Guest Work Agency Advises Author Dr Marie Geissler on her Book ‘Dreaming the Land’
Image: Nonggirrnga Marawili, Baraltja, 2019, ochre on bark, copyright courtesy Buku-Larrnggay Mulka, photography courtesy of Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne.
Guest Work Agency (GWA) has advised Dr Marie Geissler, an art and cultural historian, lecturer, and curator of Australian Aboriginal art, on the publication of her first major book with Thames & Hudson, Dreaming the Land. Aboriginal Art from Remote Australia.
GWA Director and Founder Alana Kushnir advised Dr Geissler on the legal aspects of the publishing agreement with Thames & Hudson. The book is a vividly illustrated survey of the Australian Aboriginal art movement from remote Australia, and includes a succinct history of each artist’s life and career.
As described by publisher Thames & Hudson, ‘the artworks of Aboriginal Australian peoples are a profoundly important repository of knowledge and reflect a deep connection to Country. This visually rich survey explores the evolution of the contemporary Aboriginal art movement in remote areas of Australia across twenty-nine art centres in five states from the Kimberley through to Arnhem Land and beyond.’
Image: Minnie Pwerle, Awelye Atwengerrp, 2001, 123 x 159 cm, Synthetic polymer paint on canvas, Photography - Artvisory, Melbourne, Copyright courtesy Aboriginal Artists Agency on behalf of the Artist.
Alana congratulated Dr Geissler on her publishing deal: ‘It’s been an absolute pleasure seeing Dreaming the Land come to life.’
Alana added: ‘Publishing agreements involve many legal considerations, especially where they include images of artworks, and texts written by contributors. We always encourage artists and authors to reach out to a specialist art lawyer when you are entering into a commercial agreement of any kind. An art lawyer can help you map out the relationships of the different parties involved, set the terms of the arrangement and advise you on how to protect your intellectual property”.
The book features contributions by eminent First Nations writers Margot Neale and Djon Mundine, who discuss the nuanced landscape of the art movement.
To purchase a copy of Dreaming the Land visit the Booktopia website.