New July exhibitions at NRCG

FOUR new exhibitions have opened at the Northern Rivers Community Gallery, including a powerful First Nations group show to mark NAIDOC Week.

The four emerging Ballina-based Nyangbal artists, Daniel Roberts, Loren Del Signore, Savannah Hickling and Levi Roberts, also celebrate the 2025 theme: The Next Generation – Strength, Vision and Legacy.

Wagtail at the Picture Palace by Robin Saunders is a whimsical take on a childhood cinema and a Willy Wagtail’s visit.

The relief printmaking on Japanese Kozo paper was inspired by a serendipitous visit from a noisy bird during a visit by the artist to an Art Deco theatre.

In the series, Saunders imagines a nostalgic wagtail flight through childhood memories of colourful Art Deco architecture, geometric patterns, bird motifs, golden statues, and Choc Tops. Reflecting on a childhood shaped by absence, River Mueller’s work is a series of interpretations of a letter received from their father two decades before.

Mueller’s father disappeared when the artist was nine, and despite efforts to find or contact him, he was never seen again.

My life has changed a lot since I spoke to you last considers the day Mueller’s mother handed them a letter from their absent father, and the contents therein.

In I will not regret hope Belinda Smith showcases a body of figurative works that explore personal and collective emotions, resilience and hope through ceramic sculpture.

The central motif of a female bust is reproduced and reimagined at various scales, utilising both traditional and digital techniques.

Smith’s work captures fleeting moments, such as joy and fear, through intricate textures and forms.

The works are both a personal mantra and an artistic meditation on navigating uncertainty and embracing beauty in everyday life.

All exhibitions run until Sunday, August 17.

For information, visit nrcgballina.com.au