The Campbelltown bicentenary may have officially ended in 2020, but because of the Covid effect, some of the initiatives will happen this year.
One of them is an exhibition of a ceramic and floral display being created by around 20 Indigenous residents through a Campbelltown TAFE class.
The course, which combined ceramics and floristry, started in November 2019, and the aim was to make 11 ceramic pots and floral arrangements reflecting Aboriginal culture for an exhibition in the middle of 2020.
Covid put paid to that, but once it was safe to do so, the class regrouped.
By end of last year, 11 beautiful ceramic pots were done and dusted and placed in storage at the Campbelltown arts centre. One of the pots is pictured here.
Now the class is in its fifth week of making the floral arrangements – using mostly native flowers – that will go into the pots.
Once that is completed the exhibition will be opened to the public on March 27.
TAFE NSW Aboriginal engagement coordinator Thelmerie Rudd said the project has been a positive experience so far for the participants.
“We have older Aboriginal people working with younger members of the community to create an artistic tribute to Indigenous culture,’’ says Ms Rudd.
There are no creative limits imposed on the participants making the floral arrangements.
“They can be about an elder, say Uncle Ivan, and what he means to the local Indigenous community,’’ she says.
“But it’s just creating something that comes from the heart and what they feel when they think about their community.’’
The project is a collaboration between TAFE, the arts centre and Tharawal Aboriginal Corporation at Airds.
Uncle Phil Dotti, representing Tharawal, dropped in at the class when the South West Voice was there last week.
Uncle Phil said he was proud of the work the participants were doing towards the exhibition, which will be in the main space of the arts centre from March 27 to May 9, 2021.
Also attending on the day was Campbelltown arts centre arts and cultural liaison officer Brenden Broadbent.
