General News
30 October, 2024
Natimuk exhibition stories man rediscovering his connection to country
Becoming Nala details how Alan Murphy discovered his connection to country.
The Becoming Nala book, by local artists, Alan Murphy and Chrissie Secombe, launches on Saturday, November 2, with an exhibition at the Goat Gallery as part of ACT Natimuk's Arts Weekend
The book is split into two parts, the latter part is a non-fiction recount of a day the Wotjobaluk woman Ms Secombe spent with her husband, Moonahcullah, Wamba-Wamba man Mr Murphy in Deniliquin.
"It's [about] finding [Alan's] mob ... his father's mob, because he has no memory, his father passed away while he was quite young," Ms Secombe said
"The second part of the [book] is him reconnecting, finding out where the mission was that his father grew up on, then finding out that the same day we visited the cemetery ... was the 50th anniversary of his father's passing.
"All these things happened on that particular day, and the first part of the book sprung, and I had an idea, So Becoming Nala was a short story that I wrote for Alan himself."
After Mr Murphy's indigenous father passed away, his non-indigenous mother moved with him to Colac.
"He grew up with no connection to his country, to his mob, or any family of his father," said Ms Secombe.
"He had none of that, he had co culture [growing up] ... so he grew up not knowing where his family was, he was self-taught in later years about his culture."
Mr Murphy knew his father was an only child, which Ms Secombe led him to believe 'he had no mob' until they sat down for a conversation.
"I said, Well, your father was an only child, but what about your grandfather, did your grandfather have siblings, there's got to be more more family there," said Ms Secombe.
"Then it was like a longing to know who his mob were, where the mission was that his father grew up on, and all that sort of stuff."
The original short story inspired by the trip was written by Ms Secombe for Mr Murphy while he was visiting their kids in Geelong.
When an opportunity for artist's funding arose Mr Murphy, who is a painter, shared the short story.
"[They] basically said I think we should put in for funding for that story, can you do a painting," said Ms Secombe.
The project is a result of ACT Natimuk's First Nations Creative Lab program and the launch is being supported by Wimmera Libraries and HC Pro.
In addition to Ms Secombe's book and Mr Murphy's painting, the exhibit will also feature photographs by Mat Dooling.
The exhibition will be open at Natimuk's Goat Gallery from 4pm until 5:30pm on Saturday, November 2 as the west Wimmera town is filled with artistic flair for an art's weekend.
Also during the event, The Natimuk Open Studios Art Trail invites the public to explore local artists' studios, engage with their work, and discover the diverse visual arts scene that Natimuk has to offer.
Visitors can tour seven studio spaces and meet twelve talented artists, experiencing a variety of art forms.
The Nati Pop-Up Cinema will showcase a curated selection of films by local filmmaker Jacqui Schulz.
For those interested in contributing to the Nati Frinj Biennale 2025, Frinj Director Alison Eggleton will host a drop-in session at the Soldiers Memorial Hall on Saturday, November 2, from 1pm until 4pm.
For more information, visit the Natimuk Art's Weekend's website.