ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
MESSAGE STICKS 2012
Artistic Director, Rhoda Roberts
It is my pleasure, as Artistic Director for Message Sticks 2012 to welcome you to take part in the festival on the lands of the Gadigal Peoples, at one of the great meeting places here at Bennelong Point.
Now in its 13th year, the annual festival celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and knowledge keepers will explode into a multi-arts festival featuring song, dance, film, discussion and art, fusing contemporary and traditional cultural art forms.
Voices across Australia, reflecting some 57 Aboriginal and Torres Strait language groups, will be represented through a week-long program that boasts an impressive line-up of performers, collaborations contributors, from the emerging to the established.
Spend an evening of surprise and delight with one of Australia’s leading personalities, Ernie Dingo, as he gives an intimate and humorous insight into his country and family.
Casey Donovan is a passionate performer who continues to defy the label as just an Aboriginal singer; she is determined to create well rounded roles for women in musical theatre with her rendition and tribute concert to Mama Cass.
The collaborative process that our knowledge keepers, song men and women continue to aspire to, are reflected in our international song circle, Tri Nations Women’s Business, featuring a line-up of New Zealand, Canada and some of Australia’s leading Diva’s.
An extraordinary mix of discussion will be generated, with many guest speakers joining in the conversations, including George Negus, John Pilger, Gary Foley, Margaret and David, and Mitch Torres.
Our Icons will be celebrated through three men, three decades and lots of stories with Archie Roach, Shane Howard and Neil Murray.
The next generation continues the collaboration in music with greats such as Tim Rogers and Dan Sultan, as they bring their dynamic vocals to the line-up of the Black Arm Band Company with dirtsong, alongside those chanteuses Lou Bennet and Shellie Morris.
Message Sticks’ former artistic direction and the talent of Darren Dale and Rachel Perkins created a new legacy and established a major film component of the Festival that toured the country creating an annual expectation of the best. We hope to do justice with an eclectic number of screenings from feature films, classics and new works and documentaries depicting the social, cultural and spiritual makeup of our first peoples across the globe.
Song man Cecil McLeod joins our modern day corroborree, through the Dancestry grounds that continue the custodians ancient stomps and the ritual of song cycles with groups representing as far north as the Yolngu, to the richness of our NSW nations including Yuin, Wiradjuri, Dhungutti and Bundjalung to name just a few. Experience this special event daily on the western broadwalk.
With a thematic exhibition celebrating the Tent Embassy, I am proud that in a small way we are able to pay homage to those who created a cultural industry. Elders such as Uncle Chika Dixon, Bob Maza, Justine Saunders, Oodgeroo Noonuccal and Brian Syron, to now, where many of our artists are the leading mentors, writers, directors and performers across their fields. We honour some of them in our exhibition Under the Beach Umbrella that focuses on that special period back in 1972.
I encourage you to come join this gathering, witness the ceremony and celebrate on one of the oldest meeting places in Australia, Bennelong Point.
– Rhoda Roberts
Message Sticks is supported by the NSW Government through Arts NSW.
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PROGRAM
TUESDAY, MARCH 27
5pm – 8pm daily Dancestry (Western Broadwalk)7:30pm Casey Donovan - Mama Cass the Tribute Concert (Studio)
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28
7am – 10pm Under the Beach Umbrella (Exhibition, Western Foyer)
5pm – 8pm daily Dancestry (Western Broadwalk)
7pm – 9pm Margaret & David At The Black Screen (Playhouse)
8:15pm Casey Donovan - Mama Cass the Tribute Concert (Studio)
THURSDAY, MARCH 29
7am – 10pm Under the Beach Umbrella (Exhibition, Western Foyer)
5pm – 8pm daily Dancestry (Western Broadwalk)
7pm – 9.00pm Living the Intervention
Film: Our Generation + discussion with Damien Curtis, Jeff McMullen, Alec Doomadgee, Rosealee Pearson and John Pilger (Playhouse)
8:15pm Tri Nations - Women's Business (Studio)
FRIDAY, MARCH 30
7am – 10pm Under the Beach Umbrella (Exhibition, Western Foyer)
5pm – 8pm daily Dancestry (Western Broadwalk)
7pm – 9.30pm Tent Embassy & Identity
Film: Ningla A-Na + discussion with Gary Foley and Larissa Behrendt
8.15pm - 9:15pm Api Our With Ernie Dingo (Studio)
SATURDAY, MARCH 31
7am – 10pm Under the Beach Umbrella (Exhibition, Western Foyer)
11am – 12.45pm Free Films Saturday
Session #1: Nalingu (Yours And Mine), Smudge, Babakiueria
+ Q&A with Mitch Torres, Billy McPherson & Gail Maurice - convened by Denise Bolduc
(Playhouse)
2pm – 5pm Free Films Saturday
Session #2: The Russians Are Coming + Q&A with Toby Mills and Moana Maniapoto; Jandamarra's War + Q&A with Mitch Torres & Ernie Dingo
(Playhouse)
5pm – 8pm daily Dancestry (Western Broadwalk)
7pm – 9.30pm What's the Fuss in the Kimberley?
Film: Old Country New Country + Q&A with George Negus Stephen Pigram, Mitch Torres and Albert Wiggan (Playhouse)
8:15pm ICONS Featuring Archie Roach, Shane Howard & Neil Murray (Studio)
SUNDAY, APRIL 1
7am – 10pm Under the Beach Umbrella (Exhibition, Western Foyer)
11am – 1.20pm Free Films Sunday
Session #1: Kanehsatake: 270 Years Of Resistance + Q&A with Denise Buldoc & Gail Maurice (Playhouse)
2.20pm – 4.20pm Free Films Sunday
Session #2: Toomelah + Q&A (Playhouse)
5.15pm – 6.45pm NO FIXED ADDRESS ON TOUR
+ Q&A with Bart Willoughby and Richard Micallef (Playhouse)
5pm – 8pm daily Dancestry (Western Broadwalk)
7pm – 8.30pm, Black Arm Band – dirtsong (Concert Hall)