University of Western Australia hosts two special NAIDOC Week event

A special talk by celebrated Indigenous artist Sandra Hill and a lullaby workshop will be hosted by The University of Western Australia’s Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery as part of 2023 NAIDOC Week Celebrations.

This year’s NAIDOC Week, which runs from 2-9 July, embraces the theme ‘For Our Elders’ in recognition of the vital role Elders play in Indigenous communities and families.

LWAG will host a free artist talk by respected artist and Red Ochre Award winner, Sandra Hill, a much-loved and nationally recognised Wadandi, Pibulmun, Menang Elder, Custodian and artist who will speak about her self-portrait Assimilation, 2001.

Thought to have been lost to the artist, this painting marks a major shift in Ms Hill’s work and is the precursor to her iconic Homemaker series.

Ms Hill will share stories of her creative practice and connections with family and place, surrounded by her prints and paintings and those of her sons Christopher Pease and Ben Pushman.

Curator of the Cruthers Collection of Women’s Art, Ms Lee Kinsella said this is a remarkable opportunity to hear Aunty Sandra Hill talk about the stories and experiences that are held within her paintings.

“Come to listen to the artist and celebrate her recent receipt of the Red Ochre Award for outstanding lifetime achievement in recognition of her contribution as artist, custodian and elder,” Ms Kinsella said.

‘Artist Talk – Sandra Hill’ will be held at LWAG on Friday 7 July.

Also on at LWAG during NAIDOC Week, on Saturday 8 July, will be ‘Noongar Language and Lullabies’, a free workshop for families led by Charmaine Councillor.

Ms Councillor is the CEO of Wardandi Miya-k Kaadadjiny Aboriginal Corporation, a local Noongar Language hub in Bunbury, and has been leading language and song writing workshops to teach Noongar language through the creation of songs for children.

An author and artist of five children’s books in both Noongar and English, Charmaine was a consultant and writer for the children’s NITV program Waabiny Time.