Mrs Powell said the 2013 SheppARTon Festival’s theme, ‘Emerging Voices’, told the story of ‘Bayaderra’, the long neck turtle.
“Ross Morgan’s painting of the long neck turtle has been chosen as the official image of this year’s festival,” Mrs Powell said.
“A creature of perseverance, the turtle also represents a welcoming spirit to those who have travelled hard journeys to emerge from their burden with a free voice.
“The turtles in his painting, ‘Turtles Walking on Land’, represent Ross’s ancestors in the dreamtime,” Mrs Powell said.
Born in Melbourne in 1977, Ross Morgan grew up in Shepparton and has now settled in Mooroopna. Inspired and taught during his early years by his father, Ross was also greatly influenced by his Nan, Elizabeth Hoffman.
A Yorta Yorta man, Ross is very proud of his cultural heritage and developed his unique style over the last 15 years of his painting career.
“We have a very proud Indigenous community in Victoria that produces passionate art that reflects the depth and diversity of Indigenous culture,” Mrs Powell said.
“I announced the Victorian Government’s 2012 Victorian Indigenous Art Awards, and was delighted that another local artist, Eva Ponting, was shortlisted for her work Turtle Spirit Dreaming.”
The 2013 SheppARTon Festival received a funding boost from the Victorian Coalition Government of $10,000 through Tourism Victoria’s Events Program, and $10,000 through Arts Victoria’s Arts Development program. The exhibition runs until Sunday 10 March 2013.
Staged annually since 1997, the SheppARTon Festival is regarded as a major calendar event in regional Victoria.
No comments:
Post a Comment