Arts project to honour and acknowledge symbolic Aboriginal site in Bla

Published on 24 May 2018

New artworks by leading Australian contemporary artists will be unveiled at the Blacktown Native Institution site at Ngara – Ngurangwa Byallara (Listen, Hear, Think – The Place Speaks) on Saturday, 9 June 2018.

Blacktown Arts and the Museum of Contemporary Art commissioned new works and installations by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists Tony Albert, Sharyn Egan and Moogahlin Performing Arts.

As part of their work, the artists address issues associated with the history of the site, as the former home of the Blacktown Native Institution. This is one of the earliest known examples of the institutional removal of Aboriginal children from their families.

A key element of Ngara – Ngurangwa Byallara is the collaboration between artists and local Aboriginal communities to develop work which brings the spirit and culture of the site to life, and honours the site as a living memorial to Australia’s Stolen Generations.

“I am proud that Blacktown is home to one of the largest urban Aboriginal populations in Australia,” Blacktown City Mayor Stephen Bali MP said.

“The Blacktown Native Institution is a significant part of Blacktown’s identity – and the identity of this nation.

“While acknowledging past wrongs, through this project we also aim to celebrate the Darug peoples’ continuing cultural practices and connection to this place.

“Blacktown Arts has a long history of working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, and our communities deserve to work with artists of international stature such as Tony Albert, Sharyn Egan and Moogahlin Performing Arts.

“We hope that this collaboration will shine a light on the important history of the Blacktown Native Institution site and the arts and cultural practices of Blacktown’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.”

Ngara – Ngurangwa Byallara (Listen, Hear, Think – The Place Speaks) is part of the Blacktown Native Institution Project, a collaboration between Blacktown Arts (an initiative of Blacktown City Council) and the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (through their C3West Program). The project is supported by Landcom, Gadigal Information Service and Koori Radio.

The artist and their works

Ngara – Ngurangwa Byallara Queensland artist Tony Albert has assisted 10 local children and their families create Gubangala Gumadangyiningi (Lets honour his/her spirit) - a reimagining and honouring of the children who originally lived at the Institution.

A collection of objects created by Albert and his young collaborators will be utilised in a ceremony to reach across time to heal and share positive memories.

Sharyn Egan’s work is inspired by her personal experience of loss and displacement. “I’m a Nyoongar woman from Perth, Western Australia,” said Ms Egan.

“Being involved in the Blacktown Native Institution Project is quite special for me as I’m from the Stolen Generation as well. I’m working on flowers, as flowers are used for all occasions, sad, happy, joyous – it seems to cover all the emotions that are involved in this project.”

Sharyn’s work centres on sharing the practice of weaving with communities during the exchange of stories and experiences. She has worked with the Baabayn Aboriginal Corporation and local weavers to create a sculptural installation of 7 large-scale flannel flowers made of colourful marine rope. Native to the local area, this delicate flower will be transformed into a memorial to the Institution’s residents, as a semi-permanent installation at the Blacktown Native Institution site.

Sydney’s Moogahlin Performing Arts bring their expertise as storytellers and deep knowledge and experience of local community to Ngara – Ngurangwa Byallara with manuwi jam ya murong (footprints in the sand). This celebratory work honours local people who have grown up in Blacktown, with the creation of a large scale installation of the Darug totem – the long necked turtle, in collaboration with local community elders, children and families.

On Saturday, June 9 2018, the totem will come to life as the grounds for an evening of dance performance.

The details

Where:  Blacktown Native Institution site, corner Richmond Road and Rooty Hill Road North, Oakhurst. On-site parking is available, entry from Richmond Rd. When: 4 pm – 8 pm on Saturday, 9 June 2018 Cost: Free Parking: On-site parking is available, with entry from Richmond Rd

Blacktown Arts

Blacktown Arts is a recognised leader in the development of contemporary arts in Australia, presenting an award-winning curated program of exhibitions, performances, workshops, residencies and events. The organisation is committed to exploring dynamic, culturally diverse work that reflects Blacktown, its history and its communities. Blacktown Arts places Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and communities at the heart of its program to develop new work drawing on issues of local and global significance. The Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts is an initiative of Blacktown City Council and is supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW.

Museum of Contemporary Art Australia

The Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) is Australia’s leading museum dedicated to exhibiting, collecting and interpreting the work of today’s living artists. Located on one of the world’s most spectacular sites on the edge of Sydney Harbour, the MCA presents a diverse program of exhibitions and special events onsite, and also curates touring exhibitions and community-led projects. One of the Museum of Contemporary Art’s key programs, C3West, is predicated on the belief that artists can bring unique value to situations beyond the gallery context. Through careful brokerage processes, C3West creates contexts in which artists work strategically with arts partners, businesses and non-arts government organisations across Greater Sydney, aligning corporate social investment strategies with community development. C3West has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, its arts funding and advisory body. C3West is supported by the Crown Resorts Foundation, Packer Family Foundation and Space.

Interviews and photos

High resolution images are available at https://www.dropbox.com/sh/dzn36mdgbrfxfkp/AAAGp35RPBH3fnzh4KDksIJZa?dl=0

For interviews with artists contact, Jodie Polutele on 0428 359 514 or [email protected].

Media contact:

Communications Unit, Blacktown City Council Martha Azzi – 9839 5926 Robert Grieve – 9839 6543 (phones divert to mobiles after hours) email:  [email protected]