Avril Quaill, Artistic Director, Cairns Indigenous Art Fair
Patience, patience and more patience ...
This weekend months of hard work comes together for Avril Quaill in the form of the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF). A three-day event that merges the celebration Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures with an art market, CIAF will showcase the artworks of more than 300 established and emerging artists, along with artist talks, children’s activities and dance. Artistic Director Avril Quaill is a leading indigenous artist and curator, who has previously held roles with the National Gallery of Australia and Queensland Art Gallery. Passionate about indigenous art and exhibiting the works of local artists from remote communities, Avril took the CIAF reins at the start of this year. The Weekend Edition spoke to Avril about her weekend essentials.
How do you like to start your weekend?
I really like having the time to cook a big breakfast, including freshly squeezed juices with whatever fruit is in season.
What’s your favourite thing to do on a Saturday morning?
Get all the national papers and read the arts pages first.
How do you like to unwind?
Music, food, television, sleep.
What are your essentials for a well-spent weekend?
Shopping at Rusty’s fresh food markets – and cooking everything I need for the rest of the week.
What’s something you’ve been meaning to do on the weekend but haven’t got around to yet?
Take the Ocean Free sailboat to Green Island – a great way to de-stress.
What’s your favourite thing to do on a Sunday evening?
Watch a good movie on DVD – no ads!
What are you looking forward to next weekend?
Unveiling the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair – three days of being immersed in the arts, culture, music, dance, food and fun!
What are you reading at the moment?
Navigating Boundaries: the Asian Diaspora in Torres Strait, Anna Shnukal, Guy Ramsay and Yuriko Nagata eds.
What inspires you?
Great works of art.
What was your childhood dream?
To find a subject I really liked – and was possibly good at – and then be able to earn a living from it.
What has been your greatest achievement?
Motherhood.
What is success to you?
I’ll let you know after the art fair!
What are your words of wisdom?
Patience, patience and more patience. These are also my sister’s words.
Only a local would know that … The name for Cairns is ‘Gimuy’.
FAVOURITE WEEKEND SPOT TO:
Perk up … Bang Espresso, Cairns
Relax … Port Douglas
Dine … Ochre Restaurant, Cairns
Indulge … The British Lolly Shop, Cairns Central
Shop … Rusty’s Markets, Cairns
Catch-up … KickArts Contemporary Artspace, Cairns
Be inspired … Cairns Regional Gallery
