Families of the people in the photograph were invited to work with renowned Aboriginal artist, writer and curator, Djon Mundine OAM, who has been artist-in-residence at the gallery this week.

Djon encouraged family members to work with him on the artwork with dot painting and they were able to place their finger prints next to their relatives on the painting for posterity.

Members of the public are invited to watch Djon and his “helpers” at work until next Monday. When completed the painting will be donated to the people of Greater Taree and exhibited for NAIDOC Week.

The people in the painting are Bert Marr, Fred Dumas, Bob Bungie, Lena Bungie, Harriet Neville and Hazel Bungie (see page 2).

Local artist and photographer, Julie Slavin assisted Djon to transfer the photograph onto canvas and under paint it with a light ochre. Julie, was able to watch the young relatives on a sentimental journey into their history while working with a highly motivating artist and teacher.

Djon Mundine was born in Grafton, a member the Bandjalung people. He is currently the Indigenous Curator – Contemporary Art at Campbelltown in Sydney.

He has taught art history at Wollongong and Sydney universities and TAFE and is the author of art books, ‘The Native Born’, ‘They are Meditating’ and ‘A Personal History of Aboriginal Art’. He was awarded an OAM in 1993 and was Research Professor at Minpaku Museum of Ethnology in Osaka during 2005-06.

During the bi-centenary in 1988 Djon Mundine was commissioned to create an Aboriginal memorial in the National Gallery in Canberra which is on permanent display. the artwork of 200 burial poles has been well received and has been espoused as “the artwork of the decade” and the “most important artwork made in this country”.While he rarely does paintings these days Djon sees his work as curator, writer and teacher. He works each year to present into a booklet the top 20 artworks entered in the Parliament of NSW Indigenous Art Award which carries $20,000 prize money. He is delighted that last year’s competition entrants will be be on exhibition at the Manning Art Gallery between October 21 and November 29. The work of Old Bar artist Rex Winston who has made the top 20 twice will be on show.