Griffith Regional Art Gallery is preparing to host its next exhibition, Ngurambang: Our Riverina.
The exhibition is on display from Saturday 1 July 2023 and aims to give new perspectives on our region's landscape. Featuring works from creative practitioners working across Eastern and Western Riverina, it will demonstrate some of the region's diversity of artistic talent.
The Exhibition has been curated by Jason Richardson, who has worked with a dozen emerging and experienced artists from the region to share knowledge and build a vision for the exhibition. The artists are Sophie Chauncy, Melanie Evans, Christopher Haworth, Pete Ingram, Hape Kiddle, Marita Macklin, Janine Murphy, Chris Orchard, Greg Pritchard, Jo Roberts and Kerri Weymouth.
Supported by Western Riverina Arts, the group of artists held a workshop in Griffith in late 2022, where they compared perspectives and inspirations. Mr Richardson said "This diverse cohort of artists produces artworks in differing styles and media to reflect their experiences, so the first step involved establishing common ground."
"One of the greatest benefits in experiencing art is looking through another's eyes and this exhibition asked the artists to share their observations about an environment we all share. The result offers insights into the diversity of creative practice across the Riverina while reflecting on individual interests in the landscape," Mr Richardson said.
"I feel it is important to help connect people with the environment for the demonstrated benefits to mental health and to educate about the distinct beauty of our region."
The exhibition features work in a variety of media including text, textiles, sound, painting, photography, found and manipulated objects.
The exhibition includes works from Leeton-based artist Jo Roberts, who brings a new perspective to local history with her use of a Dadaist technique that cuts and reassembles text. Christopher Haworth from Tallimba, has contributed en plein air paintings that soak up the dust as he records remnant bushland. Dr Greg Pritchard, a prominent advocate for the arts in the region, shares a project to record the length of the Murrumbidgee River, and Marita Macklin's embroidery skills will also be display.
The exhibition title was adjusted to reflect the traditional custodians of the land and waters. Mr Richardson explained, "Pete Ingram's welded art practice is informed by Wiradjuri culture and it was his suggestion for Ngurambang to be part of the title, and we all agreed on the beauty of Wiradjuri Country and reflected on the impact of management by First nations people over millennia. The word "Ngura" means campfire and the addition of "bang" in Ngurambang intensifies that meaning to convey the notion of Country."
Griffith Regional Art Gallery Coordinator, Ray Wholohan said the Gallery engaged local artist and curator Jason Richardson to assemble a group of diverse artists from across the Riverina for an exhibition of contemporary Australian art produced in our region.
"Viewers will find familiar scenes, while they'll also be challenged to recognise others," Mr Wholohan said.
"It's that idea of exploring the relationship to their landscape that's been driving me to seek collaborations with these artists. In sharing their Riverina-based practices they are bringing light from their studios that reveals new details in the landscape. We are all part of this Country and our livelihoods depend on recognising our role to preserve it for future generations."
Ngurambang: Our Riverina will be on display at the Griffith Regional Art Gallery from Saturday 1 July 2023 until Sunday 20 August 2023.
This exhibition is supported by Griffith Regional Art Gallery, Red Earth Ecology, Western Riverina Arts and Create NSW through funding from the NSW Government.
Griffith Regional Art Gallery is proudly sponsored by Dee Vine Estate.
Artists Pictured - Christopher Haworth, Kerri Weymouth, Jo Roberts, Jason Richardson, Greg Pritchard, Chris Orchard, Janine Murphy, Hape Kiddle, and Pete Ingram.
