Joel Smoker.com | North Of The Tropic Of Capricorn

North of the Tropic of Capricorn
is a multimedia presentation, incorporating a slide show, storytelling and songs, from Joel Smoker, that tells the story of two journeys: the first is the story of the Smoker family in the Kimberley region of Western Australia during the 1950's to the 1970's
and the second is the story
of Joel's time in the Kimberley
during the 1980's. These two
journeys are used to tell other stories,
including the story of the changing face of European and Aboriginal relations, the role that faith can play in determining life's course and and the inspiration for art.

Bruce and Pearl Smoker moved to the Kimberley in
1952 to work for the United Aborigines Mission. They were there for 21 years and in that time raised a family of five: four boys and one girl. Joel is the eldest of those children, and using slides of the photographs his mother took, he tells the story of their time in the Kimberley.

Joel moved back to the Kimberley during the 1980's for 9 years, first working as an Arts Advisory Teacher for the Education Department, traveling to the schools of

Using slides of photographs that he took during that time, he documents the changes that have taken place in the Kimberley since his childhood. The show examines issues of current interest, such as the stolen generations, the homelands movement, the growth of the Aboriginal arts industry, tourism and Reconciliation.

The monologue is interspersed with songs that Joel has written, which further tell the stories of those times. These songs are presented with the accompaniment of the Red Dirt Band, which includes Joel on vocals and guitar, Owen Leggo on bass guitar and Brendan Leggo on drums. The songs are taken from Joel's three albums, Out On Highway One, Outback, and The Flesh And The Spirit.

To book North of the Tropic of Capricorn for your venue
get in touch with Joel - contact details.