25 March - 9 July 2000
Ellen
Trevorrow 1955
Ngarrindjeri people Sister Basket (detail) 1999 Keeping Culture showcases the exemplary art and craft of Aboriginal people; it highlights the diversity of traditional practice across Australia and celebrates the contemporary art practices of particular regions. This small gathering of objects reflects a number of themes of interest and importance to their Aboriginal makers: containers - food harvesting and personal bags; adornment - cloaking and personal decoration; identity and story telling - non-functional items used to transfer histories and record collective memory.
After the exhibition at National Gallery, these objects will be shown in their places of origin as an affirmation that regional Aboriginal communities, both individually and collectively, are keeping their culture strong. As a National Gallery of Australia Travelling Exhibition Keeping Culture will tour to South Australia, Tasmania, and the South Coast of New South Wales from September 2000.
The Keeping Culture project has been generously assisted by the Thomas Foundation.