BOAA installation makes a stand

FROM September to November, 150 artists will take part in the Biennale of Australian Art at venues in and around Ballarat.

One of these installations, We Make a Stand, is a collaboration between Ballarat refugee activist Wendy Bolger, and Melbourne photographer Paul Dunn.

Bolger has a Master of Arts from Federation University and Dunn has been documenting campaigns for refugee rights in Australia since 2003. His work is in the National Library of Australia Collection.

We Make a Stand is a critical response to the Australian government’s border control policy and supports the national KIDS-OFF-NAURU campaign.

Launched by World Vision the campaign calls for the removal of 100 plus refugee children and their families from Nauru.

The foreshore of Lake Wendouree opposite the Botanical Gardens is the site for this exhibition.

Trees are wrapped with images of people participating in refugee rallies, convey messages calling for the dissolution of borders and the welcoming of refugees.

On Saturday 6, October, Rural Australians for Refugees and Grandmothers Against Detention of Refugee Children will present a Children’s Day of interactive art designed to draw attention to the 102 children still detained on Nauru, and others detained in detention centres on mainland Australia. People are invited to join in the KIDS-OFFNAURU campaign interacting with the BOAA art fest.

On Saturday, 20 October at the same location a guest speaker, Katie Shafar, will address a solidarity gathering supporting the KIDS-OFF-NAURU campaign.