Maree Clarke

Maree Clarke (born 1961 in Swan Hill, Victoria) is a Mutti Mutti, Yorta Yorta, BoonWurrung/Wemba Wemba woman, curator, and artist. Clarke is a multidisciplinary artist renowned for her work in reviving South-eastern Aboriginal Australian art practices.

Career

Clarke grew up in and around Mildura in North Western Victoria.[1]

She began working as an educator in her home town in 1978 which provided her with a solid base from which to develop her career in promoting and supporting South East Aboriginal histories, culture and knowledge.[2]

The City of Port Phillip became the first Victorian local government to establish a centre dedicated to actively promoting Aboriginal arts and culture, creating the first Koori Arts Unit in St Kilda. Clark was the first Koori Arts Officer from 1994 - 1998 and instrumental in its success.[2] In 1996, Clarke curated, with Kimba Thompson and Len Tregonning, the We Iri We Homeborn Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Festival.

Artistic career

Clarke works across a range of mediums including photography, sculpture, painting and jewellery.[3]

Research and revival of cultural practices which have been lost as a result of colonisation form an important part of Clarke's art practice. Clarke goes to museums to research and work with objects in their collections.[4] Her work has seen her become a pivotal figure in the reclamation of cultural and artistic practices of South Eastern Australian Aboriginal peoples.[5][2]

Recognition

Made from Memory (Nan’s house) 2017 was purchased by the National Gallery of Australia in 2017 in recognition of the 50th Anniversary of the 1967 Referendum.[6]

Works

Solo exhibitions
  • 2019 Eel Trap with Mitch Mahoney, Footscray Community Arts Centre, Footscray VIC[7]
  • 2019 Translating Culture with Mitch Mahoney, Canberra Glassworks, Kingston ACT
  • 2019 Ancestral Memory, Treasury Gallery Old Quad, University of Melbourne, Melbourne VIC
  • 2019 Reimagining Culture – Contemporary Connections to Culture, Mildura Arts Centre, Mildura VIC
  • 2018 Reimagining Culture, Arts Space Wodonga, Wodonga VIC
  • 2015 Ritual: Connection to Country, Koorie Heritage Trust, Melbourne VIC
  • 2011 Ritual & Ceremony, Bunjilaka Gallery, Melbourne Museum, Melbourne VIC[5]

Group exhibitions

Collections

Clarke's work is included in the following galleries and collections:

References
  1. "Maree Clarke Bio". Vivien Anderson Gallery. 2020. Archived from the original on 8 March 2020. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  2. "Fran Edmonds with Maree Clarke". Centre for Indigenous Story. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  3. "Maree Clarke, Thung-ung Coorang (Kangaroo teeth necklace) 2013". Monash University Museum of Art. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  4. "Linear Artists: Maree Clarke". Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  5. "Maree Clarke: Bunjilaka". museumsvictoria.com.au. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  6. Clarke, Maree. "Made from Memory (Nan's house)". Item held by National Gallery of Australia. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  7. "Maree Clarke". Vivien Anderson Gallery. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  8. "Maree Clarke | Artists | NGV". www.ngv.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
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