Artist Profile: Babs
I am a Gundangurra and Croatian creative, based in Dharawal country. I create visual,written and performance art based on my unique positionality and range of interests. A monologue that I wrote and performed received second place at the Wollongong Eisteddfod in 2023. My latest venture “Just Say it project” aims to celebrate the inherent radical potential of acknowledging and celebrating each other's differences and everyone's personal and artistic journeys. I believe that art is based on intention, memory and emotions and that art comes in all forms. I aim to further that belief in this project. When not sketching or writing poems and short stories I can be found boxing, sewing, working on my voice acting skills and volunteering with Driver Reviver and Gulla Nurra National Parks bush care program.
Can be found of Instagram as @Babs61_6 or Cara as @aphantwriter
Just Say It!!!
ART! The creation of an artists soul. Even when showing something the artist hates
and divorces themselves from it is impossible for the artist to leave themselves out of it. Art is inherently vulnerable in all it’s forms. Why is this principle ignored and talked over when it comes to minority groups?
Refusal to associate these minority groups with things you like perpetuates evils like queerphobia, ableism and racism
It pushes the idea that the dominant groups are the default
It erases the identities and experiences of artists and allows weaponization of other identities
Perpetuates the idea that oppressed minorities must be accessible to everyone and that discussing personal experiences is “political: “ it’s only political because you make the politics necessary
Allows dominant groups to feel comfortable appropriating the language and art of oppressed experiences. (you will not die if you vibe with a Blak person)
Especially in collaborative work- focusing on universality strangles the meaning or art.
CALLING ALL CREATIVES! Post under the hashtag #JustSayItProject it can be anything, an embroidery of something that sparks joy, a poem, short story or fan art for a show that impacted you. SHOW US WHO YOU ARE