Making Old Markings New

Making Old Markings New

The Making Old Markings New project was facilitated by Aboriginal Project Manager Pene Riggs and provided professional skills development to four Anaiwan and Kamilaroi artists; Adele Chapman-Burgess, Lorrayne Riggs, Rod McIntosh and Nick Levy.

The artists worked with staff Rebecca Fisher and Sharni Jones from the Australian Museum and Professor June Ross from the University of New England to explore objects and mark making traditions from the New England North West, and to visit rock art sites in the New England, applying this rediscovered knowledge to their professional contemporary arts practice.

The group visited the Australian Museum to view the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander collection, receiving a tour of collection storage rooms with special focus on the artefacts from the New England and North West region.

Along with Professor June Ross, the group also visited several rock art sites in the North England region including Wattle Ridge Guyra, Mt Yarrowyck, Goonoowigall, Inverell and Boundary Rock Moonbi to view the traditional mark making symbols and techniques that make the New England North west region unique. Throughout these visits the group was accompanied by traditional custodians and Elders of the area.

The Making Old Markings New exhibition expresses a strengthened connection of the artists to their culture as they share their journey and discoveries of the project through the creation of new artworks.