Curriculum Vitae

Lewis Dean Burns
Talbragar Wiradjuri.
Australian Aboriginal, International,
Visual and Performing Artist.

 

                         Address: 79 Cobbora Road, Dubbo, NSW Australia
Phone:    02 6884 7031        
Mobile:    0429 580 920        
(Outside Australia Dial:   +612 6884 7031 or + 61 429 580 920)
Email: info@lewisburns.com 

A bit About Me

Born in Dubbo on the 27th March 1964, I lived on the Talbragar Aboriginal Reserve near Dubbo throughout my early years.
From there we moved and I grew up in several towns, up and down the East Coast of Australia.
I have been learning my Indigenous Culture for as long as I can remember.
Traditions were passed down to me and I have taken them on and practiced them, and I still continue to learn and grow every day.
I am an Aboriginal Craftsman, Dance Instructor, Didjeridoo Player and Performer, Teacher, Mural Painter, Musician and Artist.
I have been a practicing Indigenous Artist since 1992 and am dedicated to sharing and spreading the Aboriginal Culture. I am a father of four.

Education Qualifications

Employment


The Department of TAFE NSW, 1999 - Current: Part Time/Casual.
Throughout my employment with TAFE NSW, Western Institute, I have worked in a number of facilities including the Dubbo Western Institute of TAFE, Juvenile
and Adult Correctional Facilities and in rural and remote communities and TAFE facilities throughout NSW, both face to face and via video conferencing.
I have delivered a range of programs to Indigenous and non-Indigenous students, always promoting and teaching the Aboriginal culture through a range of different courses
including painting, burning work, mural painting, didgeridoo making and playing, Aboriginal Lore and the importance of respect and carrying on the culture.
My responsibilities have included delivering and developing programs, teaching both in classroom environments, correctional facilities, and the community, managing timetables
and attendance sheets and gathering data and evidence of tasks completed by students. I have continued to develop confidence in my ability to interact and engage with a range
of people in a variety of settings as I have worked closely with a number of organisations and management levels, to develop and deliver programs for people of all ages and cultural backgrounds.

Aboriginal Hostels, September - December 2008.
My employment with Aboriginal hostels included the set up and development of a Dubbo hostel ready for the intake of students. During this time it was my responsibility
to manage funds and organise and purchase the resources needed to have the hostel ready for housing students. I was in-charge of managing the books and employing
and hiring tradesman to do repairs to standards for operation. I also co-managed and was relief House Parent for the other 2 hostel when other staff were on leave.
At this hostel I was responsible for supporting and caring for up to 9 young people providing daily routine, meals and support as well as mentoring and further cultivation of the Aboriginal culture.

 Juvenile Justice.
Aside from working in conjunction with TAFE at the Department of Juvenile Justice, I have also been employed to do contract work both within the school and recreational sections of the Centre.
I work with both Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Youth teaching a range of Aboriginal art, music and culture. I believe that working closely with youth is an opportunity to teach the
importance of carrying on the culture and respect for our mob and our land. I have further developed time management skills while working with Juvenile Justice as the centre
functions on strict time routine and schedule. I understand the importance of being organised to maximise learning time while in the classroom, and to have all necessary resources ready and accounted for.
I have also initiated a number of other programs for the students whereby I encouraged other professionals to seek employment and provide programs which helped to further develop self-esteem and belief in themselves.

Artist in Residency.
The Western Plains Cultural Centre, Dubbo NSW. Feb - April, 2008.
My three month Artist in Residency involved working at the centre for three to four days per week. During this time I painted a number of artworks and delivered numerous presentations and
workshops to the Dubbo community, in particular children. A number of sessions were also run on weekends, enabling me to share my art and culture with the Dubbo
and wider community as a variety of people would frequent the Cultural Centres during these times.

Working in Schools and other agencies across Australia.
I have been travelling and working in schools and with different agencies since 1995. Throughout this time I have worked in rural, remote and urban areas of Australia and have
delivered programs including community murals and artwork, NAIDOC day celebrations, boomerang throwing demonstrations, didjeridoo playing and making workshops,
cultural tours, performances and demonstrations and mentoring of Aboriginal youth. I have worked with pre-school children through to the elderly. I have also been employed to
conduct a learner driver course and have travelled to communities to promote Aboriginal culture or have been employed to perform and share stories as part of different celebrations and/or events.
I have also performed with Jim Moginie from Midnight Oil and the bush whackers and have opened for Mental as Anything.

 Working Internationally.
Internationally I have worked in schools and with and for a number of organisations for different celebrations and events, as well as running private business.
I have travelled widely from Japan and Canada, New Zealand to America, to Italy, France and England. I have preformed for a number of highly recognised people
and have shared the Aboriginal culture to people of all ages and countries. I have conducted a number of painting and didjeridoo workshops and have been commissioned to paint
artworks in homes, buildings, offices, and other services, all over the world. I have had the opportunity to work on television due to my recognition as an Australian Aboriginal,
International artist in America and have been head hunted for a commercial shot in Sydney and aired internationally.

 Didjeridoo Employment Performances & Workshops.
I have conducted numerous Didjeridoo workshops, at schools and with other organisations both nationally and internationally since 1998.
Internationally alone, I have conducted over 350 workshops on making and playing the didjeridoo. I have also performed over one thousand live shows and
have been recognised by the American public as an "all star" to return for a 2nd episode of a well known Television show 'Monster House',
reaching audiences of over 80 million people, with viewings in Australia also.

 

Highlights of My National & International Workshops,
 Performances, Exhibitions, Employment and Cultural Exchange


"Utes In the Paddock" Art Exhibition in Katoomba, November 2009.
Painted and exhibited 10 artworks of a variety of sizes.
I performed in body ochre and full regalia on the opening night and played alongside Members from ‘Midnight Oil’ and ‘Mental As Anything’.

Cultural exchange in New Zealand, November 2009.
For 5 days in November I attended the "Australasian Facilitators Conference", sponsored as an official guest. I did a number of performances and
cultural presentations as well as conducted a workshop on Australian Aboriginal Traditions. Throughout this conference there was a great deal of cultural exchange
and an opportunity to teach and further enhance both Australian and other Australasian people about Australian Aboriginal Culture.

World Indigenous Cultural Festival, "Planet Indigenous", Toronto Canada, Aug 2009.
I Co-ordinated the tour from quoting and winning the project to organising dancers, Visas and airfares for the "Doonooch" Dance troop to Canada,
for live performances and cultural exchange and Conducted a number of Didjeridoo making workshops and didje playing sessions.

Didjeridoo making workshops for Koori Kids 2009,
Workshops run over a number of weeks in conjunction with TAFE NSW & Mission Australia.

Didjeridoo workshops (making and playing), in San Diego California and Venice Beach California, March 2009.

Painted EH Holden Ute for the “Utes In The Paddock” project, April & May 2009.  

I have conducted workshops and programs at schools across NSW throughout 2009,
teaching both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students about Aboriginal Art and Culture.
 
Tamworth Country Music Week, January 2009
I was asked to be a part of the Aboriginal Showcase at the “Youthie”, in Peel St Tamworth.
I was Didjeridoo Player on the float during the street parade and performed at the showcase’s opening and other performances throughout the week.

Worked at Oolong House Nowra(Drug & Alcohol Rehabilitation Centre ) teaching didjeridoo making and traditional symbols, Dec 2008 - January 2009.

“YABUN” Survival Festival, Sydney, NSW, Australia Day, January 2009.
Performances held throughout the day and had a Display Stall selling my hand crafted didjeridoos and other artworks.

Was scouted and audience and later Filmed a TV Commercial for Outback Steakhouse in USA. (Filmed in La Perouse), January 2009

Performance and workshops at "Indijinus" festival, near Portland Oregon USA.
Organised for 3 dancers from Doonooch Dance group to accompany me, Sept. 2008.

"Jammin' Tree Didjeridoo Festival" .Oakhurst, Yosemite National Park California USA, 2008I conducted Performance and workshops throughout the festival.
I also organised 3 dancers from Doonooch Dance group to accompany me to the festival.

Warialda Primary School July 2008 and 2009.
Conducted a number of workshops, mural painting and didjeridoo performances.

Opening didjeridoo performance for Men At Work at the Nashville November 2008.

Local Art Exhibitionwhich was joint exhibition with cousin Nathan Peckham.
Held at the Claypan Gallery, Dubbo .

Participated in 'Outback Icon' singing competition in Dubbo, February-April 2006.

Participant on Discovery Channels Monster House Discovery House episode #40This 2hr episode of Monster House is a Fraternity House done in the
theme of Discovery Channel, October 2004 . It aired on National Television in USA on Monday 01/31/05 at 8pm.

Consultant & participant on Discovery Channels Monster House Outback House episode #26 Los Angeles, CA. Filmed March, Went to air in June 2004.

Consultant for hit stage production "Daisy in the Dreamtime" produced by Anson Ford Theatre, Hollywood Los Angeles, CA. March 2004.

Joshua Tree Didjeridoo Festival
Didjeridoo Performances at in Southern California Desert, over 3 days in October 2000 - 2003. I also conducted Didjeridoo making workshops filmed
by Huell Howser from the “California’s Gold” series, October 2002 and Didjeridoo making workshops filmed and documented by CBS Sunday Morning, New York, USA. September 2001

Didjeridoo workshop and Performance held at “The Music Trader”, Maple Valley, near Seattle, WA., USA.Organised by John Groves, October 2002 & 2003

Didjeridoo performance held at an Elementary School in The Seattle Area.
1 Hour show to a whole of school assembly. 29th May 2003

Didjeridoo and Dance Performances at “The Spirit of the Planet” World Indigenous Festival, held in Northern Italy near Bergamo. May/June 2002.

Didjeridoo Making Workshops at the Didjeridoo Store, Fullerton, CA. March 2002.

Didjeridoo Performance with Doonooch Dance Troupe in Milan Italy, December 2000.
There were 31 Performances over 12 days while I also had Didjeridoo
making displays and demonstrations, as well as an art exhibit in.

Survival Day Concert at Waverly Oval in Bondi, NSW, Australia. 26th January 2001
Didjeridoo Performance with Doonooch Dance Troupe.

Gathering of Nations, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.
Exhibition of Aboriginal Art and Crafts and Met with Al Gore,
the then vice president of USA. April 26th-28th 2000.

"Thunder in the Desert" Tucson Arizona, USA. Jan 2000.
Exhibition of Aboriginal Art and Crafts

Gifu Prefecture, Japan, November 2000.
Didjeridoo Performance with Taiko Drummers in Minokamo,
as well as Art and Cultural Displays.

Lithgow Correctional Centre, January 2000.
Conducted 14 full day classes to Aboriginal inmates, teaching Didjeridoo making and playing, as well as Aboriginal Art and Cultural Practices.
Run in conjunction with TAFE NSW.

Art exhibition in Minokamo JAPAN, November 1999.
This was in conjunction with The Dubbo Sister City Friendship Tour. My Painting titled "The First Koala" was commissioned by Western Plains Zoo
and purchased by Taronga Park Zoo to present to the Higashyama Zoo in Nagoya in recognition of their Koala breeding program.


Other Work Related Ventures

Utes in the Paddock
Participation in World Youth Day Celebrations in Quirindi
Markets
Bowl series
Rock art
Website design
Didjeridoo playing/making DVDs

 

Community Involvement.

"River Smart".
A water safe awareness raising event in which I was asked to perform and give a cultural presentation and performance in full regalia, 2009

"Walking for peace" Festival, 2009.
I created and painted a mural over the festival day by engaging and involving children,
youth and community members to participate in the artwork.
 
"World Youth Day, Quirindi Celebrations", 2008.
Involved in the organisation and running of the music and equipment for masses and other gatherings. I was invited,
and volunteered my services of offering a cultural presentation to the exchange students from Germany.
Many also partook in didje lessons and learning more about my culture and background.

"Showcase" at the "Youthie" PCYC in Tamworth, 2009.
I volunteered my time and performed as part of the celebrations and in recognition of Aboriginal music and culture throughout country music week.

Musician at masses and functions for St Bridgid's Church in Quirindi 08/09

Westhaven day program 2007 – 2009.
Volunteer work at Westhaven Day Centre, providing singing,
guitar and didjeridoo playing to clients.

Participation in the Dubbo Red Ochre Festival, 2009

 

Interests & Activities

Spending time with my 4 children (When I can).
Didjeridoo Playing & Teaching.
Survival of the Indigenous Culture, (Teaching as much as possible).
Playing and learning Guitar and Piano (Some singing).
Swimming, Tennis and darts

Languages

English as well as Aboriginal English. ·
Some Traditional Lingo.
Small amount of Japanese (Learning).
Small amount of Portuguese
Small amount of Italian

If you read it all, I am impressed
Thank You

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