A LARGE crowd gathered outside the Bundian Way Aboriginal Art Gallery in Delegate last Friday evening to share in a very special opening for its new exhibition.
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‘Dancing from Gadu to Badhu’ was launched with a wonderful performance by the women of the Djaadjawan Dancers.
The exhibition is a collection of works by the Djaadjawan Dancers, a traditional Aboriginal women’s dance group based in Narooma.
The unique collection includes costumes, jewellery and artefacts by the Djaadjawan Dancers, using natural resources collected and handcrafted with traditional methods and techniques.
Sharon Mason founded the Djaadjawan Dancers in 2013, and was excited about being on Monaro country.
“It was a great experience to be opening our art exhibition, first time for us doing something like that,” she said.
“There was a great turn up on the night, and the feedback that we got about the exhibition was awesome. Many people said they hadn't seen so many people in the main street of Delegate before!
“It was a really special experience for us to be dancing on country for the first time too. Also it was a great honour to have Uncle Ossie there.”
Sharon and some of the other dancers have strong ancestral links to the Monaro, and took the opportunity to explore the land over the weekend.
During a reprieve from the rain, Andrew Gray from South East Arts welcomed everyone and introduced Uncle Ossie Cruse who talked about the significance of the Bundian Way and connection to country.
The crowd were then in for a treat as Uncle Ossie played a few tunes on the gum leaf; crystal clear, piercing and melodic.
“The next day we went on a four wheel drive tour up on the Tombong Ranges overlooking the Bundian Way where the three rivers met,” Sharon said.
“We were with local artist Bronwyn Wright who is a third generation family from the early settlers, and she shared a lot of European knowledge along with a bit of Aboriginal knowledge.
“Although it was raining, it didn't stop us going on tour. It was a big thing dancing and traveling through our country, and we’ve been invited back to help establish the Delegate Museum.”
The opening was also a chance to farewell South East Arts’ Chair Lindy Hume who has guided the organisation since 2010, and welcome new Chair Bettina Richter.
‘Dancing from Gadu to Badhu’ is the fourth exhibition South East Arts have curated at the Bundian Way Gallery, and will run until early February 2015.
