School students' tribute to Aboriginal artist finds UNE home

December 12, 2007

A painting by four students in Year 7 at Duval High School, Armidale, is to join works by Indigenous artists on the walls of the University of New England's Oorala Aboriginal Centre.

The painting, titled "After Emily", while paying homage to the great Aboriginal artist Emily Kngwarreye (1910-1996), is an outstanding work of art in its own right.

The four girls who created the painting (Nikkea Hartup, Georgia Gerdes, Sheba Boyd and Heloise Fortin) visited UNE last week, accompanied by their teacher Waine Grafton, Head of Creative Arts at Duval High, and two of the four boys from their class (Jake Barton, Zac Barton, Luke Armatage and Caleb Gasbarri) who painted a subtly different but equally satisfying version of "After Emily".

Professor Alan Pettigrew, the Vice-Chancellor of UNE, and his wife Ann, welcomed the artists, Mr Grafton, and the mothers of two of the students to the University and the Oorala Centre last Friday (7 December). Professor Pettigrew then presented the painting – on behalf of the students – to the Centre's Director, Diane Mumbler.

He explained that his connection with the painting had begun last month when he attended the launch of the Armidale Community of Schools at the New England Regional Art Museum. As an honoured guest, he had been invited to choose one of the art works by school students that were on display at the launch – a significant event for the future of public education in New England. "I was attracted to two paintings: this one and its companion piece," he said.

Professor and Mrs Pettigrew are collectors of Aboriginal art and admirers of the work of Emily Kngwarreye. "You've picked up on all the movement, the depth, and the colour changes that Emily is famous for," Professor Pettigrew told the students. He said he and his wife had been so impressed by the quality of the painting and its relevance to the mission of the Oorala Centre that they had decided it should find a permanent home in the Centre.

Ms Mumbler thanked the students for their remarkable tribute to Emily Kngwarreye, and said the painting would represent a permanent link between Duval High School and the Oorala Centre. Such educational and cultural links were important to the Centre and its role in the New England community, she said. "We are interested in all students, and pathways for them to the University."

One of the creators of the painting, Georgia Gerdes, said she and her fellow artists had been "pretty excited" when they heard where their painting was to be hung. "I feel good about it," she said. "I didn't think it would make it this far."

The detail of "After Emily" displayed here expands to show the complete painting.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at December 12, 2007 10:28 AM