Vicki McCredie says the planet needs humanity to change.
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“No one wants to hear another white politician,” Ms McCredie said
“It is the indigenous peoples of the world who are leading the way; there is no time to be focused on trivial things."
Ms McCredie was speaking at the opening of her You’N Me Family Portraits exhibition in Tilba. Her exhibition includes sitters from across the Yuin nation; from Wollongong to Eden, and west to Delegate. As Ms McCredie painted, she formed a connection with each person and each place.
“Everyone who took part was drawn to sit for the portrait because of love,” she said. “The generosity of heart of people in the exhibition is incredible.”
"No one wants to hear another white politician.
- Vicki McCredie
The exhibition launch began with an informal lunch for the fourteen sitters able to attend; some were meeting each other for the first time. As the day continued, connections unfolded.
Sheryl Davis related her father,Uncle Ossie Stewart was brother to Mervyn Penrith, Warren Foster's dad; Sheryl and Warren had not met as cousins before. Sheryl also found a link to Nathan Lygon –through a a Scottish ancestor in New Zealand. Holly Thorburn and Merryn Apma discovered shared family in the Northern Territory (NT).
Ms McCredie said her family of portraits arose of its own accord after visiting the Gunbalanya community in the NT; she was inspired to demonstrate the strength and dynamism of the indigenous NSW South Coast.
MC for the exhibition opening was Sue Stewart, with a Welcome to Country by Warren Foster. Everyone’s smiles grew wide when Uncle Ossie Stewart arrived for the official opening. A fundraising auction followed.
The show included educational kits; a resource for Australian school children with information about indigenous experience and expectations for the future. Each kit contains two booklets and a set of prints. Kits have been sent to schools in the ACT and Sydney.
Ms McCredie and her sitters hope schools and libraries along the coast will acquire the educational kits.
Money raised from the sale of prints and the educational kits will help fund Nathan Lygon on his upcoming walkabout adventure.
The You’N Me Family Portraits exhibition runs until Friday, April 6, at the Apma Creations Gallery, Corkhill Drive, Central Tilba. Kits are $270 from younmeportraits@gmail.com