire destoyed these recordings and simultaneously Frank's film company was driven into bankruptcy through the embezzlement of funds by a director and the project stalled for a second time.

Joseph & the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat

In 1975 I auditioned for a production of "Joseph & the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat" to be staged at the, then, 'brand new' Seymour Centre, in Sydney. I flew up from Melbourne for the audition arannged by my agent Faith Martin, and just 'scraped in' to the show as chorus understudy...  and when the show opened spent a few frustrating weeks having to be there for the call - but not appearing, till finally someone left and I joined the cast full time.

Director Rufus Collins, really impressed me, a gentle African American with gold rimmed glasses, a soft voice but a quiet confidence.  He went on to become an eminent actor, known for The Hunger (1983), Shock Treatment (1981) and Saving Souls (1995). He was also influential in introducing Black Theatre to Europe. He died in1996 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Rufus visualised the show as a cartoon and he had 5 tons of pure white river sand installed as the stage. which guaranteed the physicality of the show. It starred a young Mark Holden as Joseph,  who had won Starsearch (the 70s equivalent of Australian Idol) with his golden voice and boy next door looks,  but was yet to throw roses as a pop star. We became firm friends for a while and I used to travel with him from Manly to Redfern each night in his yellow Mini Minor. I went on to work with Mark on an ABC radio play he was producing called the White Bird, for which I was recorded improvising on a variety of exotic instruments including a zither and bamboo flutes.

 

I went on to understudy the eminent and charming Arthur Dignam's Potiphar, but never got to perform the role except in rehearsal. It was highly physical romp with twelve brothers (including the burly Joe Dicker, Paul "P.J." Johnstone, Robert Forza to name a few) diving recklessly around in the sand like a rock n roll footy team, and the band was a cracker, with Jimmy Duke-Younge, later of Bullamakanka  on drums. Gordon Waller of the pop duo "Peter & Gordon" fame (Peter Asher was Jane Asher's brother, and the Beatles penned some hit songs for them) was flown out from London to play the Pharoah, (and I later briefly backed him in some Sydney club gigs). John McTernan was dignified and thoroughly professional as the Narrator, and as always Patrick Flynn inspired and terrified as the music director. I have a vivid memory of being called on in one devestatingly prominent rehearsal to be the sole music backing on guitar for some long lost reason, and felt very excited and humble to be lowest on the pecking order  and playing before that team of outstanding youthful talent and the great Patrick yelling orders. The Lindsay Kemp Company were performing "Flowers" up the road at the New Arts Cinema at Glebe, and a joint cast party was thrown in our foyer which led me to become friends with Andrew Wilson, leading on to another major theatrical experience in Salome.

 
Contributors
NameFunctionNotes
Eve Ritscher Costume Designer  
Brian Thompson Designer  
Rufus Collins Director  
Michael Carlos Musical Arranger  
Patrick Flynn Musical Director  
Joseph Dicker Performer Levi
Arthur Dignam Performer Potiphar/Simeon
Barry Ferrier Performer Ishmaelite
Robert Forza Performer Napthali
Denni Gordon Performer Jacob's Other Wives/Adoring Girls
Mark Holden Performer Joseph
Paul Johnstone Performer Isaachar/Butler
Gillian Jones Performer Jacob's Favourite Wife/Canaan Days
Merryn Joseph Performer Ishmaelite/Jacob's Other Wives/Adoring Girls
Stephen Little Performer Ishmaelite
Nicholas Lush Performer Asher
John McTernan Performer Narrator
Doreene Patenal Performer Jacob's Other Wives/Adoring Girls
Bill Paton Performer Gad/Baker
Andrew Sharp Performer Zebulun
Glenn Taylor Performer Benjamin
Jerry Thomas Performer Reuben
Stephen Thomas Performer Judah/Benjamin Calypso
Gordon Waller Performer Pharaoh/Jacob
Brian Withers Performer Dan

The reviews and audience reception were outstanding

The Camel Man

Memories of Rodney Gooch.

I once was the proud owner of four camels. The attached newspaper clipping is one of the only pictures of my camel adventures to have survived my house fire in 1994. The picture of me and Shanti my younger female Camel was taken in 1984 when I was paid by through an advertising agency to bring the camel team to Sydney for a publicity stunt to get promo for the opening of the Shell Building in North Sydney. A rather eccentric crew crossed Sydney Harbour in a barge with two large blue & gold cut-out palm tress, a half a tonne of white sand, the camels in splendid regalia, and my friend Rodney Gooch (a tribute to whom follows below) and I dressed as fugutives from the Arabian Nights (pre-terrorism and political correctness) and two belly dancers, the late Fairlie Beckner (a Australian middle weight karate champion)and Jennifer Carmen (a mystic and real belly dancer) and a third beautiful woman friend, Samantha Todd - under the harbour bridge (drinking champagne) and alighting near Luna Park. We were to walk the camels up through the centre of North Sydney where I was to play pseudo arabian disco music on borrowed synthesizers and a drum machine for the belly dancers. One of the camels nearly fell in the harbour when we were attempting to disembark. I actually did get on the Channel 9 news as, just after we landed, we were drenched by torrential rain! The "Ships of the Desert" byline was too funny for the news editor to ignore. 

We appeared at the Shell building every day for a week. Shows were hosted by the glamorous Chelsea Brown, an African-American actress and comedian (who appeared as a regular performer in comedy series Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In with guest roles include appearances in Marcus Welby, M.D., Ironside, Matt Lincoln and, in the UK, The Two Ronnies. She also appeared in the films Sweet Charity, and The Thing with Two Heads. She emigrated to Australia in the 1970s and had ongoing roles in soap operas Number 96 (in 1977), and E Street (in 1990–1991). She had a guest role in the Australian-filmed revival of Mission: Impossible (1988). Film roles in Australia include Welcome to Woop Woop, The Return of Captain Invincible. She was married to fellow E Street actor, the late Vic Rooney. Wikipedia).

I first met the inimitable Rodney Gooch in the early eighties when I was performing a regular gig as a solo entertainer at a long-defunct restaurant called The Palms in the main street of Bangalow (a small town near Byron Bay on Australia's east coast - I have since made Bangalow my home).

Rodney had taken a job as a waiter and his powerful, flamboyant personality, huge hands and Rudolph Nureyev-like face made quite an impression. From conversations I only vaguely recall I have the idea that Rodney was a founding figure in the original Les Girls drag-show (of Kings Cross fame), had appeared on the cover of the international Face magazine, and run a restaurant in London, and ...crossed Australia, from Alice Springs to Byron Bay solo, with a team of camels and a dog.

Rodney and I, and a few others, were soon putting on hilarious high camp and rather gothic theatrical productions in this tiny performing space... most notably It's No Picture Show, starring myself, Rodney in drag, the wonderful singer/actress Glenda Lum, and journalist (now media advocacy lecturer) Gerald Frape (with whom I later wrote Goodnight World).

One of the pictures in the attached gallery is of me and my friend Robyn Bekker riding in the now historic Oleander Festival in Byron Bay. Back in 1981, I was invited to ride my camels up Jonson Street as part of the Festival Parade and here is an article from the Northern Star with a picture of myself mounted on Bunji the bull camel and Robyn Bekker riding Isabelle. Just after this photo was taken, the fire engine at the head of the parade let off it's siren... the camels took fright and bolted off the street and onto the footpath, galloping down the sidewalk. Have you ever seen a camel gallop? I had to crouch down and actually bumped my head on a shop awning as shocked onlookers scattered in all directions in pandemonium.

Who was the Gooch?

RODNEY GOOCH who in his life of unsung achievements was active and influential in the establishment of the first aboriginal recording studio, assisted the very earliest contemporary aboriginal bands to be recorded and recognised.  After facilitating the start up of aboriginal contemporary music, RODNEY is credited with going on to influence the emergence of contemporary aboriginal painting,  encouraging and enabling the many artists of Utopia community to pursue international careers in the arts. The late EMILY KAME KNGWARREYE was one of these artists, now regarded as one of Australia’s most significant artists of all time. Rodney also managed the CAAMA shop (the art, craft and music outlet of the Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association) and Utopia Batik, of which he was art co-ordinator from 1987 to 1992. 

Rodney was an original and a visionary. He had indeed made an epic, year long journey from Alice Springs to Byron Bay with four camels and a dog, crossing the Simpson Desert unassisted (an article was written on this trip by Gerald Frape for Hustler Magazine, long before the film Priscilla Queen of the Desert hit the silver screen, and in my mind Rodney was the true original Priscilla).

As I had purchased a small acreage, and Rodney was over his camel adventure I became the guardian of those foot-sore camels. In the coming months I began giving camel-rides at the local markets to subsidise my musical income and became quite a camel expert under Rodney's influence. You could meet the world on the back of a camel in those days. I rode them in local festivals and even began being booked for children's parties! These were only recently wild, feral camels but camel suffer from a maligned reputation .

The Gooch and I had many adventures, the most outrageous was that week-long publicity stunt for the opening of that brand new skyscraper in North Sydney - described above.

Rodney painted the two tall blue and gold cut-out ply-wood palm trees, and the climax was us crossing under Sydney Harbour Bridge on a sand-filled barge, with the four long-sufferring camels. Helicopter flying overhead, TV cameras whirring, our odd team high on champagne euphoria - but when we reached Luna Park, the tide was low and the camels wouldn't walk up a ramp. Rodney tried to urge our bull camel Bunji up the ramp and he took one disgusted step onto the plank and then nearly fell into the harbour - he lay there with his huge dromedary chest pressed to the barge deck, looking very disgruntled (even for a camel), with his two skinny front legs dangling over, perilously close to the murky harbour water.

After much confused disarray, we finally off-loaded onto a small patch of grey sand covered with city detritus clinging to the base of an old stone wall. We mounted on this strip of sand. Then it rained.

No, it poured (and thus amusing images of some rather soggy ships-of-the-desert made the Channel 9 News). 

Rodney booked some music gigs for me around Sydney (the header image is an ad for one of those), and arrived on a camel and rode up the steps and into the hotel, dismounted on some sand on the dance floor he had wheel-barrowed in, and then played a rather strange set of pseduo arabian disco music - but the entry on camel back was a hard act to follow.

The following year Noel Fullerton's famous camel team was visiting the Gold Coast, and as Rodney knew Noel, he negotiated to put on a camel race in Lismore showgrounds. We borrowed money to finance and promote the event. There is a theme here - It rained again. The distressing outcome was that we had to sell our treasured camel team (they were dispersed to some large rural properties in western NSW to eat thistles)  and the saddles to recoup the bank overdaft, so Rodney decided to return to Alice Springs to capture some more camels!

Some years passed and Rodney didn't return to Byron, and contact was disjointed. From what I heard later, Rodney began working as a chef to earn some money, but this was also the time when he began his life's work.

Rodney had always expressed a desire to make some sort of difference to the plight of Australia's indegenous people. Let's face it - Australia has a sad and sorry record and things have not improved greatly in terms of racism. Rodney first hired some local hall and put on a few indigenous rock bands - there was no venue in Alice Springs that would employ aboriginal bands. Rodney did the promotion, collected money on the door to pay the bands, and swept up the broken glass afterwards. These small entrepreneurial ventures were so successful that soon Rodney started working with the fledgling C.A.A.M.A. Radio group, based in a tiny cement block building in the squalid Gap aboriginal camp. During this period the seeds of the contemporary aboriginal music project described below were sown.

Rodney then began taking his choice of aboriginal bands to Adelaide to record them, releasing some home-grown cassette tapes, and continued putting on dances for aboriginal communities (who were largely uncatered for in Alice in those days), and even began making some wild, earthy video clips for bands such as the Warumpi Band. The cassettes had an incredible impact in the aboriginal communities - this was their own contemporary music and it had never been available before.

My next contact came when Rodney invited me to Alice to help develop appropriate practical legal contracts between the aboriginal bands and C.A.A.M.A., a project whcih severely annoyed some of the legal profession in Alice, and made me a target at some of the Alice society "do's" I attended - but their legaleze documents were incomprehensible to the parties involved. I collected specimen contracts from a broad range of recording and publishing companies in Sydney and Melbourne . I remember early mornings jogging in the green irrigated park in Alice, and physically cutting and pasting documents on the motel room floor (in pre-computer times) with the idea of editing down to the most concise but comprehensive documents I could manage. I finally "translated" this into a parallel explanation in everyday language, which Rodney then had re-translated into various aboriginal languages. He always encouraged a direct approach to problem solving.

The success of the music cassettes Rodney produced for C.A.A.M.A. - they went on selling like wild-fire on aboriginal communities across the N.T. - led to C.A.A.M.A. securing a grant to set up an aboriginal recording studio, which Rodney visualised as a mobile unit, travelling to the homelands of contemporary aboriginal music artists. I was employed to research the purchase of equipment for this project and later set it up for Rodney in a small bus he had purchased.

This was the first C.A.A.M.A. recording studio, and I was immediately sent to record an aboriginal concert in a park in Brisbane. The recording bus was a 'lemon' however. It was eventually abandoned. Rodney next flew me and the equipment, sans bus, to Broome. The equipment somehow ended up in Perth and I spent some time hanging about in pre-development Broome with my four year old son Tirryn. I was billetted in the aboriginal hostel - prossibly the first and only white man to stay there - and my beautiful boy was a blessing in bridge building. After much too-ing and fro-ing I was put in contact with an agent for the Chancellor of the Exchequer of Britain - forgotton his name now - who was buying up big in preparaton for the coming development boom... and it eventuated I was offered a deserted house on the beach out of town, where I set up the recording equipment. There was electricity and fans, and a working toilet, but no stove or furniture, and I cooked outside on a campfire looking down on my own little beach, no humans for miles, and the beach sand was red.

That summer I recorded Jimmy Chi's original demos of the songs which became Brand Nue Dae as well as the first recordings of Scrap Metal (now the Pigram Brothers ), and also secret traditional songs performed with solemn dignity by elders of the local community.

The weeks flew by and Christmas arrived. While I was home for a Christmas break, the lead singer of Scrap Metal died in a drink driving accident, my aboriginal trainee-engineer Eddie was arrested for apparently bashing someone to death with a star-picket in a drunken fight and meanwhile the precious master tapes we had recorded with such idealism and excitement were stolen by a white 'friend' of the band who thought they would be valuable. (They were eventually recovered, and years later I saw a copy of a finished cassette in an Alice Springs record store).

After the dust settled on this episode, the mobile 'recording studio' was finally set up in the concrete-block bunker at Little Sisters camp around the corner from the Gap, in Alice Springs, and the rest is history. Though a history these days that is on a downward trend - the exciting heyday of C.A.A.M.A. Recording a mute memory thanks to Howard Govt cuts to such expensive cultural icons.

So, in the whole early history of contemporary aboriginal music, that culminated in the establishment of the big glass-fronted C.A.A.M.A building in the centre of Alice Springs and the success of aboriginal bands, Rodney Gooch was a hugely important historical figure...it was his vision and energy which led to the establishment of a national contemporary aboriginal music presence in the media, a fact which goes largely unsung.

His later even more important work with aboriginal visual artists is much better recorded (see below). One could suspect it is because of his status as a gay H.I.V. victim that he is yet to receive the recognition he deserves, for a fabulous, inspiring life, and an immense contribution which paved the way for the acceptance that contemporary Australian aboriginal art and music now enjoys in mainstream culture, a cause to which he consciously dedicated himself over two decades. In time I hope his true historical significance will emerge.

Rodney touched many people. I remember him fondly as a flamboyant, larger-than-life, astute, energetic, totally unique individual, with an astounding constitution, able to withstand predigious feats of partying, a strong instinct for and love of visual style, music and culture, and a green thumb that turned the backyard of any place he stayed into an oasis.

But if history is just, we will surely remember him as a very practical visionary, and a life-long fighter for the cause he believed in and the Australian aboriginal people he loved.

Rodney Gooch: Devoted to bush art.

OBITUARY. from the Alice Springs News, Sept 18, 2002.

Rodney Gooch, who died recently, made a huge contribution to the artists, singers and musicians of Central Australia, say friends and family who contributed this obituary:-

Rodney was born in Adelaide in 1949, one of six siblings.

He left home at 17 and lived for a time in Sydney where he first performed as a drag queen, travelled overseas and lived on Norfolk Island before settling in Alice Springs. His first job here was on a camel farm, and his 4500km solo trek from Alice Springs to Byron Bay gave him the title of the original "Queen of the Desert". Rodney is best known for his work with Aboriginal artists and musicians. He originally joined CAAMA for a six-week period and began what became his life's work. He started by encouraging young people from the Gap Youth Centre to become involved in creating artwork for cassette covers for CAAMA Music, and he helped establish the CAAMA Shop.

His flamboyance, creativity and energy enthused many others to contribute to the Shop. It grew quickly under his management, providing employment for Aboriginal people and becoming a great drop-in centre and mixing pot for all, both black and white, to talk about art, music and new ideas.

In 1987, Rodney was asked to take over the management of the Utopia Women's Batik Group. The women took a shine to Rodney and he to them. Batik had been introduced at Utopia a few years earlier but it wasn't long before Rodney, through CAAMA Shop, was providing art materials to the whole community.

A trip to the United States in 1988 with Chris Hodges and the late C. Possum led to a survey of the Utopia artists to see if they would like to try acrylic painting, as US museums and galleries dismissed the batik work as "craft". This survey became known as "A Summer Project", the works later acquired by the Robert Holmes a Court Collection. Rodney provided the first canvases and paints to Utopia artists. He also encouraged people to paint on car doors, and provided wood carving materials, which led to the production of the now famous Utopia wood figures. His flamboyance and enthusiasm was infective and it showed in the freedom and colour that was displayed in the Utopia works. Artists such as Emily Kngwarre, Lindsay Bird, Ada Bird and Gloria Petyarre all commenced painting with Rodney's support.

EMILY KAME KNGWARREYE Anmatyerre (ca. 1916 — 1996)

NTANGE, MUNYAROO SEEDS DREAMING, 1996 synthetic polymer paint on canvas/linen

120 x 84cm $7,000 — 9,000 PROVENANCE Mulga Bore Artists (Rodney Gooch), Utopia, N.T. Company Collection, Melbourne EXHIBITED Switzerland: Gallerie ESF, Lausanne, July 1998; Gallerie Rivolta, Geneva, August 1998. Norway: Galleri Oda, Kristiansand; Galleri Lista Fyr, Borhag; Saviomuseet, Kirkenes; Alta Kunst-Forening, Alta, August to November 1999. In 1998 Rodney donated his personal art collection to a regional gallery in South Australia. His final collection was donated to the Flinders University Art Collection, a gift he organised while he was in hospital. Rodney was also important in the development of CAAMA Music. When CAAMA needed a place to record artists, but had no money, Rodney set about building a mud-brick recording studio at Little Sisters, with the help of many others. This became the place where many Aboriginal singers and bands laid down tracks for CAAMA Music.

The artwork, marketing and promotion was done under Rodney's management and it was a huge success.

Rodney loved and admired Freda Glynn and Philip Batty, who were running CAAMA during Rodney's time there, and between them they made a great contribution to the media culture of Central Australia. As Rodney's brother Bob Gooch said at his funeral, Rodney's life gives us "a message and example to think about. " Despite the recent decades being known as the era of greed, Rodney was the opposite. "He leaves us all with an example of a happy life, lived to the full, enjoying the simple things, the people, his family, the community."

"ART AND RECONCILIATION"

SPEECH BY EVELYN SCOTT CHAIRPERSON, COUNCIL FOR ABORIGINAL RECONCILIATION, AT THE OPENING OF "THE RODNEY GOOCH COLLECTION: WORKS OF THE ARTISTS OF UTOPIA" RIDDOCH ART GALLERY MT GAMBIER, SOUTH AUSTRALIA 25 SEPTEMBER 1998

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Malcolm Anderson, Mayor Don McDonald, Louise Haigh, Rodney Gooch, Ladies and Gentlemen.

"First I'd like to thank Malcolm for his welcome to the country of the Nungis people. In keeping with a tradition of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation, I acknowledge the living culture of the Nungis people and the unique role they play in the life of the Mount Gambier region. The reason for us being here tonight is more than just a proud moment for the Riddoch Art Gallery and the people of the South-East region. It's also a significant milestone on the path to reconciliation between Indigenous peoples and the wider Australian community.

I'll explain why I say that in a minute, but first I'd like to pay tribute to some of the people who've made it possible for Mount Gambier to become home to this wonderful collection of art. Most of you have probably heard of the gallery's generous benefactor on this occasion, Rodney Gooch. Rodney is widely and rightly hailed for his pioneering work in developing and promoting Indigenous arts in Central Australia. We know that he has cast his net widely in that field over the last couple of decades.

For example, he was one of the driving forces behind CAAMA - the Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association. CAAMA has played a leading role in promoting cross-cultural understanding, in providing a voice for many Aboriginal communities, and in supporting the several important Indigenous languages that remain alive in the vast area through which its coverage extends. And CAAMA became a model for what is now a quite impressive network of Indigenous media operations throughout Australia.

Rodney Gooch's part in all of that was important and, especially in the early days, courageous. But of course, it's one of his other great pursuits that interest us most here. That is his long-standing and energetic encouragement of Aboriginal artists and, hand in hand with that, his determination to help all Australians to an appreciation of the meaning, the significance, and the artistic merit of Indigenous art.

In the course of this labour of love, Rodney built up a significant private collection of the work of the artists of Utopia. It's entirely consistent with his vision that all these exciting and valuable paintings, sculptures, coolamons and other works are now becoming available to the Australian public. I think I can speak on behalf of all Australians interested in cultural diversity and mutual understanding when I pay tribute to the generosity, and the vision, of Rodney Gooch.

The question then is, why Mount Gambier? Why the Riddoch Gallery? This is after all one of the most significant gifts to a regional gallery ever made in Australia! I think the answer to that lies in the energy and commitment of your director, Louise Haigh, and the many supporters of the Gallery in Mount Gambier and the surrounding region.

I believe Rodney decided quite some time ago that his collection would become available to the Australian public, but he was quite fussy about how it should be cared for and used, especially for the benefit of Australia's children. I know that Riddoch, like most regional galleries, is hardly flush with funds, so it's a feather in Louise Haigh's hat that she was able to meet Rodney's requirements and take on the responsibility for this fine collection. I know that Louise knows she couldn't have done it without specific support for the collection from a number of quarters. The City of Mount Gambier, agencies of the State Government, and Living Health all deserve praise for their ability to see the worth of the collection and ensure it found a home here. I heard also that a couple of months ago, the preparation of this exhibition received a big boost when the local business community and some hundreds of citizens of the region made sure that a fundraising auction was both thoroughly enjoyable and successful in its purpose.

It's this last source of support that leads me back to the comment I made about the importance of this occasion to the national process of Reconciliation. The Council I lead will end its life on the first of January, 2001. By then, I believe we will have taken many steps together on the path to reconciliation between Indigenous peoples and other Australians.

The Council itself hopes to achieve by that time broad agreement on national documents of reconciliation. These will set out the nation's understanding of the unique place of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the original inhabitants of this land, acknowledge past injustices, and lay down the steps that still need to be taken to overcome Indigenous disadvantage and achieve true and lasting reconciliation.

We also hope to see in place a great network of partnerships, between business, government of all tiers, community organisations and Indigenous communities, established with the prime objective of ridding this land of the gross inequalities that still persist in relation to our Indigenous peoples. There's a third, and I think vitally important, goal for this third and last term of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation. It is to support and promote the growth of the People's Movement for Reconciliation. This is the key to maintaining the momentum for true reconciliation beyond the centenary of federation. Less than two years ago, there were about twenty local groups in all of Australia working under the banner of Australians for Reconciliation. Today, there are more than 260, and we want to see that number grow much more. It's at the local level, where people of good will can sit down together and agree on what reconciliation actually means in their communities; where Indigenous and other Australians can learn to appreciate each other's outlooks on life, where they can see what needs to be done and plan to do it, that reconciliation has the greatest meaning. I believe that this people's movement has an unstoppable power. Whatever the political threats that may emerge from time to time, the people will ensure that reconciliation succeeds.

It's in that context that I so very warmly welcome the kind of partnerships that led to this great event in Mount Gambier. Your City Council, your business community, your Indigenous community, your private citizens of good will, all came together to make sure this project worked. The fact that this project is a major demonstration of Indigenous culture makes it - and the way it's been brought to fruition - is a highly significant milestone in the path to reconciliation. So it gives me great pleasure and pride, ladies and gentlemen, to declare the Rodney Gooch Collection of the Riddoch Art Gallery, officially open." The Rodney Gooch Collection - the Riddoch Art Gallery The Rodney Gooch Collection of indigenous art from Utopia was a donation of over 200 works of art from Rodney Gooch in 1998. Gooch was a long-time supporter of the aboriginal music and art industries in Central Australia and worked with aboriginal people and organisations for over 20 years. Since 1987 Gooch forged a close relationship with the people of Utopia, which is 240kms north east of Alice Springs, and in the summer of 1988/89 he delivered 100 fresh canvases, acrylic paints and brushes to various artists in Utopia. As a result of this many outstanding indigenous artists began to emerge including Kathleen Petyarre and the late Emily Kame Kngwarreye. Through the generosity of Rodney Gooch, the Riddoch Art Gallery now owns a significant collection of works from Utopia including silk and cotton batiks, sculpture, jewellery, photography and a large number of acrylic paintings. This collection spans two decades and traces the development of the artists of Utopia from relative obscurity to international recognition. Johnny Skiner, Bush Plum Dreaming, c.1992, acrylic on canvas, 165.5 x 44.5 cm. Gift of Rodney Gooch 1998 Collection - Riddoch Art Gallery, Mount Gambier. Janet Kngwarreye, Untitled (Utopia massacre scene), c.1998, acrylic on canvas, Gift of Rodney Gooch, 1998 Collection - Riddoch Art Gallery, Mount Gambier. Over the past decade Aboriginal artists have produced distinguished works because of their individual style and techniques rather than just for their ethnographic importance. Names such as Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Robert Cole and Ronnie Tjampitjinpa have become well know within Australia's art community because of their work's distinctive and exceptional qualities.

In a foreword in one of several books on the Utopia art community (artists from the Aboriginal Utopia community in central Australia in the Northern Territory), The Art of Utopia by Michael Boulter, Hodges said: "Looking back over the work that they made since the late 1970s, and in particular the work since 1988, it is clear to me that the most outstanding work goes beyond Aboriginality." He added: "The art transcends specific cultural roots and references and thus becomes meaningful to a much wider audience."

Hodges first encountered Utopia artists' work in the contemporary Australian section of the Australian National Gallery. Then he met Rodney Gooch by "accident", (when Gooch was working as) a representative for the Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association (CAAMA), in 1988. Gooch had organised Utopia women's batik group to produce a series of stories as a way to document the culture of their region. This process involved using brushes to apply hot wax artistically on material, such as silk, which was then dyed. Because of the size of pieces such as A Picture Story (2.4m x 1.2m) Gooch needed spaces the size of galleries to exhibit the work. Previously they had been shown in the CAAMA shop, a converted generator shed. Gooch's meeting with Hodges ended his problem of finding a space.

They agreed Hodges would exhibit and sell work for the Utopia community in Sydney. Initially the work was shown in his Newtown studio/home. The positive response from this and several temporary exhibitions led him to open a permanent gallery in Stanmore. Soon after the Papunya Tula Artists approached Hodges to be their representative. Consequently, Hodges became a gallery owner "more or less in a response to what they asked me to do for them". So he decided to create the same type of environment he had found productive as an artist starting out. Hodges said: "I believe strongly in the idea of the artist and the gallery working together in representation."

EMILY KNGWARREYE (Australian Representative to the 1997 Venice Bienalle). Emily is widely regarded as the most innovative painter to have emerged from the desert painting movement. The evolution of her painting style was nothing short of remarkable. Emily started painting at Utopia at the age of 77 and compressed a brilliant career, comparable to that of other important abstract painters, into eight short years, leaving an impressive body of work behind her. Emily passed away in 1996, but her legacy lives on in the compelling colour, vibrant dotting, and spellbinding gestural brushwork of her paintings.

Emu Country

Emily Kngwarreye,

1993 60" x 36"

A mid-period gem, its soft colours evoking a sense of desert landscape in bloom, as the Emu hunts for the Mulga seeds heralding the seasonal renewal of the Yams (Emily was the senior custodian of the Yam Dreaming).

Subscribe to this RSS feed