Songlines of a Kamilaroi Woman | Shirley Morgan

Next date: Wednesday, 14 April 2021 | 10:00 AM to 04:00 PM

 Image: Shirley Morgan. Bush Medicine, acrylic on canvas, 60 x 60 cm. Photo J Boros.

Shirley Morgan is a Kamilaroi elder whose family comes from Coonabarabran in North West N.S.W. Working as an artist for around twenty-five years, Morgan was initially taught to paint and weave by Elders and has continued to develop her own contemporary style.

It is through her practice that she seeks to represent the importance of Culture and share her deep connection to Country intermixed with family stories. Driven to create with her hands, Shirley regularly utilises the varied mediums of clay, raffia and acrylic as they offer her the scope to expand and experiment.

When painting and crafting work for this exhibition Songlines of a Kamilaroi Woman, Morgan reflects on the significant moments and important people in her life to present through traditional and contemporary symbology a variety of rich life experience.

Bush Medicine, the signature piece in this exhibition was created in honour of her great grandfather who was a herbalist. He and the rest of her family lived on the banks of a creek in Coonabarabran; the locals called him doctor for his healing abilities.

She came to Kaurna country represents her move to South Australia with the background of the paintings copied from impressions on the out buildings of Sauerbier House. Her work rallies against the destruction of Country, celebrates nature and tradition and deeply reflects on her families past somewhat lost to a developing world.

Songlines of a Kamilaroi Woman is a personal exhibition and it is Morgan’s wish that all who experience it are offered an opportunity to glimpse her rich life and traditions passed down and carried on, woven through colour, paint and story as seen through her own wise eyes.

When

Location

Sauerbier House, 21 Wearing St, Port Noarlunga 5168  View Map

-35.1512224,138.4716786

21 Wearing St , Port Noarlunga 5168

Sauerbier House

21 Wearing St , Port Noarlunga 5168