There’s been a resurgence of traditional practices within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, and a new exhibition opening at The Lock-Up has given students from around the Hunter a chance to get involved.
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Billed as “an exhibition of strength, diversity and potency of living culture”, Transmission has a number of different styles of art and sculpture on display.
These include possum skin works, printmaking, graphic design, kelp sculptures, installations and video works, as well as the tradition burning of Akubra hats.
As part of the Transmission exhibition, students from around the Hunter Valley will put nine sculptural works on display.
Cherie Johnson, the collection’s curator, revealed that the 160 students that took part in creating the sculptures for the exhibition were eager to see their art on display.
“We’ve got more than 160 students wanting to come,” Johnson said. “This is their first ever art exhibition they’ve been apart of, so we’ve had students from year 7 through to year 12 expressing interest in coming along and seeing their art.”
“Just the Resurgence project alone [the nine sculptures], means that we can host an opening just for those kids that are excited to see their art.”
The student’s opening, separate from the main event, is a chance for the young artists to share the works that they designed in the classrooms, and see their finished projects.
Johnson also praised the link between classroom art and the sculptures that represent a look into traditional cultures.
“There’s an educational kit that supports this project, it’s linked to the early-learning framework, and teachers are able to embed this in the classroom,” she said. “It has more resources for them, and more support.”
The schools involved in the exhbition include Cessnock, Glendale, Kotara, Lake Munmorah, Singleton, Newcastle, Warners Bay and West Wallsend.
Opening night for the children’s Lock-Up event will be Friday, October 27. The main opening of the exhibition will be Saturday, October 21.