Artists

Aboriginal artist Alison Williams is a descendant of the Gumbaynggirr tribe who lives in the Clarence Valley, NSW, Australia and is recognised as one of the leading contemporary Indigenous artists on the North Coast of NSW. Alison has been practising art since she was about 8 years old and professionally for approximately 20 years and produces a diverse range of fine arts from fibre crafts and sculpture to drawings and paintings.

“I am a strong advocate for cultural awareness and strive, as a Gumbaynggirr descendant and artist, to share the wisdom and knowledge of my culture. I believe that understanding is the key to acceptance and therefore unity.”

Aunty Robyn Duroux is a founding member of Yarrawarra and a Gumbaynggirr elder and artist who re-creates’ traditional stories and cultural values through painting and workshops.

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Burnt Bridge Mission Exhibition

I am a woman of Bundjalung, Gumabyngiirr, Dhungutti and Papuan New Guinea descent. I live in the northern rivers region of New South Wales, close to the country of ancestors on my mother's side. We are the Djanbun (Platypus) clan of the Washpool Forest and Washpool River area. I am a Mother of three, balancing time between maintaining a happy, healthy home and doing my painting.

 My artwork is a reflection of my heritage, the country in which I live, my family experiences, beliefs and interests. I like to work with gouache paints on archival paper, but during the last few years I have been experimenting with oils and acrylic on canvas.

 My connection to my Father's Papuan family and culture is very important to me and often my childhood memories and stories come alive in the vibrant colours of my artwork. My father was an Agriculturist/Horticulturist born in Milne Bay, the people on his father's side are the Mekeo people from Port Moresby area.

My Mother is an Archaeologist, involved and working in cultural heritage in State Forests in New South Wales. One of my favourite past times is hearing her stories of the places she has to travel to and the people she hast met. Through my Mother's lineage my Goorie (Aboriginal) heritage is one of strong and proud Goorie women belonging to a matrilineal society where your connection to country was passed on from your mother.

Albert (Digby) Moran was born in Ballina and raised on Cabbage Tree Island.  His father was Dunghutti and his mother Bundjalung.  He is a highly respected member of the Lismore Ballina community.

Sixty year old Moran started painting late in his career.  He worked in agriculture and even as a boxer before he turned his hand to painting. In 1991 he undertook an art course through TAFE which launched his career as an artist. Painting provided a vehicle to express his emotions and stories which he poured on to canvas telling the history of his aboriginal community, life on a mission as a child and stories told to him by his mother and elders.

As a story teller, Digby uses the methods of his ancestors passed on to him by his grandfather, his inspiration to paint, to express his Bundjalung heritage. He uses dot painting combined with other painting styles to depict recollections of his childhood on the island, folllowing the seasonal harvest trail and touring with travelling boxing troupes.

His work has always been closely connected to his people and their past. Moran’s motives often refer to water, the most vital element in Bundjalung dreamings. Digby blends these ‘ancient’ aspects of his culture, the stories and the dot techniques with contemporary styles, stories and palettes.  Although he doesnt consider himself an elder, Digby enjoys enormous respect throughout the Northern Rivers region, from artists as well as the wider community. His varied life has taken him from a mission on Cabbage Tree Island all the way to exhibiting his paintings internationally.

‘I am a proud Yaegl woman, mother and artist'.

Biirrinba is the Yaygirr name for the mighty Clarence River. It is this river that is the life giving vein for the Yaegl people. And it is this river which inspires much of my artwork.

I am deeply inspired by my Mother’s land (Yaegl land) and the Island in the Clarence River that my Mother grew up on, Ulgundahi Island.

The stories which are contained within this landscape, have shaped me as a person, as an artist and most recently as a mother. This is my history, my story and it will Always… be my responsibility to share this knowledge with my family and my children.

Frances came to prominence winning the Blake Prize in 2000 making her the youngest ever winner and the first Indigenous recipient in the prize’s history.

From 2005 – 2011 Frances was a finalist in the NSW Indigenous Parliament Art Award. Frances was also a finalist in the prestigious 2006 Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award.

Frances has completed a BFA through UNSW, BVA (Honours) through Southern Cross University and a Masters of Indigenous Studies (Wellbeing) through Southern Cross University.

Frances is deeply inspired by her Mother’s land (Yaegl land) and the Island in the Clarence River that her Mother grew up on, Ulgundahi Island. This Island inspires much of Frances’ artwork. 

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Garth Lena, a Minjungbul sculptor, was born in 1967 in Murwillumbah, northern New South Wales and spent his childhood growing up in Fingal Head with his many siblings and cousins. Lena began creating work in 2000 and in 2001 he completed a course of Aboriginal Arts and Cultural Practice at Kingscliff TAFE. He continued his studies with a Certificate IV in Fine Art in 2002 and with a Certificate III in Ceramics in 2003 both at Murwillumbah TAFE.

Lena’s sculptural pieces incorporate local Dreaming Stories of the Minjungbul and Bundjalung Indigenous people of Northern NSW and are created from wood, clay, steel and local bark. Although Lena has only been practicing as an artist since 2000 his work has already been recognised at a State level. His work is in the permanent collections of the NSW Premiers Department, Tweed River Art Gallery, the Tweed Shire Council and the NSW Parliament House Art Collection. His work is also held in many private collections including that of Doug and Margot Anthony.

In 2004 Lena was awarded First Prize in the open category of the National Parks and Wildlife Service’s Aboriginal Art Award “Celebrating Wisdom” with his work Spirit Man. Lena also won first prize in the 3D category of the 2005 and 2006 National Parks and Wildlife Service’s Aboriginal Art Award exhibitions, “Living Culture” and “Our Spirit, Our Country” with his respective works withMan Goes and Boogaban (eagle hawk). In 2006 Lena also won the Aquisition Award at the Casuarina Sculptural Walk in Casuarina, NSW with his work Two Brothers, as well as the prestigious NSW Parliament House Indigenous Art Prize for his sculpture, Black Dog and Spirit Man.

Lena has exhibited his work both locally, in group shows including “Corroborate” in 2004 and “Three Brothers” in 2005 at the Tweed River Art Gallery and nationally, when in 2005 he was selected for inclusion in the Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory in Darwin. Lena stated in an interview with the author that his inspiration comes from “the great history of Black People” and his love of the past that he says “is strong so that we can have a good future”.

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