Media Release
|
25 May 2018
Ngara – Ngurangwa Byallara
(Listen, Hear, Think – The Place Speaks)
New artworks by leading Australian contemporary artists will
be unveiled at the Blacktown Native Institution site at Ngara
– Ngurangwa Byallara (Listen, Hear, Think – The Place
Speaks) on Saturday, 9 June 2018.
Blacktown Arts and the Museum of Contemporary Art commissioned new works and installations by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists Tony Albert, Sharyn Egan and Moogahlin Performing Arts.
As part of their work, the artists address issues associated
with the history of the site, as the former home of the
Blacktown Native Institution. This is one of the earliest
known examples of the institutional removal of Aboriginal children from their families.
A key element of Ngara – Ngurangwa Byallara is the
collaboration between artists and local Aboriginal
communities to develop work which brings the spirit and
culture of the site to life, and honours the site as a living
memorial to Australia’s Stolen Generations.
“I am proud that Blacktown is home to one of the largest
urban Aboriginal populations in Australia,” Blacktown City
Mayor Stephen Bali MP said.
“The Blacktown Native Institution is a significant part of
Blacktown’s identity – and the identity of this nation.
“While acknowledging past wrongs, through this project we
also aim to celebrate the Darug peoples’ continuing cultural
practices and connection to this place.
“Blacktown Arts has a long history of working with Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander artists, and our communities
deserve to work with artists of international stature such as
Tony Albert, Sharyn Egan and Moogahlin Performing Arts.
“We hope that this collaboration will shine a light on the
important history of the Blacktown Native Institution site and
the arts and cultural practices of Blacktown’s Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander people.”
Ngara – Ngurangwa Byallara (Listen, Hear, Think – The
Place Speaks) is part of the Blacktown Native Institution
Project, a collaboration between Blacktown Arts (an initiative
of Blacktown City Council) and the Museum of Contemporary
Art Australia (through their C3West Program). The project is
supported by Landcom, Gadigal Information Service and
Koori Radio.
The artist and their works
Ngara – Ngurangwa Byallara Queensland artist Tony
Albert has assisted 10 local children and their families
create Gubangala Gumadangyiningi (Lets honour his/her
spirit) - a reimagining and honouring of the children who
originally lived at the Institution.
A collection of objects created by Albert and his young
collaborators will be utilised in a ceremony to reach across
time to heal and share positive memories.
Sharyn Egan’s work is inspired by her personal experience
of loss and displacement. “I’m a Nyoongar woman from
Perth, Western Australia,” said Ms Egan.
“Being involved in the Blacktown Native Institution Project is
quite special for me as I’m from the Stolen Generation as
well. I’m working on flowers, as flowers are used for all
occasions, sad, happy, joyous – it seems to cover all the
emotions that are involved in this project.”
Sharyn’s work centres on sharing the practice of weaving
with communities during the exchange of stories and
experiences. She has worked with the Baabayn Aboriginal
Corporation and local weavers to create a sculptural
installation of 7 large-scale flannel flowers made of colourful
marine rope. Native to the local area, this delicate flower will
be transformed into a memorial to the Institution’s residents,
as a semi-permanent installation at the Blacktown Native
Institution site.
Sydney’s Moogahlin Performing Arts bring their expertise
as storytellers and deep knowledge and experience of local
community to Ngara – Ngurangwa Byallara with manuwi
jam ya murong (footprints in the sand). This celebratory work
honours local people who have grown up in Blacktown, with
the creation of a large scale installation of the Darug totem –
the long necked turtle, in collaboration with local community
elders, children and families.
On Saturday, June 9 2018, the totem will come to life as the
grounds for an evening of dance performance.
The details
Where: Blacktown Native Institution site, corner Richmond
Road and Rooty Hill Road North, Oakhurst. On-site parking
is available, entry from Richmond Rd.
When: 4 pm – 8 pm on Saturday, 9 June 2018
Cost: Free
Parking: On-site parking is available, with entry from
Richmond Rd
Blacktown Arts
Blacktown Arts is a recognised leader in the development of
contemporary arts in Australia, presenting an award-winning
curated program of exhibitions, performances, workshops,
residencies and events. The organisation is committed to
exploring dynamic, culturally diverse work that reflects
Blacktown, its history and its communities. Blacktown Arts
places Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and
communities at the heart of its program to develop new work
drawing on issues of local and global significance. The Leo
Kelly Blacktown Arts is an initiative of Blacktown City Council
and is supported by the NSW Government through Create
NSW.
Museum of Contemporary Art Australia
The Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) is Australia’s
leading museum dedicated to exhibiting, collecting and
interpreting the work of today’s living artists. Located on one
of the world’s most spectacular sites on the edge of Sydney
Harbour, the MCA presents a diverse program
of exhibitions and special events onsite, and also curates
touring exhibitions and community-led projects. One of the
Museum of Contemporary Art’s key programs, C3West, is
predicated on the belief that artists can bring unique value
to situations beyond the gallery context. Through careful
brokerage processes, C3West creates contexts in which
artists work strategically with arts partners, businesses and
non-arts government organisations across Greater Sydney,
aligning corporate social investment strategies with
community development. C3West has been assisted by the
Australian Government through the Australia Council for the
Arts, its arts funding and advisory body. C3West is supported
by the Crown Resorts Foundation, Packer Family
Foundation and Space.
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