BCAL students visit the NAIDOC Exhibition of Indigenous Art. Photos: Kate Harmon
AS THE echoes of a thousand people marching over the Phillip Island Bridge reverberated across Bass Coast, a group of artists and photographers visited ArtSpace at the Wonthaggi Centennial Centre to view this year's NAIDOC Exhibition of Indigenous Art.
The group consisted of students from Bass Coast Adult Learning's (BCAL) Thru the Lens photography and Exploring Art classes, capacity building programs funded through the NDIS to enable people to use their talents and abilities in a welcoming environment.
The group consisted of students from Bass Coast Adult Learning's (BCAL) Thru the Lens photography and Exploring Art classes, capacity building programs funded through the NDIS to enable people to use their talents and abilities in a welcoming environment.
As a marker for Bass Coast Adult Learning’s own reconciliation journey, it has purchased Safina Stewart’s The Coming of the Light. The visit was guided by BCAL tutors Lisa Overjero. and Geoff Ellis. Geoff, who is also president of ArtSpace and co-chair of the Bass Coast South Gippsland Reconciliation Group, spoke about the historical context of the exhibition within 'settlement' and the tragic displacement of First Nations people across Gippsland.
The annual NAIDOC exhibition was started eight years ago by the reconciliation group with the aim of spotlighting local First Nations artists and empowering them to run their own galleries and exhibitions. This is the third NAIDOC exhibition to be held at ArtSpace and attendance and sales grow each year. This has added greatly to the visibility of First Nations artists in our area.
As a marker for BCAL's own reconciliation journey, Bass Coast Adult Learning has purchased Safina Stewart’s The Coming of the Light.
Also highlighted was the donation of 50 per cent of the sales from Lisa Kennedy's original watercolours from her popular children's books. That money will help the Save Western Port Woodlands campaign which aims to halt the encroachment of sand mining that threatens the slender remnants of the extensive woodlands that covered South Gippsland before European settlement.
The 2022 NAIDOC Exhibition is at ArtSpace until August 14. You can also view the collection at www.naidoc-art.com.au/ and make your purchase online.
The annual NAIDOC exhibition was started eight years ago by the reconciliation group with the aim of spotlighting local First Nations artists and empowering them to run their own galleries and exhibitions. This is the third NAIDOC exhibition to be held at ArtSpace and attendance and sales grow each year. This has added greatly to the visibility of First Nations artists in our area.
As a marker for BCAL's own reconciliation journey, Bass Coast Adult Learning has purchased Safina Stewart’s The Coming of the Light.
Also highlighted was the donation of 50 per cent of the sales from Lisa Kennedy's original watercolours from her popular children's books. That money will help the Save Western Port Woodlands campaign which aims to halt the encroachment of sand mining that threatens the slender remnants of the extensive woodlands that covered South Gippsland before European settlement.
The 2022 NAIDOC Exhibition is at ArtSpace until August 14. You can also view the collection at www.naidoc-art.com.au/ and make your purchase online.