NG Art Gallery is hosting ‘a women’s’ only exhibition to coincide loosely with International Women’s Day on Saturday 8 March. A number of established indigenous artists will show their work in ‘Utopia Revisited’ to be opened by Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO Governor of New South Wales, with guest speaker Jennifer Isaacs AM on Tuesday 12 February. This exhibition is in support of the Aboriginal Benefits Foundation. Galleries involved in this exhibition include Coo-ee Aboriginal Art Gallery, Lauraine Diggins Fine Art, Dacou Gallery and Gallerie Australis. Artists exhibiting include: Minnie Pwerle, Gloria Petyarre, Emily Kngwarreye, Angelina Ngal, Kathleen Ngal, Poly Ngal, Abie Loy Kemarre, Violet Petyarre, Kathleen Petyarre.
NG Art Gallery is proud to donate all proceeds raised from the sale of the artwork to the ABF.
‘Utopia Revisited’ explores “the intimate knowledge of country, personal history and ancestral journey that seem to merge in to a singular artistic statement. Sensory mind maps that reveal the artist’s place, their sense of self, and their worldview. As the desert landscape of Utopia changes with the seasons, the features and colours of the region are reflected in these women’s art… painting has become a modern language that crosses all boundaries – cultural, geographical, social and religious…” Adrian Newstead, November 2007
The Aboriginal Benefits Foundation are wishing to raise $1,000.000 towards building a healing centre for the Yirrkala community in East Arnhem Land to expand the care needed for the Yolngu families in distress. This will be the first in the series of many fundraising activities for this project. A number of art auctions and events are planed in several states over the next twelve months with the goal of a health war chest of $1,000.000.
Furthermore, the collaborative nature of NG Art Gallery and Mission Restaurant Bar allows them to host a number of fundraising dinners to raise greater awareness for this project.
Important speakers such as Adrian Newstead, head of the Aboriginal Art Department and Managing Director of Lawson-Menzies and Djon Mundine (AOM) indigenous curator of contemporary art at the Campbelltown Regional Arts Centre have been invited to speak at these events.
‘Utopia Revisited’ concludes on Saturday 8 March 2008.
For further information, please email ng@ngart.com.au
