Bronwyn Bancroft

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Bronwyn Bancroft
photograph
Self-portrait
Born1958 (age 65–66)
Tenterfield, New South Wales, Australia
NationalityAustralian
Notable workPrevention of AIDS (1992)
Tempe Reserve sports centre (2004)

Bronwyn Bancroft (born 1958) is an

Tenterfield, New South Wales, and trained in Canberra and Sydney
.

In 1985, Bancroft established a shop called Designer Aboriginals, selling fabrics made by Aboriginal artists, including herself. She was a founding member of Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Co-operative. Her artwork is held by the National Gallery of Australia, the Art Gallery of New South Wales and the Art Gallery of Western Australia. She illustrated 20 children's books, including Stradbroke Dreamtime by activist Oodgeroo Noonuccal, and books by artist Sally Morgan. Her design commissions include one for the exterior of a Sydney sports centre.

Bancroft has a long history of involvement in community activism and arts administration, and has served as a board member for the National Gallery of Australia. Her painting Prevention of AIDS (1992) was used in a campaign to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS in Australia. She served on the boards of copyright collection agency Viscopy, the Australian Society of Authors and Tranby Aboriginal College, and the Artists Board at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA) in Sydney.

Early life

A

Polish ancestry.[4][5] Bancroft has said that her great-great-great-grandmother Pemau was one of only two or three survivors from her clan, the rest murdered when their land was settled by a white farmer.[1] Her grandfather and uncle worked in local goldmines.[6] She recalled that her father's education was obstructed by discrimination because he was Aboriginal. His lack of formal training meant that he had to work away from home cutting railway sleepers, while her mother worked at home as a dressmaker.[4] Bancroft's father was an engineer during World War II, managing barges at Madang and Rabaul.[1]

Following her father's advice on the importance of getting an education or a trade, Bancroft completed high school in Tenterfield before moving to Canberra in 1976 with her husband-to-be

Canberra School of Art,[7] followed by a Master of Studio Practice and a Master of Visual Arts (Paintings) at the University of Sydney.[8] She never returned to live in Tenterfield,[1] although her three sisters were living there in 2004. Her father died around 1990.[6] Bancroft has three children: Jack was born in 1985, Ella in 1988. She separated from Manning when they were very young; her third child Rubyrose was born in 1999.[4] Jack was awarded NSW Young Australian of the Year in 2010 for his work arranging the mentoring of Indigenous school students.[9]

Career

Art and design

Bancroft was a founding member of the

Emily Kngwarreye, Rover Thomas, and Mary MacLean.[16]

Although initially known as a fabric and textile designer, Bancroft has worked with many artistic media, including "jewellery design, painting, collage, illustration, sculpture and interior decoration".[8] Art works by Bancroft are held by the National Gallery of Australia, the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the Art Gallery of Western Australia and the Queensland Art Gallery.[8] The National Gallery holds one of her screenprints, Entrapped, created in 1991.[17] Between 1989 and 2006, Bancroft held eight solo exhibitions and participated in at least 53 group exhibitions, including shows at the Australian Museum in Sydney, the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra, and the National Gallery of Victoria.[8] Her art has been exhibited in Indonesia, New Zealand, the US, France and Germany.[18]

In 2004, Bancroft was commissioned to design a large mural covering the exterior of a sports centre housing two basketball courts at Tempe Reserve in

Wangal people.[15]

Bancroft ventured into illustrating children's books in 1993, when she provided the artwork for Fat and Juicy Place written by Dianna Kidd.[7] The book was shortlisted for the Children's Book Council of Australia's Book of the Year[7] and won the Australian Multicultural Children's Book Award.[19] In the same year, she illustrated Stradbroke Dreamtime by Indigenous activist and writer Oodgeroo Noonuccal.[7] She was the third artist to have provided images for successive editions of the book, of which the first edition was released in 1972.[20] Bancroft has since contributed artwork for over 20 children's books, including some by prominent Australian writer and artist Sally Morgan, whom she regards as a mentor and friend.[15] These books include Dan's grandpa (1996)[21] and Sam's bush journey (2009).[22] The two artists collaborated on an exhibition of prints at Warrnambool Art Gallery in Victoria in 1991.[12] Researcher and museum curator Margo Neale has described the art of both Bancroft and Morgan as depicting "their relationship to country and family in generally high-keyed works, celebrating and commemorating through personal or collective stories in mainly figurative narratives."[23]

As well as working with established writers, Bancroft has created a number of children's books in her own right, including An Australian 1 2 3 of Animals and An Australian ABC of Animals, which have been favourably reviewed as imaginative and well-illustrated.[24] Her style of illustration has been described as "bold and mysterious",[25] and as "traditional Australian Aboriginal representation rendered in bright, eye-catching colors."[24] In 2009 Bancroft received the Dromkeen Medal for her contribution to children's literature.[26] In May 2010, the Governor-General of Australia Quentin Bryce launched Bancroft's latest book, Why I Love Australia. A long-time supporter of Bancroft's work, Ms Bryce said: "Why I love Australia is a work and title that, again, speaks volumes of its author and illustrator. It simply and exquisitely rejoices in telling a story of this magnificent, sacred land we share: the mountains, rivers and gorges; seas and coral reefs; grasslands and bushlands; saltpans and snow; houses and streets; the jeweled night sky, and so much more."[27]

Bancroft's art has also appeared in the publications of a number of other individuals and organisations, including as cover art for books from the Australian Museum

Roberta Sykes's controversial autobiographical narratives Snake Cradle and Snake Dancing, among others.[31]

Administration and activism

Bancroft has been active in arts organisations, and served two terms on the board of the National Gallery of Australia during the 1990s. She was chair of the Visual Arts Board of the

Tranby Aboriginal College.[38]

Within and beyond her artistic works, Bancroft has demonstrated concern for a range of social issues, particularly those affecting Indigenous Australians. Her painting Prevention of AIDS (1992) was reproduced on posters and postcards aimed at raising awareness of

Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Co-operative organised a fund-raising exhibition of art works in Smith's honour.[41]

As of 2009 Bancroft was a director of the Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience, a not-for-profit organisation that aims to increase senior high school and university admission rates for Indigenous students.

Australia Council's inaugural Emerging and Young Artist Award in May 2009.[43]

In 2021, Bancroft was inaugural recipient of the A$30,000 NSW Aboriginal Creative Fellowship. [44][45]

As of February 2023 she is a board member of the Australian Society of Authors.[46]

Selected published works

Major collections

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Aird, Michael; Bell, Richard; Kee, Vernon Ah; Bancroft, Bronwyn; Heiss, Anita; Enoch, Wesley (6 July 2007). "Panel 1: Who you callin' urban?". Who You Callin' Urban? forum. National Museum of Australia. Archived from the original on 11 June 2011. Retrieved 16 February 2010.
  2. ^
    ISBN 0-19-550649-9
    .
  3. ^ Kovacic, Leonarda (2004). "Bancroft, Bronwyn (1958– )". The Australian Women's Register. National Foundation for Australian Women and University of Melbourne. Archived from the original on 8 June 2011. Retrieved 8 October 2009.
  4. ^ a b c "Strokes of colour". Message Stick. ABC TV. 27 February 2004. Archived from the original on 18 January 2010. Retrieved 17 February 2010.
  5. ^ a b "Founding members: Bronwyn Bancroft". Boomalli Aboriginal Artists' Cooperative. Archived from the original on 19 July 2008. Retrieved 15 February 2010.
  6. ^ a b Bancroft, Bronwyn (2010). "Time" (PDF). Wilson Street Art Quarterly. Autumn/Winter. Wilson Street Art Gallery (now Janet Clayton Gallery): 18–20. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 March 2011. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
  7. ^
    ISBN 1863886958
    .
  8. ^
    ISBN 0-522-85317-X
    .
  9. ^ "Award recipients: Jack Manning Bancroft". NSW Young Australian of the Year 2010. National Australia Day Council. 18 November 2009. Archived from the original on 20 September 2010. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
  10. ^ "About Boomalli". Boomalli Aboriginal Artists' Cooperative. Archived from the original on 18 July 2008. Retrieved 15 February 2010.
  11. JSTOR 27516402
    .
  12. ^
    ISBN 978-0-85575-234-7
    .
  13. ^ Humfress, Paul; Michael Riley; Loretta Fisher (1988). "Boomalli: Five Koori Artists". A Place to Think. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 28 September 2009. Retrieved 8 October 2009.
  14. ^ Frew, Wendy (1 February 2012). "Art imitates strife as designer documents indigenous struggle". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
  15. ^ a b c Sweeney, Therese (December 2004 – January 2005). "A cultural gateway". Real Time Arts Magazine (70): 54.
  16. ^ a b Rawlins, Donna (1996). "Know the illustrator: Bronwyn Bancroft". Magpies. 11 (2): 4–7.
  17. ^ Bancroft, Bronwyn. "Entrapped". Australasian Art Collection. National Gallery of Australia. Retrieved 8 October 2009.
  18. ^ anonymous (2010). "Bronwyn Bancroft: Time: 15 May to 6 June" (PDF). Wilson Street Art Quarterly. Autumn/Winter: 17. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 March 2011. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
  19. ^ Bancroft, Bronwyn. "Book illustrations". Designer Aboriginals. Archived from the original on 18 July 2008. Retrieved 13 November 2009.
  20. ISBN 978-0-522-85651-4
    .
  21. ^ "Books: Dan's Grandpa". Fremantle Press. Archived from the original on 17 October 2009. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  22. ^ Morgan, Sally; Ezekiel Kwaymullina; Bronwyn Bancroft (2009). "Sam's bush journey". National Library of Australia catalogue. Retrieved 9 October 2009.
  23. ISBN 0-19-550649-9
    .
  24. ^ a b Coughlan, Marjorie (October 2009). "Review: An Australian 123 Of Animals, and An Australian ABC Of Animals". PaperTigers. Archived from the original on 10 October 2010. Retrieved 12 November 2009.
  25. ^ "Bookshelf: Children's Books in Brief". New York Times Sunday Book Review. 8 August 2004. Retrieved 31 May 2010.
  26. ^ "Bronwyn Bancroft Dromkeen Medal Citation 2009" (PDF). Dromkeen National Centre for Picture Book Art. Scholastic Australia. 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 November 2010. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
  27. ^ Bryce AO, Her Excellency Ms Quentin (24 May 2010). "Speech" (PDF). Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 February 2011. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
  28. ISBN 0-7347-2312-1
    . Retrieved 10 December 2009.
  29. ISBN 0-7313-7088-0. Archived from the original
    (PDF) on 4 April 2016. Retrieved 10 December 2009.
  30. ISBN 978-0-7022-3407-1
    .
  31. S2CID 143495347
    .
  32. ISBN 0-7748-0806-3
    .
  33. ^ "Broadened focus for 5th $35,000 Country Energy Art Prize". Australian Artist. 24 (2): 7. 2007.
  34. ^ Lewis, Paul (2003). "The Resale Royalty and Australian Visual Artists: Painting the Full Picture" (PDF). Media & Arts Law Review. 8: 306. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 10 December 2009.
  35. ^ "Government to Consider Resale Royalty Right for Artists". Off the Air. 11 (3). Screenrights: 15. 2002.
  36. ^ Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney (2005). Annual Report (PDF). Sydney, NSW: Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney. p. 31. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 September 2015. Retrieved 16 February 2010.
  37. ^ "VISCOPY – Board and Directors". VISCOPY. Archived from the original on 25 February 2010. Retrieved 16 February 2010.
  38. ^ "Board of Directors". Organisational structure. Tranby Aboriginal College. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2010.
  39. ISBN 0-86840-718-6
    .
  40. ^ Bancroft, Bronwyn. "Past Exhibitions". Designer Aboriginals. Archived from the original on 9 July 2008. Retrieved 13 November 2009.
  41. ^ Jopson, Debra (22 November 2000). "Strong but fair, the Redfern reformer who didn't cop it". Sydney Morning Herald.
  42. ^ "What is AIME mentoring?". Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience. 2009. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
  43. ^ Schwartzkoff, Louise (27 May 2009). "Artist stands astride two worlds". Sydney Morning Herald.
  44. ^ "Dr. Bronwyn Bancroft Awarded The Inaugural NSW Aboriginal Creative Fellowship". Aboriginal Affairs. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  45. ^ "Opportunities, Awards and Winners". ArtsHub Australia. 9 June 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  46. ^ "Our Board". Australian Society of Authors (ASA). Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  47. ^ French, Jackie; Bronwyn Bancroft (1993). "Walking the boundaries". National Library of Australia catalogue. Retrieved 8 October 2009.
  48. ^ Bancroft, Bronwyn; Oodgeroo Noonuccal (1993). "Stradbroke dreamtime". National Library of Australia catalogue. Retrieved 9 October 2009.
  49. ^ Bancroft, Bronwyn; Williams, Eustan; Daley, Lucy; Robinson, Roland (February 2009). "Selected Bibliography of material on the Bundjalung / Banjalang language and people held in the AIATSIS Library" (PDF). AIATSIS. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 May 2015. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  50. ^ Bancroft, Bronwyn (2000). "Leaving". National Library of Australia catalogue. Retrieved 9 October 2009.
  51. ^ "Ready to Dream (review)". Publishers Weekly. 47 (255): 57–58. 2008.
  52. ^ Bancroft, Bronwyn. "Paintings" (1995-2016) [Artworks]. Bronwyn Bancroft aggregated collection of artwork. Sydney: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales.

External links

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