Art Activism by Great Women Conference

Held on Sunday 28 March from 2pm to 7pm at Kambri, it’s the highly-anticipated closing event of the inaugural HERE I AM: Art by Great Women festival, and gives attendees the unique chance to meet with socially conscious leaders in an intimate setting.

aMBUSH Gallery invited four prominent female artists from around Australia – Aretha Brown, Kaff-eine, Jane Gillings, and Claire Martin – to discuss their art and area of activism, sharing powerful ideas, diverse perspectives and inspiring action.

The ticketed conference will feature individual artist talks and Q&A sessions, followed by a group panel discussion and Q&A moderated by Genevieve Jacobs, an afternoon tea, and finish with an hour-long networking and wine tasting (courtesy of Lerida Estate) in aMBUSH Gallery.

Art Activism by Great Women Conference is free of charge for students, with three ticketing options available for members of the general public: Conference and Networking $50, Conference Only $35, or Networking Only $15. Tickets can be purchased via Eventbrite here.

The event is a celebration of these game-changing Australian women who use art to speak out about the change they wish to make in the world, and have overcome barriers to pursue their goals.

For updates, follow aMBUSH Gallery on Facebook and Instagram.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Aretha Brown

Aretha is a strong Gumbaynggirr woman who describes herself as a “painter, decolonizer, dreamboat”. In 2017, she delivered an impassioned speech at the Invasion Day Rally in Melbourne, fighting to make Indigenous history education mainstream. Aretha’s delivery and ideas lead her to be elected as Prime Minister of the National Indigenous Youth Parliament, the youngest person — and the first woman — to hold this position. She is committed to creating pathways to champion young mob. Aretha is also an accomplished artist who has shown works at the National Gallery of Victoria and is currently studying painting at the Victorian College of the Arts.

Claire Martin 

Claire began her career in Social Work, but changed her focus to photography when she realised that change can also be effected through this medium. She has since focused her lens on marginalised communities within prosperous nations, creating works that blend the genres of documentary, art and photography. The impact behind Claire’s photographs comes from her critical analysis of sociocultural and ecological relationships, and her drive to simplify and communicate these ideas to the public through complex and bold single images.

Kaff-eine

Melbourne-based lawyer turned street artist Kaff-eine combines creativity with a strong social conscience, making art and film projects with communities around the world and inviting audiences to engage with social and political issues. Kaff-eine’s recent projects include the collaborative ‘Phoenix’ and ‘Happyland’ art exhibitions, installations and award-winning documentaries with residents living in Manila’s notorious dumpsite slums, and ‘Infinite Thanks’, a travelling participatory exhibition about LGBTQI gratitude, honouring rainbow deities and sharing LGBTQI stories of thankfulness.

Jane Gillings

Jane is a multidisciplinary artist with over thirty years of experience as an exhibiting, practicing artist and educator. Her work ranges from large-scale sculptural installations to detailed drawings, which often reflects her relationship with the planet and deep connection with the small community in which she lives. As an educator, Jane has worked with at-risk people, those with different abilities, mental health issues, homelessness and drug and alcohol issues. She currently runs weekly art sessions in her home studio for school aged children, as well as occasional free community art sessions.