River inspires indigenous art award winner

By Tim Howard

A Western Australian who moved to Grafton a little more than a year ago has won the $5000 Clarence Valley Indigenous Art Award.

Judges named Kristal Russ the 2023 award winner at a gathering at the Grafton Regional Gallery Saturday.

Born and raised in Western Australia, Ms Russ said the Clarence had similarities to her home in Derby where her family were members of the Jaru people living on Ngaranyin country.

I feel very welcome here,” she said.

“Where I come from is very tidal and related to rivers, but not as much as I was feeling it when I came here.”

He winning work, title Ngaba, which means water in Jars language, was influenced by her experiences of being welcomed here.

“That’s why I did this piece, the journey lines in my piece represent a bit of a story from where I come from and where I am now.”

The win shocked the artist.

“This is the first time I’ve ever won an art prize or an exhibition,” she said.

“It was a very proud moment.”

She said winning an award was not her motivation for entering the award.

“I more entered it because I wanted to be a proud indigenous person and part of my community.

“And to get my work and the stories from home out there as well.”

Ms Russ said the the other reason she had not expected to win was the quality of the competition she faced.

“There’s so many amazing local artists,” she said. “It was definitely the last thing I thought was going to happen.

“Big respects to all of them for entering and the beautiful work all our local artists do.”

Ms Russ said the award would be a big boost for her career.

“I am hoping more than anything it will help launch me more into the gallery space,” she said.

“And just get my name out there as a known artist as well.”

The 2023 judges were former CVIAA winner and Indigenous Arts Officer at Arts Northern Rivers, Kylie Caldwell and Githabal man and artist Luke Close.

Other winners were, the $1000 Highly Commended Emerging Artist award to Jenna Randall for her work Coast Country and the $250 Youth Prize went to Janalie Mercy for a basket weaving piece.

Gallery director Sarah Gurich was the MC for the event attended by around 70 people in the Grafton Regional Gallery courtyard.

The audience was treated to a Welcome to Country from Gary Brown and deputy

Mayor Greg Clancy officially opened the event in the absence of Mayor Ian Tiley.

In addition Dean Loadsman and the Berinbah Dance Troup provided a captivating performance of indigenous dancing.

And there was a contribution from the artistic endeavours to the culinary delights, with native bee honey from one exhibit use to flavour ice cream served to guests.

Saturdays event was also a chance to open two other exhibitions at the gallery, Relative Terrains and School of the Living and the Dead

In School of the Living and the Dead, artist Dr Bill Platz investigates the histories and applications of puppets in studio drawing.

He includes recent experiments that aim to demonstrate the practicality and effectiveness of using modern technological fibres as a base for drawing, painting, and printmaking.

Relative Terrains is a collaborative exhibition from artists Karma Barnes and Robèrt Franken.

This immersive exhibition celebrates the power of collaboration and the profound impact of relationships on our lives.

Through a series of large-scale installations, visitors delve into the intricate web of connections that shape and transform us.