AN exhibition of artwork, mixed media, and cultural performance called ‘The Voice’ will open at The Bowraville Pioneer Community Centre on Sunday July 2, at 2 pm.

The exhibition features artwork from Uncle Martin Ballangarry OAM, work from his sons, as well as work from artists Claude Tessier and Margrit Rickenbach.

Advertise with News of The Area today.
It’s worth it for your business.
Message us.
Phone us – (02) 4981 8882.
Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au

According to Uncle Martin, “the works talk to the old and the new, including the arrival of laws old and new.

“Art and culture has always been on display in this country and continues to be on display since the arrival of Captain Cook,” said Uncle Martin.

“We’ve had land removed, and creatures removed, and tribal law removed.

“They may be gone in essence, but they are still here in a shared environment,” he said.

Margrit Rickenbach’s husband was Claude Tessier.

“Claude was very close to Aboriginal people,” said Margrit.

“That’s why he wanted to stay in Bowravillle. He had a connection to First Nations because of his American Indigenous ancestry.”

The relationship Claude had with local Gumbayniggirr people was an important source of inspiration.

Not only did he do a lot of painting of the land, but he also did many paintings of his Gumbayniggirr friends.

He only painted friends and he painted what was showcased to him.

Claude Tessier worked with Uncle Martin’s cultural group Jumbaal Dreaming and did portraits in his own style as a celebration of both cultures.

Together as a cultural group they did artworks for Back to Bowra, and Bellingen Global Festival among others.

Margrit’s art was inspired by Claude’s mask making and artworks. They met in this way.

When Margrit came to Bowraville it was always about the art of Indigenous people.

Both she and Claude came from European art backgrounds, and they melted together in Bowraville with Indigenous artists.

For Margrit, “the Voice and the Yes campaign is a step in the process of life in Australia.

“It is today’s option.”

She comes from a culture where democracy is a step-by-step process of slowly, organically moving together.

If people attend the exhibition, they can watch the movie Jumbaal Dreaming, which was produced by artists Nick Warfield and Bernard Kelly Edwards.

This movie is made possible by this relationship between black and white working together to showcase artforms both old and new.

The artists want you to have a yarn about the art and the prospects of the Voice and Recognition.

“The door is open, and we are here,” says Uncle Martin.

“Come in, have a cuppa, let’s yarn, simple communication.”

The Exhibition of The Voice is open daily from 10am to 2pm through the July school holidays, from July 2 through to July 16.