Munarra Artwork Commissions
‘Our cultural expression through art, is an act of reclamation of cultural practices. The knowledge imbued within, asserts our invincible spirit, unbroken connections and invites others to share in the belonging of the myriad of connections we exist in and create.
It represents the excellence in which Munarra, meaning thunder, will be our place to continue our way of being, and as thunder does, reverberate in all we are and in all we do.’
— Belinda Briggs, Yorta Yorta/ Wemba Wemba, Kaiela Arts Indigenous Lead Munarra Artwork Commissions
Image courtesy of Munarra Centre for Regional Excellence
In 2023 Kaiela Arts was commissioned by Munarra to work alongside Spacecraft and ARM to develop artworks for the new Munarra Centre for Regional Excellence building and landscape.
Kaiela Arts’ Indigenous Leads, Belinda Briggs and Lyn Thorpe, brought together their connections, stories, and knowledges of past, present and future, to facilitate creative developments, artworks and designs, capturing the meaning and purpose of Munarra as a place to uphold our values and celebrate who we are.
Commissions
The project was delivered in two phases, the first being to develop artworks for the building cladding elements and screening elements for central courtyard in May 2023.
Yorta Yorta artists Glennys Briggs, Norm Stewart and Suzanne Atkinson were selected to develop narrative responses to each space and element through a conversational process.
Their artwork wrapping around the Munarra building, represents a diversity of Yorta Yorta family groups, and reflects the strength and versatility of their individual creative styles across different media.
L-R – Danica Miller, Stewart Russell, Suzanne Atkinson, Belinda Briggs, Glenny Briggs, Norm Stewart, Lyn Thorpe.
Munarra Gunyah Camp
Munarra Gunyah Gathering was the second phase of artwork development, an intergenerational, practical workshop model devised and facilitated by Belinda Briggs and Lyn Thorpe, to create the artworks for the building interior and landscaping opportunities.
ASHE students and young RFNC members with Elders and the Munarra Artwork Commissions team. Photo by James Henry.
Local Elders and young people with connections to Rumbalara Football Netball Club (RFNC) and Academy of Sports Health Education (ASHE), gathered with the project team at the RFNC over two days in August 2023 to explore and capture the vision of Munarra through designs and language words using natural materials and printing techniques.
This approach embedded Aboriginal ways of doing, being and knowing, in a collaborative process to facilitate and embed the integration and continuity of inherited values and principles inspired by the Invincible Spirit of Yorta Yorta Ancestors and Nanyak (who we are and where come from).
Munarra Gunyah Camp was a unique opportunity to activate these principles and practices during the build of Munarra, contributing to a strong foundation and legacy for future generations who will occupy the space.
We look forward to seeing the Munarra Centre for Regional Excellence opening very soon.
