News
ART & DISASTER
Across the country, at a time of great natural disaster, people from all walks of life opened their hearts, homes and wallets. Images streamed into our living rooms and our offices via TV and Multimedia to bring us close to the events and their human consequences. However, the recent Victorian bushfires and floods in North Queensland give us reason to reflect on the contribution of art and artists to our society.
Artists from all disciplines contributed in many ways. Performing artists from musicians to kids clowns were visiting the scenes of the disasters, bringing emotional relief to those affected. Across the country, artworks were being donated for auctions, whether by the well established or the unknown (and through observation they were choosing to donate works that they were connected to, maybe as a result of the great emotion that were felt at this time). Private and public galleries and art spaces have been used to hold events, with staff donating time and energy to the events.
One such series of events in our own region was held by the Scenic Rim Regional Council in recognition of the special relationship the Shire has with its sister shire, Murrindindi, the most affected region of the Victorian fires. The arts community, together with the council, managed to put on two fire and flood benefit concerts and held an arts auction. “It’s a tragic irony that people are suffering from such different natural disasters all over the country and we hope we can make a contribution to the massive clean up processes that will be required†said Mayor John Brent.
It is worthwhile remembering that, with the passage of time, these events will diminish in the general public consciousness. The day after the fighting the fire we heard via ABC radio “Peter the Poet’s†bush lament on his experience as a CFA volunteer at Flowerdale. This was a work created as an outpouring of frustration and helplessness he felt on the day, no doubt cathartic not just for Peter but to all those that listened and, despite distance, he helped us understand in a small way what transpired on that day.
A society entrusts its artists as a convener of it emotions and as a keeper of its memories. It’s not merely enough to convey the pain, terror, loss and grief of these human experiences, the focus over time needs to shift to remembrance, rebuilding and the rebirth. Our communities await the response from our artists as part of the necessary healing experience and to allow others to share and understand in their efforts.
By George Chapman
