Fay Nelson AM
Fay, an elder of the Banjin people, has always been passionate about bringing dignity and respect to the Aboriginal people, to their traditions and way of life. Armed with only a 6th grade education, Fay withstood the jokes and jeers as she pioneered her way into the art world, ultimately bringing Aboriginal Art to its now recognised place in Western society. Marketing Aboriginal Art to Westerners was a challenge as their traditional descriptions of art did not apply to Aboriginal Art – which is based on ancestry, ceremonies, songs, dance and land. Fay has lectured on art here and abroad, and managed exhibitions in America, the South Pacific and in Australia. She is a founding member of the National Aboriginal and Islander Skills Development Association (NAISDA) and chaired this organisation for the first thirteen years of its life. It is from NAISDA that the internationally renowned Bangarra Dance Theatre was created – as Aboriginal dancers were not accepted into mainstream Australian dance companies at that time. Fay was also the Director of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Board, headed the Aboriginal Women’s Unit in the NSW Department for Women, and currently is the Business Development Manager and Community Relations Manager in her daughter’s company, Yarn’n Aboriginal Employment Services, which helps find jobs for Aboriginal people and advises companies and governmental agencies on best practices for Aboriginal employees. Fay is also in the process of developing a children’s picture book based on spiritual links to this land.
http://www.yarnn.com.au/
http://www.naisda.com.au/
Photographer: Diane Macddonald
Location: Redfern, Sydney