SAM curator - Indigenous and co-curator of the exhibition Belinda Briggs said the weekend events were to commemorate the legacy of Mr Onus and bring together First Nations voices to explore, discuss and celebrate.
“Tiriki Onus, Lin’s son, will be joining us on Sunday for a special possum skin cloak burning demonstration; this form of storytelling is of significant cultural expression in south-eastern Aboriginal culture and it’s an honour to have Tiriki present this at SAM,” she said.
The weekend also marks the closing of artist Maree Clarke’s window commission Connection to Country ‒ I Remember When…: Stories From Elders About Their Connection to Country, Culture and Place.
Ms Clarke will run a workshop on Friday with young leaders from the Academy of Sport, Health and Education, along with a Saturday in conversation with Ms Briggs, exploring the making and significance of her SAM commission, which will now be part of the SAM Collection.
The weekend’s program will include a panel discussion between leading First Nations curators and artists on Indigenous curatorial practices, with a focus on the south-east Australian context.
The discussion will be chaired by senior curator South Eastern Aboriginal Collection at Museums Victoria and SAM board deputy chair Kimberly Moulton, along with Ms Briggs, Dr Paola Balla and Moorina Bonini and Kate ten Buuren from the This Mob collective.
Acting artistic director and co-curator of the Lin Onus exhibition Dr Shelley McSpedden said the museum was delighted to present the events to mark the conclusion of Lin Onus: The Land Within.
“(It is) an exhibition which not only celebrates the immense artistic talent of Lin but also his connection to Yorta Yorta Country and the incredible Aboriginal community he was part of,” she said.
“This exhibition and associated events reflect SAM’s commitment to championing the stories and talent of our local Yorta Yorta community and their contribution to the wider world.”
All events are free and open to the public, with registration available via www.sheppartonartmuseum.com.au
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