{"id":22847,"date":"2013-02-04T20:59:24","date_gmt":"2013-02-04T10:59:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=22847"},"modified":"2023-11-13T16:38:55","modified_gmt":"2023-11-13T06:38:55","slug":"past-present-and-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2013\/02\/04\/past-present-and-future\/","title":{"rendered":"Past, Present and Future"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Sandra Morgan and Luella Blair, from Cherbourg, admire Jandamarra Cadd’s portrait of Archie Roach and the late Ruby Hunter; Sandra, chairperson of The Ration Shed complex, officially opened the exhibition<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

February 4, 2013<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sunshine Coast portrait artist Jandamarra Cadd’s grandmother has had an enormous influence on his life … and that’s why her image is included in a collection of influential and powerful Aboriginal leaders that form this month’s featured exhibition at the Wondai Art Gallery.<\/p>\n

The Yorta Yorta woman from Victoria’s Cumeragunga Mission was beaten, raped and in Jandamarra’s words “experienced the worst of what humanity could put a people through”, but she emerged from the experience strong and proud and instilled in her children “a sense of oneness and love”.<\/p>\n

His gran passed away in 2009 but her legacy lives on in her grandson’s artwork.<\/p>\n

“She instilled in all of us that we all walk together as one mob,” Jandamarra told the opening night crowd at his exhibition on Friday night.<\/p>\n

Jandamarra said the Wondai Art Gallery’s request to host the exhibition was the first time a gallery had approached him – rather than him approaching a gallery – to show his work, and he was deeply touched.<\/p>\n

He confessed that some galleries he’d approached had told him that they didn’t think there would be an audience for portraits of indigenous leaders.<\/p>\n

But as his exhibition toured south-east Queensland, he said, some of those galleries were changing their minds as word of audience reaction to the artworks spread.<\/p>\n

The large, bright canvasses dominated the Alison Iszlaub Gallery, obviously stunning the opening night crowd.<\/p>\n

But also stunning was Jandamarra’s admission that it had taken him just 10 months to create the 16 works.<\/p>\n

The exhibition was officially opened by Aunty Sandra Morgan, from The Ration Shed at Cherbourg.<\/p>\n

Popular local band Muddy Flats – Bevan Costello, Rory Boney and Robert “Rocko” Langton – entertained the crowd.<\/p>\n

Bevan also performed a moving “Welcome to Country” ceremony to honour past and present Elders.<\/p>\n

Jandamarra’s “Past.Present.Future” exhibition will be on show at the Wondai Gallery daily throughout February.<\/p>\n