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.

Artists: Gina Brook, Leanne Brook, Sharon Bunyan, Fleur Magick Dennis, Shannon Craig Forbes, Genevieve Grieves, Kathleen Heath, Treesa Heath, Leah House, Matilda House, Arwyn Landini, Annabella Landini, Arianna Landini, Eve Langford, Laura McBride, Gail Manderson, Ashweeni Mason, Sharon Mason, Vivian Mason, Lyn Mills, Tanaya North, Leila Yili Grieves Pellegrino, Teagan Pender, Amanda Jane Reynolds, Maliyah Satour, Cherie Skinner, Chloe Skinner, Anastasia Smith, Arabella Smith, Mariko Smith, Venessa Possum Starzynski, Debbie Sturgeon, Bronte Walker, McKenzie Walker, Brooke White, Samara Williams

Curated by Amanda Jane Reynolds

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.

11am, Sunday 20 October 2019

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