I have loved this course! It is wonderful to be informed and intelectually equipt to serve in the Australian art industry - which is now predominantly revolved around the Indigenous art movement.

However, I do wish that I was able to have one on one conversation and experience with an Indigenous artist or intellect - because I think that hearing opinions from the heart is of greater value than hearing it from numerous outside sources. - but then maybe that will be part of my proactivity as an artist in the future, in order to gain a greater understanding of the country I am part of.

The Stop [the] Gap exhibition, curatored by Brenda Coft, held at the Samstag museum earlier this year. This is a great example of the different Indigenous and Non-indigenous relationships and cross-cultural interchange, not only in Australia, but in other countries around the world.

Sometimes I get very "Australia is the only country on earth" - "Hey everyone! come and look at our problems!!" and "Look! we are a wonderful, cultural country, who accepts anyone and everyone no matter their race!".

However, watching this introduction to the exhibition highlighted the importance of International exchanges and recognition, in a global context. We (Australia) should not discount the fact that we are part of the world, we can take political, cultural and behaivoural inspiration from other countries, such as Canada - who had a similar past in terms of Indigenous people being displaced.

Ken Thaiday - commenting on the Torres Strait Islander art represented in the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair last year - which I wished I was at!

Thaiday is a Torres Strait Islander "ambassador" who is known for creating extravigant traditional headresses.

This particular one was shown at the Ipswitch art gallery. His contemporary inventive headress shown below represents a hammerhead shark. It is made with plastic components, plywood and paint as well as traditional materials such as bamboo and feathers.

I find his work aesthetically appealing and contemporary, and i admire the traditional focus that is kept - which I also personally think is important for the Torres Strait Islander culture and community.