A Western Australian council has refused to take down a dot painting-style mural by an aboriginal paedophile because it wants to consult with an indigenous advisory group first.
Prominent artist Kirk Thomas Garlett in August pleaded guilty to indecently recording a child and possessing child exploitation material, and after his court appearance Central Regional TAFE Northam staff removed one of his paintings.
But the Shire of Northam has declined to take down a mural created by Garlett during a school holiday workshop with local children in 2021 titled Emu in the Stars, ABC News reported.
The council reviewed its displays after the TAFE took action, but in a closed meeting decided to first consult with their “Noongar Cultural Advisory group” before making a final decision.
Emu in the Stars is on display between the Bilya Koort Boodja Centre for Nyoongar Culture and Environmental Knowledge and the Northam Visitor Centre, and another one of Garlett’s paintings, Wardong and Manidj, is part of the shire’s art collection.
In 2021 Garlett was also made part of a Shire of Northam working group established to assist in the process of “dual naming“, and months later had his artwork entered in Western Australia’s biggest community arts project, Showcase in Pixels.
“The artwork resulted from a school holiday workshop at the Bilya Koort Boodja (BKB) Centre, with local children guided by aboriginal artist (and joint BKB Centre Manager) Kirk Garlett. It was created using recycled CDs giving the illusion of stars sparkling in the night sky,” the shire wrote on social media at the time.
Managing Director of Central Regional TAFE Joanne Payne said the local aboriginal community and key staff had been consulted before the removal of Garlett’s painting, calling it an “operational decision”.
“We are committed to ensuring the comfort of our staff, students and the community,” she said.
“A process has commenced to commission a new artwork for the Wheatbelt.”
Garlett’s offences took place in Northam, and in the suburbs of Midland, Cloverdale and Mundaring in Perth, between August 2023 and May 2024.
He will be sentenced in October.
Header image: Kirk Garlett poses with Emu in the Stars (Shire of Northam – Facebook)
