Coolamon, an Annecto enterprise

Happy New Year to everyone! 🎉 We wish you all the best for the new year ahead! Thank you for continuing to support Coolamon, an Annecto enterprise and our art gallery in Kempsey. 💛 We look forward to sharing more beautiful art and stories with you from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and communities in 2025. 🎨 See you in the gallery soon! 👋 #HappyNewYear #Coolamon #AnnectoEnterprise #AboriginalArt #TorresStraitIslanderArt

✨ Thank you for supporting Coolamon, an Annecto enterprise this year! We hope you have a great festive season and enjoy the celebrations with your friends, family and community. 💛 It's been a big year for the Coolamon team and the artists and communities we've worked alongside. We look forward to doing it all again in 2025! #Coolamon #AnnectoEnterprise #AboriginalArt #TorresStraitIslanderArt

🎨 Meet the artist: Jason Ridgeway is a proud Dunghutti man from Macleay Valley. His family is from Burnt Bridge and Bellbrook. Jason did not study art, he learned about art by watching his uncles paint and draw. He always loved sketching but didn’t start painting until about 12 years ago. Painting brought back good memories of time spent with his uncles and Jason now paints in a style that honours them. His art shows local Dreaming stories, family yarns, and memories created with his wife and children. Jason also works with the Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation, bringing art programs to schools in Macleay Valley. 👉 To read Jason Ridgeway's full artist profile go to: coolamon.org.au/artist or visit the gallery at 2/33 Smith Street, Kempsey, NSW, Dunghutti country to see his artwork on display! 🔗 Can't make it in person? Explore artwork and more online at www.coolamon.org.au. Image description: The first image is a photo of artist Jason Ridgeway. The second image is a photo of Jason Ridgeway’s artwork titled ‘’Bunyip". #Bunyip #JasonRidgeway #CoolamonArtsGallery #LocalArtist #Kempsey

🎨 Meet the artist: Barbara Quinlin, a talented young creator from Dunghutti country, based in Coffs Harbour. She is currently exhibiting her work at the Coolamon Arts Gallery. Barbara Quinlin is skilled in both digital and traditional mediums, including pencils, markers, paint pens, watercolor, and gouache. Her greatest inspiration is her late grandmother, Rosina Davis-Quinlin-Boston, who encouraged her to create art from a very young age. Her grandmother's storytelling techniques left a deep impact on Barbara, and she hopes to reach a similar level of storytelling through her own art. Barbara practices her craft whenever she can, whether it’s sketching on a scrap of paper or drawing landscapes at the beach. She also draws inspiration from a wide range of sources, including social media, pop culture, video games or an animated series. 👉 To read Barbara Quinlin's’ full artist profile visit: coolamon.org.au/artist or visit the gallery at 2/33 Smith Street, Kempsey, NSW, Dunghutti country to see her artwork on display! 🔗 Can't make it in person? Explore artwork and more online at www.coolamon.org.au. Image description: The first image is a photo of artist Barbara Quinlin. The second image is a photo of Barbara Quinlin’s artwork titled ‘The Journey’. #BarbaraQuinlin #TheJourney #CoolamonArtsGallery #LocalArtist #Kempsey

🎨 Exhibition highlights 🎨 On 17 November, the Coolamon Art Gallery opened an exhibition featuring original artworks by Kinchela Boys Home (KBH) survivors, their families, and community members. The exhibition, titled ‘Unlocking Our Past to Free Our Future’, was in partnership with Kinchela Boys Home Aboriginal Corporation (KBHAC) and ran until 15 November. This exhibition commemorated the 100th anniversary of the opening of KBH in Kempsey, Dunghutti country. It is at those KBH gates that the spirits of the children who walked through were left behind. 🖤💛❤️ The artists showcased in this exhibition included: ◾ Uncle Milton Budge (deceased) ◾ Uncle Richard P Campbell ◾ Aunty Fay Clayton ◾ Uncle James ‘Gurri’ Dungay ◾ Barbara Quinlin ◾ Jason Ridgeway ◾ Michelle Dundas Artists, Stolen Generations survivors and their families delivered some important truth-telling moments as they shared their thoughts and life experiences at the opening event. Powerful pieces of artwork were displayed in the gallery for everyone to view and the artists, who were present, shared the stories behind their art. The event was well attended, with people from the local community joining in and almost half of the 18 artworks sold at the opening. 🔗 The exhibition is now over, but you can still go to coolamon.org.au to browse and purchase artwork or follow us on social media to learn more about the artists and their deadly work. 🎨 Visit us: Drop in to the Coolamon Arts Gallery at 2/33 Smith Street, Kempsey NSW. Open Monday to Friday, 9 am - 5 pm. 💌 Contact us: For more information or to plan your visit, contact us at coolamon@annecto.org.au. #CoolamonArtsGallery #StolenGenerations #KBHAC #TruthTelling #AboriginalArt Images description: A series of photos taken at the exhibition opening, showcasing the crowd, the artists and some of the artworks.

📣 Are you looking for unique end-of-year gifts, while also supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists? The Coolamon Arts Hub has launched its first ever end-of-year sale, and we have over 70 high-quality artworks at discounted prices. Plus, we’re adding new discounted artworks to our website every week. This is a sale you don’t want to miss! 🛒 Shop beautiful and authentic paintings, weaving, carvings, jewellery, works on paper and digital artworks. We’re also offering 50% off all Coolamon merchandise! All artworks have already been discounted on our website, just add them to your shopping cart and complete your purchase. Please note, all purchases made before 16 December will be shipped to arrive by 25 December (Australia-wide shipping only). The sale ends 20 December 2024 so get in quick! ⭐ Shop our end-of-year sale on www.coolamon.org.au or visit our gallery at 2/33 Smith Street, Kempsey NSW (9 am – 5 pm, Monday – Friday). Artwork credit: ‘Whales’ by Leah Brown. #AboriginalArtwork #TorresStraitIslanderArtwork #CoolamonSale #ArtworkSale #SaleOnNow

🎨 ‘Unlocking Our Past to Free Our Future’ is NOW OPEN! Visit the Coolamon Arts Gallery in Kempsey, Dunghutti Country to see our latest exhibition running in partnership with Kinchela Boys Home Aboriginal Corporation (KBHAC). This exhibition commemorates the 100th anniversary of the opening of the Kinchela Boys Home (KBH). The exhibition features new artworks and stories by KBH survivors, their families and community members until 15 November 2024. 👉 About the 100th anniversary of the opening of the Kinchela Boys Home (KBH): 2024 marks 100 years since the gates of Kinchela Boys Home (KBH) opened. It is at those gates where the spirits of the children who walked through were left behind. To mark this 100th anniversary, the KBH survivors, their descendants and families are honouring the spirits of those children and celebrating of the KBHAC community. 🔗 If you can't make it in person, jump online today and check out the new artwork and merchandise for sale on our website: www.coolamon.org.au. You won't want to miss this one! 💌 If you have any questions or would like to organise a visit to the Coolamon Arts Gallery, feel free to contact our team at coolamon@annecto.org.au. Artwork credit: ‘KBH 100th' by Uncle Richard Campbell #28

It's our honour to announce the opening of our latest exhibition in partnership with Kinchela Boys Home Aboriginal Corporation (KBHAC). The exhibition is titled ‘Unlocking Our Past to Free Our Future’ and will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the opening of the Kinchela Boys Home (KBH). 🎨 The exhibition will run until 15 November 2024 and feature original artworks by KBH survivors, their families and community members. The artists showcasing their artworks and sharing their stories in this exhibition include: 🖌️ Uncle Milton Budge (deceased) 🖌️ Uncle Richard P Campbell  🖌️ Aunty Fay Clayton 🖌️ Uncle James ‘Gurri’ Dungay 🖌️ Jason Ridegway 🖌️ Michelle Dundas 🖌️ Barbara Quinlin You're invited to join us for the opening of ‘Unlocking Our Past to Free Our Future’: 📆 When: Thursday 17 October 2024, from 4 pm to 6 pm 📍 Where: Coolamon Arts Gallery, 2/33 Smith Street, Kempsey, Dunghutti Country 🎨 What: Guest speakers, selected artworks for sale and light refreshments will be provided 👉 About the 100th anniversary of Kinchela Boys Home (KBH): 2024 marks 100 years since the gates of Kinchela Boys Home (KBH) opened. It is at those gates where the spirits of the children who walked through were left behind. To mark this 100th anniversary, the KBH survivors, their descendants and families are honouring the spirits of those children and celebrating the KBHAC community. Artwork credit: ‘KBH 100th' by Uncle Richard Campbell #28 #UnlockingOurPastToFreeOurFuture #KBHAC #KBH #KBH100Years #AboriginalArt

Have you checked out our deadly Coolamon colour in cards? 🎨 The card features the ‘In the Bush’ design by Leah Brown, a proud Garawa and Mara woman from the Roper River region of the Northern Territory. She lives on Dunghutti Country in the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales. Leah’s awesome illustration showcases Australia’s beautiful native flora and fauna. 🌿🐨 If you’ve picked up a Coolamon colour in card at a recent event, we would love to see you get creative and share your colourful creations with us! ✏️ 1. Using your favourite colours, colour in the artwork ‘In the Bush’ on the front of the card. 📷 2. When you’re done, take a photo of your creation, post it online, tag us or use the hashtag #CoolamonArtsHub. 🎁 3. Then, display your colourful creation in your home, on the fridge or gift it to a family member or friend. Keep an eye out for our Coolamon colour in cards at upcoming events! We can’t wait to see your creations. Image description: Three images of a person using pencils to colour in a card. The card features illustrations of Australia’s native flora and fauna. #CoolamonArtsHub #CoolamonColourIn #GetCreative

🎨 Artwork spotlight: let's take a look at ‘Seasons’ by Sandy Abigall! This artwork represents the seasons that we go through as evolving individuals. It reflects on the identity, connection and purpose we search for in this world. This is highlighted through the center circles as they radiate outwards, representing different versions of a person as they grow. The design on both sides of the canvas symbolise life as a whole. This includes the everyday plans we make, the people we come across, the hardships we face and even the dreams we hold for our futures. This artwork serves as a reminder of self-reflection in your own evolution as an individual and what season in life you may find yourself in right now. Come and check out Sandy Abigall’s beautiful artwork at the Coolamon Arts Gallery before 11 October 2024! 📅 Gallery opening hours: 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday 📍 Location: 2/33 Smith Street, Kempsey, NSW, Dunghutti Country 🔗 Explore and purchase new artwork at www.coolamon.org.au Image description: ‘Seasons’ by Sandy Abigall. #SandyAbigall #Seasons #CoolamonArtsGallery #ArtExhibition #ArtNSW