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Expressions of Love Tsunami Fundraiser

On Saturday 5 February 2005 AIAA held a major event incorporating an Aceh Tsunami Fundraiser which raised about $2,000 for Aceh Tsunami Victims and was donated to Aceh Aid at IDEP (see www.idepfoundation.org). This event was also the opening ceremony for the ‘Expressions of Love between Australia and Indonesia Art Exhibition’ and was opened by Mr Wahdi Yudhi, Cultural Attache from the Indonesian Embassy in Canberra. The intention of the exhibition was to explore the friendship between Australia and Indonesia past, present and future with the outcome of working towards long-term goodwill between our two countries and peoples as nations, as cultural groups and as individuals.

‘Expressions of Love’ was open to both Australian and Indonesian artists of all medias. Coordinator of the exhibition Dee Tipping said ‘This was a wonderful opportunity for artists to convey a message of friendship through art. Selected artwork was hung in various places in Byron Shire including cafes, shop walls, galleries from the 16th of January until the end of February. The artwork was then also screened digitally at the Tsunami Fundraiser at Byron Bay Community Centre.

The Evening also included a min-film festival with ‘Legong’ – a classic film shot on location in Bali c1930, courtesy of Milestone Films and Video; Art Activism and Rock’n’Roll about Taring Padi Art Group, Jogjakarta and The Outer Islands by local filmmaker Paul Francis. We were also very fortunate to have the fantastic performing group The Rhythm Hunters come up from the Central Coast and the wonderful Wahyu Roche, Kym Hall, Peter Davidian, Reza Achman and friends performing an array of Musical Delights.

Other activities of the Expressions of Love included two art workshops. A one day fabric art workshop by local artist Anne Leon held on the 27th November 2004 where participants created a piece of fabric art inspired by the theme ‘Expressions of Love Between Australia and Indonesia’. A lino printing workshop was also conducted by Lismore based Indonesian artist Aris Prabawa in the lead up to the exhibition. The resulting artworks are still on show at the Oz Bakehouse, Byron Bay and a design by Liz Bennet was used to create the ‘Expressions of Love’ T-shirt.

Contact: aiaa@aiaa.org.au

The photographs above and below were taken on the night of the Expressions of Love Tsunami Fundraiser.