Post by Lara Croydon.

The first A Night by the Fire event for the year kicks off next week! This series is all about revitalisation through fashion. Fashion can be an avenue for individual expression. As the world of fashion continues to expand, so too does the practice of cultural expression through each woven thread, pattern, bead and adornment.

Our first speaker in the series is a young designer called Arkie who runs her self titled fashion label Arkie. Having grown up with a close relationship to visual arts, creativity has always played a significant role in her self expression. Arkie's Indigenous heritage has largely informed the journey of her creative practice, from fine arts into fashion and textile design. Arkie the label, her latest endeavour, seeks to establish a platform from which mainstream Australia can interact with Contemporary Indigenous Australian culture and art on a more accessible level.

Arkie rainbow dreaming three tiered dress

Arkie is distinctly aware of the "blurred, idealistic view of what Indigenous art is" that many non-Indigenous Australians hold. "There's a disconnect. Everyone can recognise traditional art that graces our souvenir shops and gallery merchandise, but what about our contemporary Indigenous creative movements?"

Arkie dreamtime bomber

Being something we interact with daily, Arkie explains that, for her, fashion is a way to introduce people to her community by making it part of her brand's story. Although she continues, "I don't want it to be too obvious within the aesthetic of the design. I want to bring my culture into the design process as inspiration, rather than directly referencing."

We are very excited to hear more insights from Arkie on the relationship between Indigenous Australian culture and contemporary fashion in the first A Night by the Fire event.

A night by the fire: conversation with Arkie Barton

Tuesday 3 May, 6:30pm - 7:30pm

Talking Circle, Level 1, State Library of Queensland

If you want to come along to this free discussion you can reserve a seat here.

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