Koorie Heritage Trust

The hoodie jacket is sometimes associated with doing crime and hiding it, but in this exciting new community youth project, Kooriez in da Hood, young Koorie people are literally encouraged to wear their art and their culture on their sleeves with pride.

Ten young Koories have collaborated with Wiradjuri Artist, Brook Andrew and the Trust's Training Manager, Jill Antonie to design a limited range of hoodies representing Koorie culture, family and life. Each "culturally-infused" hoodie is unique and are wearable artworks. Photographs by Wathaurong artist, Bindi Cole, have documented the process and compliment the exhibit.

Kooriez in da Hood spokesperson, Grant Balcombe a young Tjapukai/Western Yallangi man says:

"Our Indigenous forefathers wore kangaroo and possum skin cloaks to represent their origins and tribal affiliations, but recently the Koorie Heritage Trust have encouraged young people from various parts of Victoria to get back in touch culturally by allowing us to create our own hoodies with our own personal designs that represent us and our culture through our eyes."

At the exhibition opening the young artists paraded their wearable art in a knock out show choreographed by Kaurna/Narrunga woman, Nikki Ashby with DJ Sadge aka Dylan Clarke and artistically directed by our Community Arts Worker, Andrea James.

The project promises to have a life beyond the exhibition when you just might be lucky enough to see someone wearing a hoodie jacket out in the community.

The exhibition is on now until the 5 April and very limited edition hoodies are available for sale.

Check out Faborigines and ABC Online for a behind the scenes look at the project.

For more information about the Kooriez in da Hood please contact our Community Arts Worker, Andrea James (andrea@koorieheritagetrust.com).