Aboriginal Arts Workshop - Murru

Western Riverina Arts in partnership with the Griffith Regional Art Gallery are pleased to invite Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists (residing in the Western Riverina region of NSW) to participate in our annual Aboriginal arts project. This year’s project is titled Murru, and will focus on the mediums of printmaking and textiles.
 
Murrumbidgee Marramaraa and Warangesda: Deep Waters were developed in 2016 and 2017. The 2018 project Murru will once again present the work of our local Indigenous artists in an exhibition outcome at the Griffith Regional Art Gallery in November this year. 
 
Murru will begin with a special free workshop for Aboriginal artists, run by Master Printmaker Basil Hall. This workshop is for artists of any skill level, and participants will be guided through the process of turning their hand to printmaking. Hall is a renowned artist who oversaw the ‘Balnhdhurr’ Aboriginal Print Makers exhibition also launching at the gallery this year.
 
Regional Development Officer Derek Motion says the aim of this exhibition is to provide an opportunity to celebrate the creativity and cultural engagement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists in the region.
 
‘This project will present the work of our local Aboriginal artists in a major regional art gallery, showcasing it to the wider community, and it will build on the work done in the last two years, helping to build skills in new mediums,’ he said. ‘We also hope that as in previous years the project will encourage younger artists to get involved and to create new work. Basil is a highly qualified & passionate teacher with many years experience – it will be a great way to begin creating new works for the exhibition outcome at the end of the year.’

The printmaking workshop for Aboriginal artists will be held at Waddi Housing in Darlington Point, Sunday 22 April, 10am - 3pm. All materials are supplied.
 
Any Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists interested in participating should sign up by contacting either Derek Motion at Western Riverina Arts (rado@westrivarts.com.au or 0428882059) or Ray Wholahan at the Griffith Regional Art Gallery (Raymond.Wholohan@griffith.nsw.gov.au or 69 628338). Aboriginal artists who want to participate in the project but cannot attend the workshop should also get in touch as there will be more opportunities made available during 2018, in the lead up to the Murru exhibition at the end of the year.

Image: prints from Warangesda, 2017, photo by Miriam Rystedt.