Ceremony: An exhibition of artworks by senior Aboriginal men

Regular visitors to Hurstville Museum & Gallery will recall our 2012 show Strong Women Strong Painting Strong Culture: Indigenous Women's Art of the Central and Western Deserts from the Sims Dickson Collection, a nationally touring exhibition from Cessnock Regional Gallery that explored the roles of desert women as custodians of cultural traditions and family life, community leaders, and artists. It featured works by a range of artists including Ruby Williamson, Tjampawa Kawiny and Yangi Yangi Fox, and was one of the first exhibitions to have brought together works by women artists of the Central and Western desert regions.

Given the success of this show, we are pleased to announce a second partnership with Deborah Sims and Matt Dickson in Ceremony: An exhibition of artworks by senior Aboriginal men. This exhibition of brings together paintings and 3D works, demonstrating the ceremonial knowledge associated with creation stories, body markings used in ceremonies, and the mythic landscapes inhabited by creation beings. Artists include Dickie Minyintiri, Fred Untjima Forbes, Hector Tjupuru Burton and Tiger Palpatja.

This colourful, innovative and profound show includes work from desert artists, from the Kimberley and Darwin areas, and a selection of historic men's Papunya Tula works. The artwork is sourced from Aboriginal-owned and run arts centres, which co-curator Deborah Sims describes as "crucial drivers of cultural renewal … and often the only viable economic enterprise in remote communities."

Don't miss Ceremony: An exhibition of artworks by senior Aboriginal men. On show at Hurstville Museum & Gallery from 20 April - 14 July 2013.

Hurstville Museum & Gallery
14 MacMahon Street, Hurstville
(02) 9330 6444

"The Stories, the Truth and the Law are in the earth and the heavens…. This land was here from the beginning of time, and we Aboriginal men are its custodians."

- Fred Untjima Forbes

Strong Women Strong Painting Strong Culture

Indigenous Women’s Art of the Central and Western Deserts from the Sims Dickson Collection

Contemporary Indigenous women’s art from remote central and west Australia is the focus of a new exhibition at Hurstville City Museum & Gallery. Strong Women Strong Painting Strong Culture was originally developed to celebrate the Centenary of International Women’s Day at Cessnock Regional Gallery in 2011, and is touring Australia with the support of Visions of Australia funding. The exhibition will tour venues across New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Queensland.

The exhibition explores the role of desert women as artists, community leaders, and custodians of cultural traditions and family life, and demonstrates the important role of Aboriginal owned and managed arts centres. Works on display include Kapi Tjukula by Tjampawa Katie KAWINY (pictured). The exhibition includes large scale works on canvas, woven baskets and soft sculptures.

Strong Women Strong Painting Strong Culture is on display at Hurstville City Museum & Gallery from 21 April – 5 August 2012. A curator floor talk will be held on Friday 4 May 2012at 6.00pm, followed by the official opening at 7.00pm. All welcome, bookings essential on 9330 6444 or via email.

For further information visit our website, telephone us on 9330 6444, or send us email.

96 year old artist Tjampawa Katie KAWINY from Amata, South Australia. Photo by Skye O'Meara, courtesy Tjala Arts.

Kapi Tjukula by Tjampawa Katie KAWINY (c. 1921). Image courtesy Deborah Sims.