About Us

Our Art

Our art has developed independently from our South Coast oral history passed on from our elders and from our experiences. Recording our history in art in a contemporary way - retracing our memories & experiences in addition to what our elders taught us.

When we visit other Aboriginal nations we see the direct link that has not been interrupted by white mans impact - things are different here we have had to adapt but the passion is still within us - we only have to walk the land and the old fellas we still feel it - the land our people, their spirit - even if a city is near by.

We know our sites are under threat but there are still our people with knowledge of our sacred sites - and many of the artists are collecting & researching their personal histories to keep knowledge strong for handing onto the younger generations. In developing our own visual language we look into the land and you hear and smell our culture. We walk the land and see axe grinding grooves, middens, and engravings, drawing, stencils and feel our ancestors with us.

Fellow country men have given us rights of way. Senior artist from Yolgnu Country North East Arhnem, Tjanpi Weavers and Papunya painters of Central Australia have visited and shared their traditional knowledge with us. These cultural exchanges have strengthened our connection to culture. Neighboring nations like Gundungurra people have visited and connected us to lost knowledge - in the past we traded with these communities shells, seafoods - so logically now we can retrace some of our culture through them.

We strive to define ourselves - galleries, curators try to pigeon hole us fellas - we are creating our own voices with our hands making art. Our culture will remain strong and can be carried on by our people and the broader community who are as passionate as us about ensuring that Aboriginal South Coast mob culture and this beautiful land, will be here for many future generations.

We are living history - we are both traditional & contemporary existing in this time. Our image making has moved from traditional ways into modern expression but the songlines that run through our country are the same as our blood lines that pass through us to our children to our Dreaming ( past, present & future).

Written by 7 BN artists in Jan 2008 at Bundanon Trust - Artist Residency

Studio Objectives

  • Establish employment opportunities for Aboriginal people. Empower Aboriginal people to develop micro businesses and teach skills on financial literacy & self determination & management .
  • The studio promotes positive Aboriginal role models for the younger generations to absorb and learn from while sustaining Aboriginal Culture in our society.
  • The studio promotes and enriches the longevity of Aboriginal Culture for all members in the community to benefit. The studio ensures that Aboriginal knowledge is not lost and participation in the studio will project Aboriginal Way of Life into the future.
  • The studio is unique to this region and will enhance and build bridges between Aboriginal and non Aboriginal communities.
  • The studio will culturally contribute to the Fine Arts industry nationally and internationally.
  • Care for country with our educational bush foods & medicine garden. Practice recycling of materials into woven product, walk land collecting seed to contribute to the healthy sustainability of the genetic seed pool of species, develop a seedling nursery and prorogate seeds.
  • Promote tourism and positive Aboriginal presence and identity in our community.