Artist Biography
Waradgerie artist Lorraine Connelly-Northey was born in 1962 in Swan Hill, Victoria. Inspired by the Mallee and Riverina bush environments of north-western Victoria where she grew up, her innovative objects and installations relate to the history and culture of the Waradgerie and her personal connection to the land. Using found materials, both industrial and organic, such as corrugated iron, fencing wire, feathers and shells, Connelly-Northey uses her knowledge of Aboriginal coil weaving to transform recycled materials into traditional forms such as kooliman and dilly bags. Since 1991 she has exhibited in numerous exhibitions including Twined Together: Kunmadj Njalehnjaleken, at the Melbourne Museum, and Woven Forms: Contemporary Basket Making in Australia at Object Gallery, Sydney, 2005. Lorraine Connelly-Northey lives in Swan Hill.
Works
Hunter-gatherer 2004–05
Artist Statement
I want to be more than just a traditional weaver. I want to be a distinguished weaver with an instantaneously recognisable style and voice. I see myself weaving everything now: from digging sticks to cloaks. I will come up with my own weaving style, from the stitches I use and create. Hunter Gatherer has been a move away from just string bag making to a showcasing of my knowledge of traditional Aboriginal society. I set out to unload fifteen years of self-acquired knowledge in an installation of objects that would enable people to immediately share in this knowledge.
