AFTER successfully relaunching programs for their artist members earlier in the year, Baluk Arts in Mount Eliza is set to relaunch its public access programs.
The first event will be with cultural leader Vicki Couzens as she explores the reclamation, regeneration and revitalisation of cultural knowledge and creative cultural expression in a two-hour presentation from 1pm to 3pm on 24 June.
Couzens is a Keerray Wooroong Gunditjmara woman from the western Victoria and has worked in Aboriginal community affairs for more than 42 years. She is a senior knowledge holder for the Possum Skin Cloak Story and Language Reclamation and Revival in her Gunditjmara mother tongue.
Program co-ordinator at Baluk Arts Lochie Bradfield said Couzens’ contributions in the reclamation, regeneration and revitalisation of cultural knowledge and practices extended across the “arts and creative cultural expression” spectrum, including language research and community development; public art, community arts, visual and performing arts, writing, publications and her own creative expressions.
“We’re delighted to be welcoming the public back through the doors and offering the chance to listen and learn alongside Aboriginal artists and knowledge holders. We’re especially happy to be re-launching with someone of Vicki’s calibre,” he said.
“It’s sure to be a very interesting presentation from one of Victoria’s leading Aboriginal creative practitioners.”
For more information on what’s coming up at Baluk Arts, either visit the gallery at 5 Davies Street, Mount Eliza from Tuesday to Saturday, or online at balukarts.org.au/.
Baluk Arts is an Aboriginal owned and led community arts centre and gallery that supports artistic, career and audience development for its Aboriginal artist members.
The range of artworks created by Baluk Artists include paintings, sculpture, kelp works, photography, prints, clap sticks, handmade jewellery, weavings, cards, books, scarves and bespoke items unique to each artist and their story. Works are sold at the gallery, through an exhibition program, online, at art fairs and throughout the year in partner galleries.
Baluk is a Bunurong and Boonwurrung word meaning many or group of people.
Tickets for the 24 June event at Baluk Arts, 5 Davies Street, Mount Eliza, are $25.
First published in the Mornington News – 6th June 2023
