Art is a family affair for the Browns – check out Shellharbour City Council’s NAIDOC Exhibition at the Civic Centre to see the work of generations of talented, local Aboriginal artists. Photo: Maquilla Brown.
Illawarra NAIDOC Week celebrations this year have embodied the 2024 theme ”Keep the fire burning! Blak, loud and proud”.
Koonawarra’s family fun day exceeded expectations and attracted a massive turnout, the Coomaditchie Exhibition launch in Port Kembla honoured local artists, and with events such as Bellambi’s NAIDOC After Party still to come on 17 July, there’s plenty still on offer.
Shellharbour City Council’s NAIDOC Week display will continue through July, and Aboriginal community liaison officer Maquilla Brown hopes to make it an annual event.
The first NAIDOC Exhibition at the Shellharbour Civic Centre in 2023 featured Aunty Jodi Edwards’ personal collection of artefacts, tools and artworks.
This year’s display celebrates and shares local artists’ works that are usually kept in private collections.
“I had the intention to share local stories, history and culture,” Maquilla said.
“This year myself and the new Aboriginal library program officer Jesse Evans have loaned our family collections to share for the display.
“My collection is from my family, my Nan and Pop, who were local artists living in the Shoalhaven, and also my brother Layne.
“All the artworks are owned by parents, and we’re super proud to have so many talented artists in the family. Layne does art as a hobby and to continue our family legacy.
“Jesse has loaned his family collection. His parents and grandparents come from all across Australia, from northern NSW, WA and everywhere in between.
“Their collection shows a really broad selection of artworks from different regions across Australia and shows off the diversity of Indigenous art.
“We’ve also woven in tools, artefacts, instruments and woven pieces that have been loaned by local artists Brochure from Jumbunna and Corrine from Buribun Art so that we can show off the fullness of Aboriginal culture.”
To see the exhibition, head to Shellharbour Civic Centre any time this month.
Members of Barrmarrany dance group Latrell Morris, Amahria Campbell, Kyan Campbell, Dale Wakeham, Ivan Morris, Jack Pendergast, Zavier Morris and Malik Morris at the Dapto NAIDOC Week community event. Photo: Zoe Cartwright.
The diversity of Aboriginal culture was also on display at the Dapto NAIDOC Week community event on Friday.
Ivan Morris led the Barrmarrany dance group at the event.
“It’s a Gumbaynggirra word for family descendants; that heritage is on my mother’s side,” he said.
“We are Gumbaynggirr-Dunghutti people, with ties to Yuin and Monaro country as well.
“It’s a blessing this is a multicultural area, everyone can bring something to the table. Culture is to be shared, and we are so humbled to still practise what we’ve done for thousands of years, with different mobs from different countries who come here.
“Dance is part of us, it’s our life, it’s our skill.
“I’m immensely proud to see our children showcase what our ancestors would have done thousands of years ago. I think any parent would be.”
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