"They sat with him while he explained the painting (honey ants, waterholes, meeting places) and also had their photo taken with him. It was only a small purchase ($30) but it was a priceless experience for them.
"They paid for the painting from their own spending money.
"When they returned to school, they spoke about meeting the old man to their class, showed photos and their painting … now the youngest is studying Aboriginal history in her class. Meeting and buying art from Aboriginal artists in the mall is a unique attraction for visitors to Alice Springs and we should be promoting it, not banning it."
What may now disappear from the Alice Springs visitor experience is the opportunity to approach an Aboriginal citizen in a relaxed, unmediated setting to have a conversation about indigenous culture. It is difficult to exaggerate how unusual this experience is for a visitor, who is typically conveyed through a touristic infrastructure of hotels, car rentals, restaurants and shopping stripped of any interaction with Aboriginal people. If a 200 dollar a day street vending license is required of artists, as planned by the city council, exposure to Aboriginal art and culture will be limited to consumer transactions within galleries and as an audience experience at staged commercial displays of indigenous culture.
There's still hope of an intervention, though. As Gosford points out, the legal definition of public space may not apply to the lawn in front of the John Flynn church where most artists set up shop. As readers of the Crikey article point out, this would be a perfect time for someone with experience in these matters to offer a little pro-bono assistance.
Is there a lawyer in the house?
