The final instalment for 2023 of The Bearded Tit’s panel series Tit Talks addressed the question of navigating First Nations etiquette in community.

The talk touched on how to respectfully have cross cultural conversations with First Nations people, particularly with awareness to geographical locations, as well as social and political stressors. The panel explored the necessity of why having these conversations while remaining conscious of giving First Nations people space for dialogue.

Moderator Coby Ann Edgar is a Larrakia, Jingili, Anglo, Filipino, queer, cis-woman from Darwin. Previously the curator of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, she has over 13 years’ experience working in government positions across education, galleries, and museums. She is invested in how First Nations and non-First Nations people work together across industries, especially the arts sector.

She was joined by 3 panellists:

Tammi Gissell

Tammi Gissell is a queer Muruwarri and Wiradjuri performer, performance artist and theorist. She is currently Collections Coordinator, First Nations at The Powerhouse Museum.
She holds a Bachelor of Performance: Theory and Practice (Honours) from the University of Western Sydney (UWS) and has presented research to the World Dance Congress, Our Dance Democracy in the UK, the Sydney Science Festival as well as the DanScience & BOLD Festivals in Canberra amongst others. She has been commissioned to write for Critical Path, the Queensland Museum and Art Gallery, the Precarious Movements: dance and the museum project, and Performance Paradigm. She has previously guest lectured at the University of Newcastle, The University of NSW, Queensland University of Technology, Victorian College of the Arts (Willan Centre) and has joined the Board of Directors at Critical Path Choreographic Research Institute in 2023

Leah Giblin

Leah Giblin is a textile artist, textile consultant and costume designer working on Gadigal country. She has worked in the film and television industry and collaborated on large scale textile artworks for Carriageworks, Performance Space and Sydney Opera House. In 2023 Leah co-designed set and costume for Sydney Dance Company’s ‘Ascent’ program, ‘The Ghost, A Host, The Shell and the Lyrebird’ and is currently textile consultant for an upcoming Powerhouse Museum exhibition curated by Coby Edgar titled ‘Alchemy’. With a focus on sustainability and reducing textile waste, Leah has taught workshops at her studio in Rockdale as well as for The Australian Museum, The Opera House’s ‘All About Women’ series and Cornersmith’s Cooking School. Her sustainable clothing label ‘Day Keeper’ is designed and made in Sydney.

Bryan Hooper

Bryan Hooper has been involved in the art world for over 40 years, firstly assisting Chandler Coventry at Coventry Gallery in 1984. Bryan opened his own gallery, BBA Gallery, in Chippendale in 2000. Following a four year roller coaster he closed BBA and soon after joined Utopia Art Sydney where he remains today.

Listen to a recording of the discussion up top. Also be sure to check out other Tit Talks panels here, and keep an eye out for other events like this via The Bearded Tit’s socials.