Art gallery to host Aboriginal collective

A MAJOR exhibition at the Lismore Regional Gallery will highlight indigenous issues through works by an influential aboriginal artist collective.

Established in 2003, proppaNOW is one of Australia’s leading cultural collectives, which explores the politics of Aboriginal art and culture.

It’s artists include Vernon Ah Kee, Tony Albert, Richard Bell, Megan Cope, Jennifer Herd, Gordon Hookey and Laurie Nilsen.

The group is touring nationally for the final time with new and recent works part of its OCCURRENT AFFAIR exhibition.

It aims to address socio-political, economic and environmental issues, while celebrating the strength, resilience and continuity of Aboriginal culture.

The play on words aims to probe and present a new narrative on how indigenous affairs are reported in the news cycle.

“OCCURRENT AFFAIR is engaging and thought-provoking, providing a platform for important conversations around socio-political and cultural issues.” Lismore Regional Gallery director Ashleigh Ralph said.

“Our public programs offer the community meaningful engagement with these themes.

“Bringing this exhibition to Lismore reinforces the legacy of Lismore Regional Gallery as the cornerstone of cultural life in the Northern Rivers and a gallery that attracts national and international audiences.”

There will be a soft opening of the exhibition on Sunday, March 2 between noon and 1pm.’

It will be followed by a Gathering Space session with Kylie Caldwell for Aboriginal artists and community members Artist Penny Evans will run a workshop on the exhibition on April 5 with Rhoda Roberts hosting a session with the proppaNow group on April 26.