2 May 2007

Children can connect with Aboriginal art and culture at the free Our Way Kids Day on Monday, May 7, at The University of Queensland.

Held at UQ’s Art Museum within the James and Mary Emelia Mayne Centre from 10am until 4pm, the fun day will feature plenty of interactive activities for children including jewellery-making, Aboriginal toy-making, story-telling, singing and games, and sand-painting.

Events include:

• Reading and Movement with Rhonda Purcell and Simon Hapea
• Singing & Games with Getano Bann
• Sand Painting with Bianca Beetson
• Aboriginal Toy Making with Kurrajong Aboriginal Products
• Bling It On Paper Jewellery Workshop with Tony Albert

A free sausage sizzle lunch will be held at 12.30pm to boost flagging energy levels.

The event is part of the opening celebrations for Our Way, Contemporary Aboriginal Art from Lockhart River, the first exhibition to survey the work of the Lockhart River Art Gang.

Curated by Dr Sally Butler, a lecturer in art history at the University, the exhibition tells the remarkable story of this group of young artists from a remote Aboriginal community in Queensland’s Cape York, several of whom have achieved national and international recognition.

Showcasing more than 100 works drawn from both public and private collections, Our Way will be on display at the Art Museum until July 1.

This exhibition has been supported by the Australian Government and the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland, Department of Education, Training and the Arts, as part of the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy; and the Queensland Indigenous Arts Marketing and Export Agency (QIAMEA), Department of the Premier and Cabinet. QIAMEA promotes Queensland’s Indigenous arts industry through marketing and export activity throughout Australia and internationally.

The exhibition and Kids Day are part of the University’s year of focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues, marking the 40th anniversary of the 1967 referendum.

For more information, contact 3365 3046 or visit www.maynecentre.uq.edu.au.

Media inquiries: Michele Helmrich, Curator – Public Programs (telephone 07 3365 3046) or Jan King (telephone 07 3365 1120).

Kids Day Event Coordinator: Angelina Hurley (mobile 0439 715 739 or email hurleyangelina@hotmail.com).