Celebrating First Nations art history in Rutherglen

A CELEBRATION for the opening of a sculptural tribute to honour local First Nations artist and Elder Tommy McRae (1835-1901) and his family takes place on Saturday, 31 May at the Rotary Deck, Lake King in Rutherglen from 2pm to 4.30pm. The second and final art installation "A First Nations Canoe and Pronged Fishing Spear" to mark the well-respected Indigenous artist’s work has been sculptured by acclaimed Wiradjuri artist Lorraine Connelly-Northey. ArtsRutherglens’ Gail Steed said the installation is a personal homage by Ms Connelly-Northey to Tommy McRae with ‘Yackaduna' as his traditional name. “Tommy would be the best-known First Nations artist of his time and is buried in the Carlyle Cemetery in Wahgunyah,” Ms Steed said. The artist’s works are held in the National Museum of Australia and National Gallery of Australia in Canberra as well as state libraries in Victoria and NSW as well as Melbourne Museum with sketch reproductions on show at Corowa Federation Museum. “He’s becoming increasingly well-known in this area thanks to the work of many people,” Ms Steed said. Ms Steed said the project initiated by ArtsRutherglen members together with retired local high school teachers Ro Porter and her late husband Rob with their vision is to raise awareness of Tommy McRae and his work. In the initial stages of design, Ms Steed said the art group had been lucky to connect with internationally known Indigenous sculptor Ms Connolly-Northey through Ms Porter when she attended the artist’s exhibition at MAMA in Albury. “As hunting was traditional and Tommy McRae being an Elder looked after his family, Ms Connelly-Northey drew inspiration from one of Tommy's drawings,” she said. The second installation follows the first one five years ago by Yackandandah sculptor Ben Gilbert. “We wanted the first installation to be a family and it’s a reproduction of one of Tommy McRae’s works in stainless steel,” Ms Steed said. She also said Mr Gilbert created the sculpture cut from steel and positioned the work to pick up water reflections. “Some of Tommy’s works were related to family, but overall his artwork was about life of the day and are a great record of first settler life as well as First Nations life too,” she said. “We designed a large storyboard to achieve an ongoing awareness in the Rutherglen community especially for school children. “We have continued to work with the Morgan-Kelly family descendants and Wahgunyah Historical Society on this project too. “I think it's critical we recognise First Nations artists and connection to country.” Ms Steed said she believes this is a first step with the concept taken by an arts group within the shire to honour an important local and nationally known Indigenous artist. “We are immensely proud of this installation, the project and our community – all the local businesses and friends who contributed to expressing Rob and Ro Porter’s vision,” she said. An invitation is extended to all by Arts Rutherglen for the Sunday celebration to honour Yackaduna and his Family, acknowledge Lorraine Connelly-Northey and donors, and recognise the broad cross-section of inspirational community support. Other activities prior to, and following the event, can be viewed by visiting www.artsrutherglen.com.au.

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