The community is invited to come together for a musical celebration of First Nations culture and an acknowledgement of the pain of invasion.
Gerrupatjarra (‘join together’ in Wadawurrung language) will take place from 3.30pm to 6.30pm on Saturday, January 25 at Geelong Arts Centre’s Open House.
The free public event will feature three outstanding musical acts; Noongar woman and award-winning soul artist Bumpy, Isabelle Skye and her band Doe Eyes, and Geelong locals The Louds.
Local artist, curator and mentor Kiri Tawhai, a proud Noongar, NgaPuhi and Ngati Tuwharetoa woman, provided the artwork for the event’s promotional materials.
She said Gerrupatjarra was simply a chance for people to come together to enjoy First Nations storytelling through music and art.
“It’s about remembrance of the past and what First Nations people have gone through, but it’s also about celebrating First Nations people and that resilience of thousands of generations,” she said.
“Some people think that healing is really traumatic, or reliving experiences that are really deep and dark.
“And whilst that can be true, what is also true is that music is healing; coming together as community, laughing, play, all of these things are healing.
“We want to be able to come together in a safe space, not just First Nations people, but allies and anyone that loves great music and wants to know a little bit more about culture.”
Visit geelongartscentre.org.au/parrwang-community-arts/gerrupatjarra for more information.
– Matt Hewson
