Women
The concept behind the work Women had its genesis in a conversation I had many years ago with Australian performance artist Jill Orr. I was undertaking a mentorship with Jill at the time and in the studio one afternoon we began talking about women over the age of 50 and the subject of invisibility. I was inspired to make a work around this theme and in 2018 invited fellow artist Rebecca Umlauf to collaborate with me on a public art project. 8 large-scale, black and white photographic portraits of prominent women in public space. Each woman wearing a t-shirt with a slogan sharing their wisdom and insight around the subject of gender equality. Women exhibited in Melbourne 2019.
Women Sam Burke and Rebecca Umlauf, 2019
This project was made possible through the generous support of the City of Stonnington Arts and Cultural Grants Program.
Women Sam Burke and Rebecca Umlauf, 2019
installation view.
N’arweet Caroline Briggs, Because of her, we can
Women Sam Burke and Rebecca Umlauf, 2019
Carolyn is a Boon Wurrung senior elder and is the chairperson and founder of the Boon Wurrung Foundation.
A descendant of the First Peoples of Melbourne, Yaluk-ut Weelam clan of the Boon Wurrung, Carolyn is the great-granddaughter of Louisa Briggs. She is the author of ‘Journey Cycles of the Boon Wurrung: Stories with Boonwurrung Language’.
Hana Assafiri, Our own liberation in the freedom of others
Women Sam Burke and Rebecca Umlauf, 2019
Hana Assafiri is a businesswoman and social change agent and the owner and founder of the iconic Melbourne institution the Moroccan Soup Bar. She is a tireless advocate for women, and spokesperson for Islamic feminism. In 2019 Hana was awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for her services to women and the broader community.
Susan Alberti, Never, ever give up
Women Sam Burke and Rebecca Umlauf, 2019
Susan Alberti is a businesswoman, philanthropist and former Vice President of the Western Bulldogs Football Club. She was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia in 2016, was Victorian of the year in 2018 and is the chair of the Susan Alberti Medical Research Foundation. Sue spearheaded the establishment fo the elite AFL women’s competition in 2017.
Rachelle Buchbinder, First, do no harm
Women Sam Burke and Rebecca Umlauf, 2019
Rachelle Buchbinder is an epidemiologist and rheumatologist and the founding Director of the Monash Department of Clinical Epidemiology. In 2020 she was awarded an Order of Australia for distinguished service to medical education in the fields of epidemiology and rheumotology. Rachelle is the co-author of the book Hippocrasy, to be released in October 2021.
Natalie Miller, Gentlemen and Natalie
Women Sam Burke and Rebecca Umlauf, 2019
Natalie Miller is a pioneer of Australian Arthouse Cinema and the founder of film distribution house Sharmill Films and Melbourne’s Cinema Nova. In 2001 she was awarded an Order of Australia for her services to the film industry in Australia and in 2011 the Natalie Miller Fellowship was founded in her honour to support women working in the screen industry.
Jayashri Kulkarni, Women’s Minds Matter
Women Sam Burke and Rebecca Umlauf, 2019
Jayashri Kulkarni is a Psychiatrist, mental health leader and women’s advocate. She is the founder and head of the Monash Alfred Psychology Research Centre and in 2019 was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia for her services to psychiatry and women’s health.
Noel Lane, Do unto others
Women Sam Burke and Rebecca Umlauf, 2019
Noel Lane, aged 103 is a mother, grandmother, great grandmother and feminist. She is one of the grand dames of Melbourne and a former director of the Southern Memorial Hospital.
Lee, At 12 they told me to stop playing (football)
Women Sam Burke and Rebecca Umlauf, 2019
Lee Brown was a champion footballer at age 12 when she was told to stop playing because she was a girl. A feminist, former car detailer, forklift driver, warehouse manager, car under tinter and most recently tram driver, Lee continues to play women’s football, taking part in an exhibition match at Marvel Stadium in 2019.