It was a great honour to exhibit work by Jeremy Coward and Gavin Kelly for our first exhibition of 2023. Ngurrampaa, meaning camp world from the Ngemba language, describes the relationship between the internal self and the world. This beautifully crafted collection of work showcases the importance of story, responsibility, relationships, and obligation to country through the use of painting and traditional tool making.

With the assistance of some of the younger members of the family, Gavin and Jeremy held a smoking ceremony at the galleries entrance, smouldering locally native plants as a way to cleanse and bring in the new year. Gallery patrons had the opportunity to share in the experience and lined up to each take a moment amongst the smoke to give thanks and welcome the year ahead.

The gallery was alive and warm laughter and conversation as patrons took in the work and met one another. Artists Jeremy and Gavin were Eager and willing to discuss the underlying themes and stories behind each artwork and spent much of the evening answering our many questions.

Jeremy Coward

Jeremy Coward is a Gameroi man from the upper Hunter Valley region of NSW. Gaining inspiration form the colours of country and traditional story telling; he mainly works using paints and carvings on traditional Aboriginal tools crafted by him with the intention of showing the importance of caring for country, and what the land provides us.

Jeremy’s work included four beautiful hand carved and painted Silky Oak shields representing Ancestors Thikkabilla (Echidna), Bundaa (Kangaroo), Dhinewan (Emu) and Googa (Goanna). Alongside these, six boomerangs, also handcrafted, on Tea Tree and Ironbark, which shared stories including Hunter River Beginning, Rainbow Serpent and Warrewelong (Mt. Sugarloaf).

Gavin Kelly

Gavin Kelly is a Worimi man from the Maiangal clan. He lives on Worimi country in Stockton NSW and the area has a strong influence on his paintings. Gavin is a self taught artist who has been practicing for more than 20 years. During that time he has illustrated several books and painted the first place prizes for men’s and women’s indigenous surfest.

Gavin exhibited a series of paintings on canvas using spray paint and acrylic. Each of the 15 works shown told a story, some of which included:
Sea Turtles: returning to the sea after laying their eggs.
Mutu: a painting of spring, when the ground warms and the goannas search for food, checking the trees for bird eggs
Gaan: When the Gymea Lillies bloom, people travel east to the coast to dance and celebrate the migration of the whales; an important time for people from different cultures to come together and share food.