The unique art of the Lockhart River community, Australia's only youth-driven Aboriginal initiative, is on display for the first time in North America at Stony Brook University's Charles B. Wang Center.
This stunning exhibit includes information about the people and places that influence the community's artwork. Though it draws upon ancient spiritual traditions, this artwork also shows the global scope of Aboriginal cultural expression today. More »
Associated Events
Monday, November 5th, 7:00 pm
Charles B. Wang Center Theatre
Stolen Generations (2000, 55 min.) is a documentary about an Australian policy that brutally removed Aborigine children from their parents in the 19th and 20th centuries. Mixing historical footage and interviews with survivors the film documents Aborigine resistance to the program as well as heartfelt and painful stories of children reuniting with their parents.
Crocodile Dreaming (2007, 27.5 min.) is also about a reunion of sorts. Using modern special effects, this Aborigine tale chronicles the quest of two estranged half-brothers, one an urbanized Aborigine fully accepted by the tribe and the other struggling to fit in to the traditional Aboriginal lifestyle while being half-white, who are brought back together by the spirit of their mother in order to return a stolen stone holding the stories and songs of their ancestors to its rightful place.
A question and answer session with the director of the films, Darlene Johnson, will occur after the films.
Friday, November 9, 7:00 pm
Charles B.
Wang Center Theatre
Ten Canoes (2006, 92 min.), tells a traditional Aboriginal story, like Crocodile Dreaming , in a new way. A thousand years ago Dayindi, an Aborigine on his first goose egg hunting expedition, fancies the third and youngest wife of his older brother. In response Minygululu, the older brother, decides to tell Dayindi a long ancestral story about a similar situation that tore two brothers apart. The film, which weaves the goose egg hunt, filmed in black and white, with the ancestral tale, filmed in color, features the same actors in the two stories and ends with a reconciliation between the brothers as Dayindi learns his lesson.
Opening Reception
Wednesday, October 17, 2007, 4:30 pm
Charles B. Wang Center
Lockhart River Art Gang artist Rosella Namok will be in attendance to discuss her pieces. The book Our Way, Contemporary Aboriginal Art from the Lockhart River will be available for purchase and signing in the Charles B. Wang Center lobby.
To RSVP or for more information, call (631) 632-6320.
Continental Breakfast
Wednesday, October 20, 2007, 10:00 am to 12:00 noon
Charles B. Wang Center
Hosted by School of Professional Development; free of charge and open to the public.
Didgeridoo Performance
Ash Dargan, Didgeridoo Artist
Wednesday, October 17, 2007, 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm (Campus Lifetime)
Academic Mall Fountain
Rain Location: Student Activities Center Lobby
Presidential Lecture
Wednesday, October 10, 2007, 12:45 pm
Charles B. Wang Center Theater
Dr. Sally Butler, Professor of English, Media Studies, and Art History at the University of Queensland, Australia, presents a new generation of Aboriginal art from Australia's Far North Queensland location of Lockhart River. More »
This project has been supported by the Australian and Queensland Governments through Arts Queensland, Department of Education, Training and the Arts, as part of the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy; and the Queensland Indigenous Arts Marketing and Export Agency (QIAMEA), Department of the Premier and Cabinet.
