Maree Clarke

Hi, I'm Maree Clarke. I'm a freelance Artist...Welcome to my profile!

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Maree’s inclusive approach to art practices – where art and culture are inseparable to all other aspects of life – has seen her involved in working with many members of the Aboriginal community, some of whom were imprisoned or were dealing with issues relating to drug and alcohol addiction, as well as assisting Aboriginal women residing in refuge shelters. The capacity for art to enable people to reconnect with their cultural heritage and to assist in their recovery remains central to Maree’s philosophy concerning the power of art to heal and inspire people to positively identify with their Aboriginality, a process that for some continues to be difficult given the ongoing negative effects of colonisation.

Possum Skin Cloak Workshops at Banmirra Arts

2006 - Present | Victoria, Australia

Maree Clarke along with two other Indigenous artists run Possum Skin Cloak workshops with Australian Indigenous communities. Teaching how to make Possum Skin Cloaks.

Public Art at Self

January 1988 - Present | Melbourne, Victoria

I have worked on a number of Public Art Commissions in Melbourne. 1. The 'Spirit of the Land' artwork, by artists Maree Clark, Megan Cadd and Vicki Cousens, weighs about two-and-a-half tonnes and is nine metres in length. The sculpture depicts a feather that references Bunjil the Creator, an important local Indigenous creation story. In Indigenous history, the feather is known as both delicate and strong and signifies the beginning of a new life. 9 x 4mtr x 20mm thick stainless steel feather, Oakleigh 2. Frog Dreaming, the selected artwork by Indigenous artists Maree Clarke and Vicki Couzens working with Jeph Neale from Artery Cooperative, is an abstract representation of a mass of frog eggs, create from stainless steel spheres. The work is inspired by the Growling Grass frog, a species once common to the grasslands and wetlands of the Point Cook area, now endangered and threatened. Point Cook. 3. The sculpture is by renowned artists Maree Clarke and Vicki Couzens. The flowering of the Kangaroo Apple represents the changing of the seasons, and heralds the arrival of the 'eel season'. During harvest celebrations women would adorn themselves with Kangaroo Apple blooms. Kangaroo Apple - 4 x 1.5mtr Bronze. Frankston 4. “wominjeka tarnuk yooroom” – meaning ‘welcome bowl’ – and will be made from ten large bluestones in the shape of a traditional “coolamon” (a wooden vessel). They will be placed so they may also be used as seating and will be installed to give the appearance of emerging out of the existing urban landscape.

Public Art links at Self

January 1988 - Present | Melbourne Area

In 1988, I came to Melbourne to paint the first green and gold tram advertising the Koorie Cultural Centre, which is now the Koorie Heritage Trust. Bronze Kangaroo Apple http://www.frankston.vic.gov.au/Tenders_Public_Notices_News/Media_Releases/ 2011_Media_Releases/December_2011/Kangaroo_on_the_Porch_in_Frankston/ indexdl_20577.aspx Frog Dreaming - 40 stainless steel spheres http://www.google.com.au/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=frog+dreaming+point+cook &ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&redir_esc=&ei=_QTaUdfuOPCXiAe4w4CoBg “wominjeka tarnuk yooroom” – meaning ‘welcome bowl’ http://www.maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/Page/Page.aspx?Page_Id=9439 Spirit of the Land - Bunjils feather http://www.monash.vic.gov.au/news/media2011/media09-11.htm

Practicing Artist at Self

1988 - Present | Melbourne

Maree Clarke has been a practicing freelance artist based in Melbourne, Victoria Australia. Maree Clarke's art practice has taken her all around the world being invited to exhibit and curate exhibitions.

Curator at Self

Present | Australia - Europe

Maree Clarke has curated a number of exhibition both in Australia and in Europe. The largest exhibition being 260 Australian Indigenous artworks exhibited in Sardinia, Italy. Maree Clarke co-curated this exhibition with Amanda Reynolds.

Senior Curator at KHT

2002 - 2012 | Melbourne

Maree Clarke managed three galleries and programmed exhibitions working with established and emerging Indigenous artists. Maree Clarke also organised Charity Fundraising Art Auctions and Art Fairs.

Artist In Residence at Self

2012 - 2012 | World

Maree Clarke has been involved in a number of Artist residency programs around the world. most recently, Maree Clarke has been doing an Artist Residency in Prato, Tuscany Italy.

Maree Clarke likes to travel to Museums around the world researching south east Indigenous Australian material cultural items held in Museum collections. Maree Clarke then turns that research into Art.