Grandmother Lore

Through sewing and weaving, artists from New South Wales stitch together traditional stories and historical research honouring strong women ancestors. Their collaborative visual and performative works—which include decorated possum-skin cloaks, elaborate body adornments and poignant videos—connect women’s communal making and ceremonial business with the stories of grandmothers, mothers and children from ancestral times, colonial times and living memory.

Special Event: Banga Ngara (make and reflect)

Participatory public program: artists invite you sit down together and twine some string and attach a blessing or message in response to the exhibition. Visitors will be invited to join the ceremonial circle to listen to Elders teachings and contribute their offering.

Suitable for all ages and peoples. Children must be accompanied by adult. Grandmother Lore is presented as part of Tarnanthi: Festival Contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art. Tarnanthi is presented by the Art Gallery of South Australia with Principal Partner BHP and support from the Government of South Australia.

Image: The Djaadjawan Dancers prepare for ceremony [Photo by Justine Kerrigan, courtesy Stella Stories and Australian Museum 2018]. Copyright: Stella Stories