Jo-Anne Driessens | FireWorks Gallery

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Selected works

FW16157 Seaman Dan	FW16437 Cherbourg boys	FW16439 Deborah Mailman
FW16473 Reconciliation Bridge Walk, Brisbane	FW16475 DAR Festival, King George Square

Bio & CV

Born in Brisbane1970 and adopted into a white family a desired interest in the area of Photography led her to finding and documenting her blood family during the early 1990’s.

In 1999 Jo-Anne completed a four year Cadetship in Photography while employed at the State Library of Queensland and was able to gain traditional darkroom skills prior to the evolution of the digital era.

With an extensive still film archive Jo-Anne has continued to document her blood family from Cherbourg and Brisbane including various photographic assignments that have provided an insight of the larger Aboriginal community which highlight the importance of documenting all areas of the community including generational, artists and every day role models.

Within her role as Senior Arts & Culture Project Officer, City of Gold Coast the art of documenting continues to play a crucial part for the specialised projects such as the South Stradbroke Island Indigenous Artist Camp.

Courtesy of Jo-Anne Driessens 2015

Story/Statement

UPCLOSE EXHIBITION 2015-2016
My relationship with the camera was as instant as the classic polaroid type and photography has been a big part of my journey towards locating my Aboriginal family and understanding the wider community. Having been adopted into a white family, there was always an urge to understand my Aboriginal identity.

Documenting the Aboriginal community around Brisbane assisted me in learning aspects around social documentary and connecting community to significant istorical images kept in public collections. Photographing community became an important role and one that provided a personal tool for connecting with blood relatives for the first time through the lens of my first SLR camera.

Through a four year photographic cadetship at the State Library of Queensland and total darkroom time of six years, I was given a once in a lifetime opportunity where I was reproducing 100 year old images of my ancestors and on the other side of the door continue to document history through my own camera.

They say not to open darkroom doors while printing, however the darkroom doors that I have been through have opened up and literally enlightened my journey for identity leading me directly to my Aboriginal family. I will always continue to document my family and the wider community with the hope that one day my mages will end up next to the 100 year old images, proving that recent history is as important as the old history.

Courtesy of the Artist

JO-ANNE DRIESSENS

Born: 1970, Brisbane.

EDUCATION

Diploma of Photography, Southbank TAFE, Brisbane Queensland

Certificate IV in Training and Assessment TAE40110, Bremer TAFE Ipswich Queensland

EXHIBITIONS - SOLO

2014 Black & Write, State Library of Queensland

2012 Official Photography, re-launch of new Yugambeh Museum infrastructure completion.

2005 The Birthing Circle, Yugambeh Museum, documentation of four generations for touring exhibition

2004 Amnesty International Australia, donation of photographs for Women & Freedom auction

EXHIBITIONS - GROUP

2015 UP CLOSE FireWorks Gallery, Brisbane

2009 The Other APT touring exhibition Centre Culturel Tjibaou, Noumea

2008 The Other APT, Sorry Day image selected for exhibition

2003 Museum of Brisbane, Story Hall Elders photographic exhibition / Official launch of MOB.

2003 Queensland Art Gallery, Story Place exhibition, Laura Dance images selected for Marketing material

ART AWARDS

1999 Canon Overall Folio Award, Diploma of Photography, South Bank Institute of TAFE (State Library of Queensland Cadetship)

1999 Winner, Robin O Chin 5^th Annual Memorial Art Award, Brisbane

PROJECTS

2014 Clancestry Living History Project Elders portraits for Queensland Performing Arts tunnel skin

2013 Deepen the Conversation: Transforming Tindale, State Library of Queensland

2013 Official Photographer Clancestry, Queensland Performing Arts, Brisbane

2013 Official Photographer Stylin Up Festival, Inala, Brisbane City Council

2013 Official Photographer Fete De La Musique Brisbane City Council

2013 Arts Northern Rivers Indigenous Artist Book launch & Photography copy work of each artist book, Southern Cross University, Lismore NSW

2013 Redland City Council Photographic Portraits of Minjerribah Aboriginal Elders for Cleveland Library Community Room, launched Reconciliation Week

2012 Cherbourg Ration Shed documentation & contribution of images for Cherbourg Timeline exhibition

2009 Brisbane Festival documentation ‘Brisbane to Barambah’ Pottery workshops

2006 Official Photography Fiona Foley – Signpost 1 & Signpost 2 (Fiona Foley Forbidden publication), Fraser Island component Habitus-Habitat: Great Walks Art & Environment, Fraser Island

2005 Inala Young Mum’s photographic project, Inala Community Art Gallery

2004 Brisbane City Council, Democracy, Homelessness Photographic Arts Project

2003 Laura Dance Festival documentation

2002 Boondall Wetlands: Black Fellas White Fellas Wetlands Project

2000 Black Chicks Talking Documentary Stills

WORKSHOPS

2013 Arts Northern Rivers Official Photographer of Artist workshops including: - Richard Bell, Vernon Ah Kee & Bronwyn Bancroft

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