Summary

This T-Shirt was designed by Dixon Patten who belongs to the Gunai/Yorta Yorta/Gunditjmara and Dhuduroa Nations.
After completing a three-year cadetship at Melbourne's Koorie Heritage Trust, Dixon began his own design business. He has worked on several high-profile commisions including a quit smoking campaign public art work on the 86 tram in conjunction with the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service, the 2011 Melbourne Storm Indigenous Round guernsey, the 2014 Collingwood AFL Indigenous Round guernsey and a large public art mural in Docklands, Melbourne, comissioned by Lendlease.
Speaking of his art, Dixon says;

'I am a practicing artist and have several family members who have influenced me and have given me knowledge of traditional art practices and stories. Before moving into freelance operation I was employed by the Koorie Heritage Trust Cultural Centre in Melbourne for 8 years and worked in retail, design, marketing and curatorial. During this time I was able to deepen my understanding of local history and the integral role that art has played for our people.' Dixon Patten, 2016.

Physical Description

Commercially produced T-shirt, cotton, short sleeved, black, Winning Spirit brand, size XS. Screenprinted on the front chest - pair of feet in white paint accompanied by the statement 'I walk in my / Ancestors / Footprints' in yellow paint. Reverse is plain.

Significance

Today many First Peoples wear t-shirts, jewellery and other clothing which highlights their belonging and pride in theirculture. Since the 1980s many First Peoples artist's designs have featured in fashion, such as Walmajarri man Jimmy Pike's designs for the iconic clothing company 'Desert Designs'. Other early Aboriginal fashion and textile designers include Nyoongar man Ron Gidgup and his fashion label Gidge Design Studio, Kungarakan/Larrakia/Iwatja designer Lenore Dembski and her label Paperbark Woman and well-known Bunjulung artist Bronwyn Bancroft.
Many First Peoples today enjoy being bold and visible in their belonging wearing items that reflect culture not only communicates personal cultural pride, but is a way of making the powerful political statement 'we are here'.

References
Indigenous Story, Dixon Patten, 2017, Viewed 14 August 2017.
http://indigenousstory.com.au/works/94/dixon-patten/
Jimmy Pike Trust, viewed 14 August 2017
http://www.jimmypiketrust.org.au/about/jimmy-pike/
Miller, S. Blacklock, F, Wilson-Miller, J. 2002, Fashion and Design, Colours of the Land pp. 20-29 in Bayagul: Contemporary Indigenous Communication, Powerhouse Publishing.

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