Baganan Theresa Creed is a member of the Kalkadoon and Pitta Pitta tribes of North West Queensland. As a songwriter she tells the story of her peoples heritage and their transition from their tribal culture and country into the mission system described by Theresa as “concentration camps”. She also tells of her own journey from the Woorabinda mission, where she was born, to the highs and lows of living as an Aboriginal person in the twenty first century.
As a singer, Theresa takes us deep into the emotion of her stories, providing transparency into the many dimensions of human experience. She offers a powerful insight into what Aboriginality is, expressed in a way that is both entertaining and accessible.
Theresa’s music draws on the traditions of blues, reggae, folk and funk and moulds them into a style that is distinctively Aboriginal, often incorporating traditional song and dance into her performances In recent years Theresa has performed for the River festival, Brisbane Biennial, The Queensland Art gallery, Songs and stories of the People, The Brisbane writer’s festival, Budyari festival in Sydney, Brisbane Powerhouse’s “Saltwater Freshwater Peoples” concert and countless Aboriginal community gatherings.
In 2001 Theres released her first C.D. “Unfinished Business” She has previously performed the lead role in Sally Morgan’s Play “Sistergirl” with Black Swan Theatre in 1994 (http://technoculture.mira.net.au/sisterg.htm) and toured to The U.S.A and Canada as principle dancer with the Aboriginal and Islander Dance Theatre in 1982.
Theresa is also a visual artist who explores Aboriginal traditions in both figurative and impressionist/abstract works. As with her music, her paintings display a distinctive Aboriginality underlying contemporary media and styles. Her paintings depict emotions and perceptions of Aboriginal experience, weaving storyline and subconscious forces into multi dimensional images that can be both subtle and powerful. She has exhibited her work at community events,the Woodford Folk Festival and on the cover of her Album “Unfinished business”.
Theresa is also a freelance teacher in the areas of indigenous education and Aboriginal art including song, dance and painting.
