Togetherness. In Action

 

A half gallery exhibition of artworks in various media that celebrates and showcases local Indigenous artist’s with group and individual works.

 

14 May – 6 June (HALF GALLERY)

2021 marks twenty years of Reconciliation Australia and almost three decades of the Australian formal reconciliation process. Reconciliation requires deeper understanding of the impact of British colonisation in order to progress as a nation. Today, many more Australians now understand and acknowledge the brutal impact that British colonialism and the modern Australian state have had on First Nations families, communities, and ways of life. The national theme this year is More than a word. Reconciliation takes action.

Togetherness. In Action is an art exhibition in various media to celebrate and showcase local Indigenous artist’s with group and individual works.
The exhibition at Gallery M includes a partnership with the Warriparinga Women’s Group Ngangki Kumangka, and Warriparinga Aboriginal Men’s Group Miyurna. Participants in these groups are from many diverse Indigenous backgrounds coming together in unity and support.

The men’s group worked with non-Indigenous sculpture Westley Tully, who sourced the wood and carved the boomerang. The men’s group then created a collaborative storyboard using cultural symbols to etch their unique story. Through this process, they learnt etching techniques, design and more about cultural symbols and their meanings through storytelling together.

The women’s group chose to create a large papier-mâché Rainbow Serpent due to the significance of the Dreaming story and it’s connection across all Indigenous communities across Australia.
‘The Rainbow Serpent’ is a Dreaming spirit that has many names and legends. What unites them is their creation stories that describe the beginning of the world, the birth of mankind and the establishment of law and order. The Rainbow Serpent is one of the oldest creation stories and continues to influence contemporary culture inspiring new artwork, literature, music and social movements both in Australia and beyond.
Source: https://www.artyfactory.com/aboriginal-art/aboriginal-art-dreaming-stories-rainbow-serpent.html

The Rainbow Serpent created for this exhibition tells the story of Warriparinga and the Living Kaurna Cultural Centre. It shows the important connection between the flora, forna and human interaction, the wetlands, animals and people coming together to learn about and from each other. The Living Kaurna Cultural Centre is located on Warriparinga Way (Off Sturt Road), Bedford Park.

These cultural development projects have reconnected participants through art and culture. Indigenous and non-Indigenous staff from the City of Marion and Sonder participated in the making of both community art works facilitated by David Thorpe from the men’s group, Daphne Rickett and Annie Mackley from the women’s group.

This exhibition also includes ‘Malka Wiriwiri’, a small art collective aged between 17 – 21, exhibiting their hand painted ceramics, silk painting and acrylic on canvas.

The exhibition includes both established and emerging artists, and an opportunity for intergenerational connection.