Sunday Arts Magazine

6 Sep 2021

Tom Mosby Koorie Heritage

Uncategorized

Blak Jewellery – Finding Past, Linking Present
Contemporary jewellery exhibition by 11 Victorian First Nations Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander artists and designers participating in the first year of the Koorie Heritage Trust’s
inaugural Blak Design program.
Blak Design is a ground-breaking four-year program presented by the KHT to foster First
Nations cultural innovation within the Victorian design sector and provide a platform for
nurturing sustainable, First Nations design practices.
Blak Jewellery – Finding Past, Linking Present opens Saturday 4 September until
Sunday14 November 2021 at the Koorie Heritage Trust, Yarra Building, Fed Square.
Participating First Nations artists:  Ange Jeffery (Wiradjuri), Aunty Beverley Meldrum (Wirangu,
Kokatha), Cassie Leatham (Taungurung), Hollie Johnson (Gunaikurnai, Monero Ngarigo),
Isobel Morphy-Walsh (Taun Wurrung), Jenna Lee (Larrakia, Wardaman and Karajarri), Kait
James (Wadawurrung), Lisa Waup (Gunditjmara and Torres Strait Islander), Sandy Hodge
(Lardil), Sharn Geary (Bundjalung) and Aunty Suzanne Connelly (Wiradjuri).
Each of the participants have undertaken intensive hands-on workshops; learning and refining
their jewellery making skills at RMIT jewellery studios under the guidance of jewellers Blanche
Tilden and Laura Deakin. They have also participated in professional development workshops
with creative industry leaders in business, design and marketing.
Each are presenting a beautiful range of contemporary jewellery anchored by their connection
to culture, Country and family.
‘’What I love most about the program is how we’ve all learnt the same incredible skills using
different materials, then used them to turn our stories into jewellery and wearable art that is so
different from each other’, says Kait James. ‘My work has been based around my love of
sheoaks or ngarri in Wadawurrung, and the connections to my ancestors. Using different
material to look at form and movement but also combining my love of colour to create various
different pendants and necklaces.’’
For Hollie Johnson, ‘’the Blak Design program has opened my eyes up to a whole new world
that I had only scratched the surface of. I have gained an immense appreciation for this fine art,
along with meeting and working with some amazing people from across many artistic
disciplines. I am so grateful for this opportunity, as the people and this experience is something
special that I will always carry with me. The pieces I have created from this program carry
connection to Country. Combining both flora and fauna of what connects myself to Family and
Place, that of which we have held dear to our hearts for many generations. As these are just
some of the many aspects that First Nations People always carry with them.’’
‘’It’s been an honour to be part of the Blak Design program’’, says Ange Jeffery. ‘’The program
provided me with the opportunity to work alongside talented peers and amazing First Nation
Artists, and many generous mentors.

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