City of Newcastle’s (CN) Community and Culture Advisory Committee chair Carol Duncan is encouraging everyone to celebrate First Nations’ creativity this weekend.
Council will serve up a feast of Indigenous traditions at Hamilton’s James Street Plaza on Saturday 26 August as part of the swansong for Newcastle Art Gallery’s (NAG) outdoor projection project.
The venture, which was launched in July during NAIDOC Week, included nightly screenings of DEAD TONGUE 2015, a major video work from NAG’s collection by internationally-renowned First Nations artist Dr Christian Thompson AO.
The moving piece, accompanied by a stirring soundtrack of the artist singing in Bidjara language, pays homage to the survival and reclamation of First Nations’ languages.
So, to acknowledge the final weekend of projection, the gallery is collaborating with local Wanjun Carpenter to host an evening of performance, food and music in James Street Plaza.
“City of Newcastle’s committed to providing opportunities for our community to recognise the extraordinary creative and cultural practices of First Nations people,” Cr Duncan said.
“The gallery’s projection project has provided a wonderful avenue through which we can gain new perspectives and celebrate the work of First Nations creatives.”
The event also features local and national artists including Nardi Simpson, Adam Manning, Lacey Bilger and Lena Parkes presented by Catapult Dance, alongside DJ Wanjun Carpenter.
Aboriginal-owned food truck, Blackseed Catering & Café, will be set up in the Plaza with delicious food and drinks made with native ingredients available for purchase, too.
Newcastle Art Gallery director Lauretta Morton OAM said the project was another way of connecting with the community.
“This has been presented as part of our ambitious offsite, outreach and digital programming, which is being delivered while the gallery undergoes its major expansion,” she explained.
“The new-look NAG will launch with an artistic program of ground-breaking temporary exhibitions alongside permanent displays of the collection.
“In the meantime, it is important to give our community as many avenues as possible to stay connected to us.
“So, we’re thrilled to have been able to share this important First Nations work from our collection with everyone during the past two months.”
The free closing celebration for DEAD TONGUE 2015 will kick off from 6pm.
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