Exhibition captures the six Wadawurrung seasons

EXPERIENCE Wadawurrung Dja (Country) through the art of proud Wadawurrung woman, emerging elder, cultural educator, and award-winning visual artist Dr Deanne Gilson.

The National Wool Museum invites you to celebrate new life through Gilson’s exhibition Wadawurrung Dja: Awakening Country – on display until November 13.

The exhibition features 20 original paintings and textile works that reflect Dr Gilson’s love for Dja (Country), her connection to place, and her family’s knowledge and connection to cultural heritage.

Gilson captures the changes throughout the six Wadawurrung seasons by painting her Dja (Country), people, plants and animals. Wadawurrung Dja: Awakening Country is a celebration of new life as each season brings about subtle changes of birds nesting in the cool season, flowers blooming with life and the deep cultural knowledge embedded within the trees.

National Wool Museum Director Padraic Fisher said the exhibition forms part of City’s commitment to build strong relationships and partnerships with Wadawurrung Traditional Owners and the wider Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in Greater Geelong.

“The museum commissioned Dr Gilson to create six original paintings and 10 contemporary ceremonial cloaks exclusively for this exhibition,” Mr Fisher said.

Dr Gilson represents the colours of Wadawurrung country in her art practice, particularly white ochre she collects while walking on Country.

“The colours of Country are highly personal and reclaim my culture that was missing from my early life. Each colour links to the act of ceremony, in particular the use of white ochre,” Dr Gilson said.

“Using elements of Country within my art practice is really positive because you’re walking on country, you’re gathering, you’re sourcing your materials and you’re connecting to them as you’re sourcing them. It’s a deeper level of art for me because I’m on my traditional country – my ancestral lands.”

The 10 ceremonial cloaks in the exhibition represent the spirits of ancestral matriarchs and the importance of ceremony to Wadawurrung Traditional Owners.

City of Greater Geelong creative communities and culture portfolio chair Cr Trent Sullivan said the city was committed to telling the stories of Greater Geelong, including our region’s 60,000-year history.

“I want to thank Dr Gilson for creating 16 works specifically for this exhibition. It’s a very meaningful exhibition and we’re proud that people will have the opportunity to engage with the works and learn more about Wadawurrung culture,” Cr Sullivan said.

Wadawurrung Dja: Awakening Country – The Art of Deanne Gilson is now on show at the National Wool Museum, 26 Moorabool Street, Geelong.

Admission: $10 adults, $8 concession, $6 child, $30 family (two adults and up to four children).