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Creative Resilience – by Ngardang Girri Kalat Mimini (NGKM)

“Creative Resilience will recognise Aboriginal women from SouthEastern Australia: past, present, now-known or unknown in a creation process and outcome that will pay tribute to a heritage of continuous creativity and ingenuity in support of community and cultural survival”.  Ngardang Girri Kalat Mimini – lead artist Georgia Macguire

The Queen Victoria Women’s Centre has commissioned a public artwork created by Ngardang Girri Kalat Mimini (NGKM), a collective of First Nations women and trans diverse artists from across Victoria. The artwork  commemorates and celebrates stories of Aboriginal women from South-Eastern Australia.

 

Creative Resilience was commissioned by the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre Trust as part of commitments made to Reconciliation in its Reconciliation Action Plan. The fabrication of the work has been supported by the Victorian Government as part of the Victorian Women’s Public Art program (VWPA).

The forearm and basket depicted symbolise the strength and creativity of Aboriginal women in South Eastern Australia who have supported and nurtured families and communities through culture over tens of thousands of years.

The VWPA supports the development of permanent public art to examine the significant and diverse contributions women have made to Victoria and to share those stories with the broader community.

Creative Resilience forecourt will be open during the Centre hours Mon-Fri 9AM-5PM.

 

Photograph:  Ngardang Girri Kalat Mimini (NGKM) artists – Trina Oogjes-Dalton, Lorraine Brigdale, Glenda Nicholls, Georgia MacGuire, Janet Bromley & Annie Brigdale – Photo Credit Bree Dunbar – Photo supplied by The QVWC

Creative Resilience Advisor: Aunty Jenny Murray-Jones, Cultural Reference Group member: Gail Harradine, Cultural Consultation: Aunty Di Kerr, Project Manager: Jo Porter, Project Advisor: Ian Bracegirdle, Building heritage advice: Conservation Studio Australia, Fabrication: Aeroplane Workshop, Jamie Ferguson & Landscaping: Shady Lady, Kirsty Edwards.

 

About Ngardang Girri Kalat Mimini (NGKM) – Ngardang Girri Kalat Mimini (NGKM) is a collective of First Nations women and trans diverse artists from across Victoria.

The group aims to support each other professionally, creatively, and culturally and its goal is to promote and celebrate the uniqueness of their South-Eastern arts and culture.

The name Ngardang Girri Kalat Mimini means Mother Aunty Sister Daughter and is a combination of the four languages of the original founders of the group.

Ngardang – Mother (Waddawurrung – Ballarat Region)

Girri – Aunty (Gunditjmara – South West Vic)

Kalat – Sister (Woi wurrung/Wurundjeri – Melbourne region, north of the Yarra)

Mimini – Daughter (Ngarindjeri – South Australia

 

Site: The Creative Resilience forecourt Queen Victoria Women’s Centre Lonsdale Street Melbourne. The forecourt is open during the QVWC Centre hours Mon-Fri 9AM-5PM.

Creative Resilience has been funded as part of the Victorian Women’s Public Art Program, which is delivered in partnership with Regional Arts Victoria and supported by the Victorian Government’s Community Support Fund. The Queen Victoria Women’s Centre acknowledges the support of the Victorian Government.

Acknowledgement of Country: The Queen Victoria Women’s Centre is located on the lands of the Wurundjeri and Boonwurrung people of the Kulin nation. We acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded and pay our respects to Elders past and present, and extend this respect to other Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Australians.

This Project information has been written in consultation with the The Queen Victoria’s Women’s Centre 

 

Find out More:

Film:  Creative Resilience Unveiled: Behind the scenes, Victorian Government, DFFH, 2023

Audio:  NGKM artists talk about their art practice and Creative Resilience, QVWC, 2023