Redland Art Gallery, Cleveland will add a cultural flavour to the Cleveland Queen’s Baton Relay festivities on Easter Saturday with the opening of two new exhibitions by celebrated Indigenous artists.
Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said that the exhibition of local Quandamooka artist Delvene Cockatoo-Collins tied in beautifully with the community celebrations planned for the day.
“Here is the Redlands, we’re very proud of Ms Cockatoo-Collins, who has recently added being the designer of the artwork for the Gold Coast 2018 XXI Commonwealth Games medals to her long list of achievements,” Cr Williams said.
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The exhibition, entitled The Search for Warrajamba, is the culmination of her Doctor of Philosophy research in Indigenous Perspectives (Creative Arts) at the Batchelor Institute.
Through installations, prints and ceramics, the artist explores identity and mediums as part of an inquiry into a generational oral story of a mermaid named Warrajamba – a cultural figure first introduced to her through the words of her grandmother.
A second exhibition, Salt Marsh Whispers, will feature the photographic works of Jo-Anne Driessens, bringing together past and present stories from the local area to celebrate the ongoing spirit of place.
Redland Art Gallery Director Emma Bain said that Ms Driessens long association with Quandamooka included extensive photographic work across the land and waters, enabling her to develop strong relationship with people and places.
“Ms Driessens’ works include photographic portraits of Minjerribah Aboriginal Elders for the Cleveland Library Community Room (2013), artist portraits for Island Made exhibition (2016) and documenting recent Quandamooka festival celebrations. At almost any significant community event, Jo-Anne is there, clicking away with her camera,” Ms Bain said.
Further afield, she has worked closely with communities of South East Queensland for more than 20 years – documenting Elders, role models, youth, family, places and celebratory and cultural events.
To coincide with the Gold Coast 2018 XXI Commonwealth Games celebrations, both exhibitions will be open for extended opening hours over the Easter long weekend: 9am – 2pm Saturday 31 March and Sunday 1 April.
Salt Marsh Whispers and The Search for Warrajamba exhibition details:
Showing: Saturday 31 March to Sunday 27 May 2018
Joint Opening Event for both exhibitions:
Friday 6 April from 6.30pm
Redland Art Gallery, Cleveland
Panel Talk and Morning Tea
Sunday 27 May, 10am
Redland Art Gallery, Cleveland
Join us for morning tea and hear from Freja Carmichael, Delvene Cockatoo Collins and Jo-Anne Driessens.
