Children from the Tamworth area are the artists behind a new exhibition at Ray Walsh House, after a months-long project exploring indigenous art, language and perspectives.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Walaaybaa (Home) has sculptures, paintings, paper art and even a documentary, all made by primary school students.
The wide-reaching collaboration had the students go on virtual excursions, learn some Gamilaraay, interview Indigenous residents and do workshops with internationally exhibiting Aboriginal artists.
Timbumburi student Beau Elliott, year 5, said his work was "inspired by Badger Bates", a Paakantji artist from Wilcannia.
"He created lines of movement [in his art] and that's what I learnt: that Aboriginal people ... do many types of art, not just dot painting," Beau said.
Chelsea Smith, year 4, said she'd learnt there were "only a couple of languages left", due to colonisation and indigenous oral traditions.
Read also:
Walaaybaa in Tamworth was a combined effort of schools, artists - Badger Bates, Reko Rennie, Lorraine Connelly-Northey, Jonathan Jones and the Euraba Paper Artists, the education department arts unit, the regional gallery and Art Gallery of NSW.
It sprang from a 2015 project between the department, AGNSW, the Wiradjuri community and Wagga Wagga Art Gallery to develop a pilot program that could go across regional schools.
The program starts with professional learning for teachers, whom AGNSW's Amanda Peacock said were, in general, "really interested in working with Aboriginal art but often aren't sure how to do it in an interesting and respectful way".
Among other activities, the Tamworth area students enjoyed a web "visit" to AGNSW, hands-on lessons and workshops: "a really immersive and connected experience", Tamworth Regional Gallery education officer Kate Armstrong said.
The department's Peel network educational leadership director, Ruythe Dufty, said the artworks were "stunning" and an example of "linking art and the great cultural knowledge" in the area.
The student artists are from Duri, Oxley Vale, Tamworth, Tamworth South, Timbumburi and Westdale public schools.
Walaaybaa will run at Ray Walsh House until November 29.