The purpose of the South-East Aboriginal Arts Initative is foster engagement among staff, students and other stakeholders of UTS Insearch and Indigenous people, knowledge and culture, through Indigenous art. This has been achieved by using our campus space for the installation and viewing of Indigenous works.
Three of the artists whose works are featured on campus are noted below - Ngemba carver Andrew Snelgar, Barkindji photographer Kent Morris and Waradgerie artist Lorraine Connnelly-Northey.
Meet Andrew Snelgar
Andy Snelgar is a Ngemba carver based on the New South Wales north coast. He comes from a long line of carvers, and first started carving under the instruction his uncle (Paul Gordon) a very well recognised and respected elder of the Ngemba - Gurru-Gillu tribal association. Andy works with both hardwood mulga and softwood mangrove to create his works. Carving shields, clubs, and boomerangs, Andy's creations can be recognised by his ability to work with the wood's natural shapes and his intricate line work. Andy has exhibited a number of times, including at the Glasshouse Gallery in Port Macquarie and the Wollombi Art Gallery in Wollombi. He has held exhibitions at Newcastle University and many community organisations and schools.
Meet Kent Morris
Kent Morris is a Barkindji man, a graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts and an alumnus of the Wesfarmers Indigenous Arts Leadership Program. He has over 20 years experience as an artist and curator and has specialist knowledge of, and connections within, the Indigenous Australian arts and culture industry. Kent has a strong interest in the educational and healing potential of the arts and in 2011 joined The Torch to design, develop and deliver the Statewide Indigenous Arts in Prisons and Community program. Kent's work was recently featured in 'Sovereignty' 2016-17 at the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, Melbourne.
Meet Lorraine Connelly-Northey
Lorraine Connelly-Northey is a Waradgerie artist. Inspired by the Mallee and Riverina environments of north-western Victoria where she grew up, her innovative objects and installations relate to the history and culture of the Waradgerie people and her personal connection to the land. Connelly-Northey transforms found industrial and organic materials like corrugated iron, fencing wire, feathers and shells into traditional forms such as koolimans (bush bowls) and narbongs (string bags). Her work is held in many collections including the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Museum of Contemporary Art, Australia, and National Gallery of Australia.