New exhibition Lurrtjurni - Together at Museum of the Goldfields News | Created 10 Jun 2024 Derived from the language groups of the five artists featured, the word ‘Lurrtjurni’ shared across all, evokes a sense of togetherness and connection to the present. This collabortaive exhibition between Bush Blossom Gallery and Museum of the Goldfields stems from a desire to create togtherness in our community. Togetherness refers to the artist and their works and the community surrounding them – arts workers, patrons, and appreciators. It refers to the people, the ideas, and the artistic and cultural identities they can share and celebrate together. Inspired by the Kalgoorlie-Boulder area, a shared place between woodlands and desert, togetherness also symbolises the community overcoming obstacles and identifying opportunities in their unique environment, finding ways to thrive in interesting terrain. Museum of the Goldfields Regional Manager Marta Perona said the collaboration with Bush Blossom Gallery began following a discussion with curator Monika Dvorak regarding the recognition of local artists. "Although these artists were featured in major galleries and events statewide and interstate, they lacked local exposure. Having identified a gap in the Museum’s gallery programming, it inspired us to think creatively and develop a way to showcase our local talent to both the community and visitors,” she said. “Although we could only fit the work of five artists, we wanted to ensure they were from different parts of the Goldfields, recognising the different and rich cultures of our region. We looked at different artistic backgrounds, the use of traditional and contemporary techniques, the significance of symbols and motifs in their art, and how they convey the spiritual and emotional connection to Country.” “The exhibition will be enhanced by one talk a week until the 14th of July where visitors will be able to hear directly from the artist about the cultural influences and thematic depth of their work, exploring the rich heritage and storytelling traditions of their community.” Lurrtjurni - Together will be at Museum of the Goldfields from Saturday 1 June to Sunday 14 July. Read about some of the amazing artists included in the exhibition below: Upurli Upurli Nguratja and Minyma Tjurta, Debbie Carmody Image copyright WA Museum Debbie Carmody Debbie Carmody is a Traditional Owner of Upurli Upurli Nguratja and Kepa Kurl. She is Anangu, Spinifex and Wudjari Nyungar. Debbie is a visual artist, writer and director whose work has been exhibited statewide and nationally. With an A Class Honours in Communications, Debbie has worked in the media since 1983 and her films have featured on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and Special Broadcasting Service (SBS). Seven Sisters - Kungarangalpa and wati by the rockhole, Debra Frazer Image copyright WA Museum Debra Frazer Debra is a visual artist based in the Warburton Ranges Milyirrtjarra-Warburton Community in the Ngaanyatjarra Lands. Milyirrtjarra-Warburton is part of the Western Desert Cultural bloc, part of the cultural connection to Kalgoorlie-Boulder. Debra works mainly with acrylic on canvas and her paintings depict her traditional homelands including Tjurkurpa stories. These stories are the basis for daily life, survival and social systems, highlighting the importance of celebrating cultural family traditions. Birni Kapi birti - Many Waterholes, Jason Dimer Image copyright WA Museum Jason Dimer Jason Dimer is a Wangkatha–Ngadju man born in Kalgoorlie-Boulder on the lands that his ancestors lived in well before the settlement of the 1890s Goldrush in the Goldfields. Jason has worked as a multi-talented visual artist for over 30 years and runs Aboriginal Cultural Awareness programs and an Arts and Culture consultancy. His high-quality works in this exhibition showcase his connection to the local Dreamtime (creation stories) and the narratives of daily life in Karlkurla country where those stories take place. Big Celebration - appreciation dance, Rob Wilson Image copyright WA Museum Rob Wilson Rob Wilson is a local artist, based in Kalgoorlie-Boulder for over 23 years. His ancestry is Yamatji on his mother's side and Noongar on his father's side. His Wangkatja – Wongi family is based in Kalgoorlie-Boulder. Rob's passion for painting has been strong for many years and he has exhibited at Victoria Park Centre for the Arts, City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder Art Prize, Goldfields Arts Centre Community Gallery, Creative Native – Forrest Chase, Black Crow Studios and Bush Blossom Gallery. Rob's style blends some traditional dot work with contemporary figurative symbols representing the traditions of hunting and gathering bush foods. Pirriyarri - Becoming spring in Upurli Country, Tina Carmody-Elliott Image copyright WA Museum Tina Carmody-Elliott Tina Carmody-Elliott is Anangu, Spinifex (Great Victorian Desert) and traditional owner for Upurli Upurli Nguratja (Cundelee) through to Boulder via Tjukurpa songlines and traditional Wudjari – Noongar owner for Kepa Kurl (Esperance). Tina is a multi-award-winning artist, specialising in Walka (traditional designs), on timber boards and natural eucalyptus logs. Tina’s exquisite artworks showcased in the Lurrtjurni – Together exhibition depict her heritage and the uniqueness of the Kalgoorlie-Boulder region. Listen directly to the Lurrtjurni – Together exhibition artist as they share insights into their creative process at one of the Museum of the Goldfield's artist talk sessions! More information can be found here.