Yesterday Today Tomorrow

‘Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow’ is an exciting new exhibition celebrating Gamilaroi Country, drawing on inspiration from traditional songs and stories surrounding significant Aboriginal Cultural Sites in the New England North West area.

The exhibition is part of a project facilitated by Arts North West, designed to preserve traditional and contemporary Aboriginal stories by documenting culturally appropriate stories from Aboriginal cultural sites near Inverell, Moree and Manilla.

Gamilaroi artists, Brent Emerson, Vicky Duncan, Paris Knox, Quarralia Knox, Elizabeth Munro and Paul Spearim have developed art and dance work based on the chosen sites while also working with Indigenous Elders Liza Duncan, Len Waters and Noeline Briggs-Smith to share important traditional songs and stories surrounding the Aboriginal cultural sites.

In addition to a series of art works developed for the project, a number of short documentaries will also be featured as part of the exhibition capturing the artists’ relationship with the country.

The project, facilitated by Arts North West, aims to equip Aboriginal artists with the knowledge, skills and confidence to draw inspiration from their region and create contemporary works based on their local region.

The exhibition was originally scheduled to open in Moree in March this year, however was postponed due to Coronavirus restrictions. The exhibition will now be opened at the Dhiiyaan Aboriginal Centre on Thursday 3 September 2020 to celebrate Indigenous Literacy Day, held the day before on 2 September 2020.

The exhibition will be open for the general public from 2pm onwards next Thursday, following a private opening function for the Moree Elders and Artists who have contributed to the exhibition.

The exhibition will be on display at the Dhiiyaan Aboriginal Centre until Friday, 30 October 2020.

Photograph: Yesterday Today Tomorrow exhibition booklet.