The Aboriginal Cultural Centre and Keeping Place will open two new exhibitions on Thursday, July 26, 2012 at 6.00pm. The local and surrounding communities are invited to attend the official opening at the Centre. The exhibitions will be on display until September 23, 2012.
One of the exhibitions is artworks by a group of Aboriginal women of Kamilaroi descent. The exhibition aptly titled “Kamilaroi Girls at Work” will include paintings by Megan Naden, Nioka O’Leary, Sharon Reid, Kaye Slater, Pearl Slater, Loretta Weatherall, Danielle Thomas and a painted table by well known Kamilaroi artist, Georgina Altona, who has passed away.
The seven women are mothers who have known each other for many years. They originate from different parts of New South Wales, but now live in Tamworth. “Art brings us together and we make it a point to meet every Tuesday to paint,” said Pearl Slater.
The second exhibition is entitled “Stone axes” from the Tingha Green Valley Collection. In 2011 the NSW Aboriginal Land Council signed an agreement with the ACCKP to place the Tingha Green Valley Collection valued at over $80,000 at the Centre for two years. This collection has a total of 737 artefacts originating from New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory.
ACCKP has appointed an archaeologist, Dr Ray Fife, to put together a series of exhibitions from the collection. Along with stone axes, Dr Fife will include a very old and fragile tree trunk which shows how the wood has been cut with a stone axe. Another interesting item which will be on display is an ochre stained ceremonial axe. This is an object of ritual significance and, for that reason, some people may not wish to view it. Dr Fife will display the axe with cultural sensitivity. Photographs and cultural information will be included in the exhibition for educational purposes. The local schools are invited to take advantage of this exhibition.
The Armidale community is invited to view the exhibitions or come for a meal at the Centre’s Echidna Café which has extended its morning tea menu to include German fruit flan, wattleseed shortbread, lemon myrtle cheesecake and chocolate brownies, along with its regulars such as wild lime muffins, aniseed biscuits and freshly baked scones with native jam. The Aboriginal Cultural Centre and Keeping Place is open Mon-Fri, 9am-4pm and on Saturday, 10am to 2pm.
