With proppaNOW's 20th anniversary approaching, the First Nations artist collective has renewed the group's membership aims to ensure continuity for the Collective, the movement of ideas, Indigenous solidarity and strong social and political contemporary art practice, and welcomed three new members.
The Collective recently took home the Jane Lombard Art Prize for Social Justice, a prestigious international achievement awarded, that acknowledges their vision in risk-taking to advance Aboriginal art discourse and dialogues, and highlighting the need to maintain critical thinking and the expansion of Indigenous knowledge globally.
Joining the proppaNOW team are Wakka Wakka/Butchulla/Gooreng Gooreng artist and researcher Shannon Brett and Kamilaroi artist and educator Warraba Weatherall with Mandandanji woman Lily Eather.
Ms Brett is an experienced researcher/writer/educator who is skilled in various areas of Research, Arts management, Curatorial (Museums and Galleries), Arts writing, Fashion design, Graphic design, Public speaking, Photography and Arts mentorship.
They are currently a PhD Candidate at the Queensland University of Technology - interrogating the construction of racial whiteness in Australia and responding to systemic racism and patriarchy from decolonial and black feminist perspectives.
Ms Brett holds a Bachelor of Contemporary Australian Indigenous Art; Photography and Fine Art via the Queensland College of Art, Griffith University, and has exhibited internationally while working in numerous arts institutions throughout Australia, maintaining their position as a curator and educator.
Mr Weatherall, a Lecturer at Griffith University and PhD candidate, currently based in Meanjin (Brisbane).
His artistic practice has a specific interest in archival repositories and structures, and the life of cultural materials and knowledge within these environments.
Mr Weatherall is also a lecturer for the Contemporary Australian Indigenous Arts (CAIA) degree at Griffith University's, Queensland College of Art.
Mr Weatherall is passionate about shifting cultural norms within the Australian visual arts sector and contributes to the sector through artistic practice, education and curation.
Ms Eather is the daughter of the late Laurie Nilsen, who was an early member of proppaNOW and renowned multidisciplinary artist in his own right.
Ms Eather, currently based in Meanjin, has a deep commitment to upkeep his legacy through her current studies at The University of Queensland majoring in Art History.
She is passionate about Indigenous and Australian art, and recognises the need for Indigenous curatorship locally and globally.
