Museum of Geraldton and Yamaji Art Centre collaborate for NAIDOC exhibition honouring Indigenous elders

Portraits of seven senior Yamatji artists are on display at the Museum of Geraldton to celebrate NAIDOC Week and pay tribute to the wisdom and achievements of Indigenous elders. The museum is working with Yamaji Art Centre to host the exhibition over the course of July to celebrate NAIDOC Week and its 2023 theme, For our elders. At the core of this year’s NAIDOC Week is a celebration of elders and their achievements, acknowledging their importance within the community as cultural leaders and sources of ongoing wisdom. Yamaji Arts Centre has displayed their gratitude through the exhibition that features seven portraits of artists in the community, accompanied by a synopsis from the artist, and their message for the younger generation. Despite a usual lead time of 12 months, Yamaji Art Centre was able to curate the exhibition in four months, deciding in February that it would go ahead. Centre manager Roni Kerley said: “We are so thankful that we have such flexible artists who shared the vision and allowed for us to come along and interview them. Initially some were hesitant as they are extremely humble and felt that there were other people who should be celebrated.” Staff paid their respects to artist and director of Yamaji Art Centre, Dr Charmaine Green, through putting her artwork on the decal in the exhibition, as Dr Green felt she had not achieved her status as an elder yet and did not want to be in an individual portrait. Museum of Geraldton operations manager Yvette Hollings said the exhibition would “provide a great opportunity for visitors to learn more about some important cultural contributors to the local community”. The exhibition showcases Mr Kevin Merritt 80, Joan Lever, 74, Margaret Danischewsky, 72, Barbara Merritt, 71, Sheryl Green, 66, Jennifer Green, 65, and Margaret Whitehurst, 61. For Our Art Elders exhibition opened on July 1 and runs until July 27 at the Museum of Geraldton.