TALKING THROUGH YOUR ARTS – THANKS GIVING DAY, JANUARY 26
Image: Nate Silver
The Granddaddy of the Beat Generation questioned American society in the late ‘80s with a sneering Thanksgiving prayer. William S. Burroughs sought to balance out all the saving grace blessings of past and present, using wry and gravel prose.
The Australia Day Council (ADC) of NSW has formed a national identity and culture campaign to carve out Australians by sharing perceptions of “who we are”.
Aussievault was launched in 2008, and is the centre for all campaign activities. Thank you Australia is a joint venture of ADC Committees of NSW, Queensland and Victoria and is supported by Australian Unity.
Actress Kate Ritchie is a spokesperson of the initiative, “taking the time to remind ourselves how blessed we are to live here in Australia is something we should do.” She is joined by 2013 Australian of the Year, journalist and business woman Ita Buttrose; and former Olympic swimming champion, Geoff Huegill.
This year’s campaign has attracted 295 notes of nationalistic gratitude thus far. Submissions can be made online with up to 96 characters and a photograph can be selected to provide a backdrop to your message. Ritchie is featured in a farm setting with the comment, “Thank you Australia for rural road trips!” In another entry she states, “Thank you Australia for letting ME choose who I WANT TO BE”. Further exploration past the first pages failed to load more entries.
Fortunately, visitors will be able to mount a photo-booth pin-up as part of the Thank You Australia Pop-Up Street Art event at the Hyde Park Barracks Forecourt. Visitors are encouraged to be creative and craft reflections on the Thank You Australia Mural Wall. There is more reason for further thankfulness, as visitors may have the good fortune of winning a trip to Sydney for a family of four! The competition will be judged on the ability to include the Thank You Australia theme. (AS)
Thank You Australia Pop-Up Street Art, Hyde Park Barracks Forecourt, free, australiaday.com.au
Submissions to the Thank you Australia campaign close on Feb 28 and prizewinners announced on March 10.
BY ANGELA STRETCH
