Fauna of the Birrarung by Uncle Claude Douglas

Thursday 09 May 2024 - Sunday 28 July 2024

'Crow' (2023) by Uncle Claude Douglas. Image courtesy of the artist.

These are my interpretations of fauna in and along the Birrarung (Yarra river) whilst I have resided on Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Country. I love the wildlife of all the Countries as they are also totemic to us Blak fullas, and they connect us all.

"My family bloodline totem is the red-tailed black cockatoo, and our marriage totems are yellow-crested or sulphur-crested cockatoos. My skin name is ‘Waa’; I’m named after the protector—Waa is the Ancestral Crow, the protector, and he is also the messenger of Bunjil’s lore.

I have also included a large painting in this exhibition that depicts the effects of law versus lore and the impacts that the Australian and international legal systems have on us as sovereign mobs, who are living on our own Lands/Countries. We are the cultural guardians/caretakers of our Lands/Countries and lores."

Uncle Claude Douglas is a Gunditjamara and Wotjobaluk man who has lived in Fitzroy since he was 16 years old. Back in the good old days, community was unity in the suburb of Fitzroy, but now the place has unfortunately become gentrified. Uncle Claude has been creating artworks for over 40 years, and he is currently involved at Blak Pearl studio.

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Fitzroy Library

Date and time:
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Thursday 09 May 2024 - Sunday 28 July 2024


Address:
128 Moor St, Fitzroy