Celebrate Indigenous women’s art at NAIDOC Week exhibition

Yorta Yorta elder Denise Morgan-Bulled said this year’s exhibition held special significance, featuring works from multiple generations of Indigenous women artists.

“This year’s NAIDOC theme, The Next Generation, is for the youth and passing on knowledge, which is something I’ve always wanted to do,” she said.

“I’m very pleased how the young people have taken it up, and a lot of their work is in with this display, along with my own bits and pieces, and Grace’s, the woman who taught me and her bits and pieces and their stories.”

Denise learned traditional weaving from Grace Sailor, continuing a lineage of knowledge passed down through generations.

“Her family knows that I acknowledge her as my teacher, and her teacher was Aunty Connie Hart,” she said.

Denise acknowledged that you can find Aunty Connie’s story online through the First Peoples - State Relations website.

“Aunty Connie Hart, she is the one who made sure, she made a big effort to make sure it carried on,” Denise said.

“Even though she wasn’t allowed to do it (basket weaving), she did it, even though it was forbidden at the time.

“Her story is that she used to sneak in and watch them weave, and then when she was older, she knew that some pieces were in the gallery, in the museum, so she went in and looked at them, and she started doing it again.

“I want to acknowledge those who did do that, like Aunty Connie who is from down Warrnambool way, the ones from the Narungga, the Coorong ladies, the ones from Gippsland, like Aunty Thelma Carter, there is a lot of them and they just continue to weave.

“They have started to weave with the children, grandchildren, they kept the skill alive.”

The exhibition showcases diverse weaving techniques from various Indigenous communities along the river system.

“We don’t all have the same stitch, we don’t all have the same weave, we don’t all use the same plants,” Denise said.

“Some of the weaving in the exhibition, they actually recycle old clothes, material and wool.”

While traditional materials like sedge grasses are harder to source due to environmental changes, artists have adapted their practices.

Many now use raffia, a material from Madagascar palm trees, while maintaining traditional techniques.

The exhibition will feature a remarkable piece of heritage — a basket over 140 years old from country, which Denise carefully preserves.

“That is very special and it rarely moves out of protection, but it will be there on opening night and opening night only,” she said.

Indigenous weaving has gained international recognition, with pieces from Yorta Yorta country found in museums worldwide.

“I know some of mine are in Japan, and some have gone to Scandinavia,” Denise said.

“I know there are baskets from along this river system in Germany, in the museum from the 1800s.

“There is a lot of stuff all over the place and I am really interested in finding out where it is.”

The exhibition opening will feature art, dance, song, storytelling and food, celebrating the past, present and future of Indigenous women’s artistic traditions.

Our Women, Our Strength, runs at The Foundry Arts Space, 13-17 Murray Esplanade, Echuca from July 4 to August 3.

Everyone is welcome to opening night on Friday, July 4 at 6pm.

This year’s National NAIDOC Week, from July 6 to 13, marks 50 years of the week-long celebrations.

The theme, The Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy, celebrates achievements of the past and the bright future ahead.