Voices of Our Elders, Aboriginal Story Tellers Exhibition First Saturday of the month, Guided Tours at 11:30 and 1:30

Join the Museum Staff for a guided tour of the current exhibition featuring 30 historic photographic portraits, significant artefacts from the Museum Collection connected with the featured stories, and a newly commissioned film about Fred Embrey, created in partnership with Queensland Museum and Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art


Tours begin at 11:30am and 1:30pm and run for approximately 30 minutes

For many years there was a misconception that Aboriginal cultures were at risk of disappearing. While many aspects have changed, Aboriginal cultures today are thriving. This exhibition documents just a few Aboriginal people that have contributed to recording and maintaining history and culture. Everybody has a story to tell, and these images and objects reveal stories of individuals who saw a need to document what was around them and continue strength and pride in Aboriginal cultures.  

The curated selection of photographs, never seen before artworks and a newly commissioned documentary film have been produced in recognition of the Aboriginal people that have contributed to recording and maintaining history and culture. These artworks and objects reveal stories of individuals who saw a need to document what was around them through times of enormous change. 

The continuation of strength and pride in Aboriginal cultures is shared through family connections, stories of great heroism and deep cultural knowledge passed on through songs, ceremony and language. Included in the exhibition are over thirty photographic portraits and accompanying biographies of south east Queensland Elders, a selection of drawings from the mid 1950s and a series of overpainted photographs inspired by the drawings sharing significant body paint motifs, carvings by Fred Embrey, loaned to the Anthropology Museum from Queensland Museum and Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art, the Fryer Library, Royal Historical Society of Queensland and objects from private lenders.

Key featured Elders include:
Fred Embrey, Willie Mackenzie, Janey Sunflower and Cobbo Williams, Willie Barney, Paul Tripconny, Sylvia Fox, Rose Martin and family, Billy Galeen, Sarah Bennett, Shirley Foley, Andrew Ball, Yorkie & Lizzie Williams, Billy Drumley, Jenny Graham, Neville Bonner, Ross Watson, Reg Knox, Ysola Best, John Allen, Ruby Douglas, Beauty, Ellen Brooks, Wollumbin Johnnie, Eileen Broderick, Jackey Jackey, ‘Queen of the natives – Logan River’, Johnny Boat, Billy Turner, Jimmy of Kilcoy, Sam Rollands, Sarah Martin and family.

UQ Anthropology Museum St Lucia Campus 

Free entry Open Monday to Friday 11am to 3pm

First Saturday - July 6, August 3, September 7, October 5 and November 2

anthmuseum@uq.edu.au

anthropologymuseum.uq.edu.au

@uqanthmuseum