Toogarr Morrison
Resume
As a Bibbulmun elder, artist and historian, Toogarr has been instrumental in the documentation of Aboriginal Dreamtime stories, and the promotion and explanation of these stories through his artwork. He was the first Aboriginal person to be given a contract for public art in Western Australia, and since that time, has designed and installed public art projects throughout the State including the East Perth foreshore (Victoria Gardens) Jan Doo Park at Mt Henry in Manning. The Mounts Bay Road project, Roe Highway project and the Minim Cove Redevelopment. He also has works in the Shires of Swan and Peppermint Grove, Towns of Armadale and Victoria Park, City Councils of Stirling, Cambridge, Fremantle and South Perth.
In 1998, Toogarr was named Western Australian Aboriginal Artist of the Year. In 2005-06, he was also a finalist in the WA Citizen of the Year Awards, in the Category of Arts, Culture and Entertainment.
Toogarr has been involved in art since he was a child, and further enhanced his skills by completing a degree in Visual Arts at Curtin University and Edith Cowan University in 2003. Toogarr has also received his Masters Degree in Visual Arts from Edith Cowan University in 2006.
In recent times, Toogarr has been working extensively with children on community art projects promoting Aboriginal art and history. With the participation of students of all ages, and in some cases teachers, parents and other community members, Toogarr has painted large murals at schools throughout the State from Esperance to Kununurra as well as many schools in the metropolitan area.
Toogarr is a Bibbullmun elder, artist and historian. He has been instrumental in the documentation of Aboriginal Dreamtime Stories and the promotion and explanation of these stories through his artwork. In 1998 Toogarr was named Western Australian Aboriginal Artist of the Year.