Commissioner attends opening of ‘Awakening’

Commissioner Elizabeth Fraser attended the private community viewing for the display ‘Awakening: Stories from the Torres Strait’ at the Queensland Museum, at South Bank on 29 June.

This new display forms part of 'The Torres Strait Islands: A Celebration', presented by Queensland´s major arts organisations at the Cultural Centre, South Bank. The exhibits showcase the diversity and vibrancy of historical and contemporary arts and culture of Torres Strait Islander Australians, and form part of the ‘Coming of the Light Festival’.

The viewing was held as an opportunity to welcome members of the Torres Strait Islander community (and their guests) to the museum, to explore the exhibition and view the objects and stories in private. The event commenced with an official welcome from Queensland Museum followed by a dance performance by the Urab dancers from Poruma Island.

Other displays include The Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA), which is hosting ‘Land, Sea and Sky: Contemporary Art of the Torres Strait Islands’, and The State Library which is hosting ‘Strait Home’.

One of the items on display at the Queensland Museum is the impressive traditional outrigger canoe 'Goeyga Thithui', which means 'Morning Star', and is significant as the Torres Strait Island people were known for their skill in navigating by stars.

'The Torres Strait Islands: A Celebration' will feature at the Cultural Centre, South Bank, until 23 October 2011 as http://www.tsi.org.au/.

Last Updated: July 20, 2011

Print this page