Central Coast Council is pleased to present national touring exhibition OCCURRENT AFFAIR – at the Gosford Regional Gallery featuring new and recent works by influential Aboriginal artist collective proppaNOW from 18 November to 11 February 2024.

Established in Brisbane in 2003, proppaNOW is one of Australia’s leading cultural collectives.  The collective members, Vernon Ah Kee, Tony Albert, Richard Bell, Megan Cope, Jennifer Herd, Gordon Hookey and Laurie Nilsen explore the politics of Aboriginal art and culture, re-thinking what it means to be a contemporary Aboriginal artist.

Gallery members and the public are invited to the Exhibition’s opening night’s thought-provoking activation of OCCURRENT AFFAIR on 17 November at 6pm at Gosford Regional Gallery.

The evening, hosted by Council in partnership with Awesome Black, will present Richard Bell’s Embassy with an in-conversation chat with trailblazing filmmaker Aunty Maddy McGrady, and a performance from 2023 Australian Poetry Slam champion, Uncle Rob Waters. The evening will also see local Elders invited to collaborate with proppaNOW’s Tony Albert in the painting of his artwork Terra Nullius (with Scrooge).

Director of the Gosford Regional Gallery, Tim Braham said guests should expect to see art that raises awareness of Aboriginal urban expression which depicts a contemporary thought-provoking story. 

“The collective dispels the notion that Aboriginal art needs to be from a remote area to be ‘authentic’,” Mr Braham said.

“This is proppaNOW’s first presentation on the Central Coast.  Seeing this historically significant movement at Gosford Regional Gallery is an unmissable opportunity for the whole Central Coast and Hunter Region community and visitors.”

Council’s Administrator, Rik Hart said the Central Coast is proud to be on the national tour and that not only regular art lovers, but also local community groups and schools on the Central Coast will have the opportunity to engage with it.

“Conceived as a collaborative activist gesture, OCCURRENT AFFAIR connects with current socio-political, economic, and environmental issues, while celebrating Aboriginal culture,” Mr Hart said. 

“The exhibition from The University of Queensland Art Museum touring with Museums & Galleries of NSW will reflect on the ongoing situation affecting Aboriginal communities – issues that are relevant to all Australians.

“We are thrilled that the exhibition tour has been made possible with funding from the Australian Government, through the Australia Council of the Arts, its arts funding and advisory body and assisted by Australian Government’s Visions of Australia program.”

The exhibition will run from 18 November until 11 February 2023 at the Gosford Regional Gallery, open daily 9.30am to 4pm, with free entry.  

Visit TryBooking to RSVP to the opening night celebration at 6pm, 17 November with dignitaries from local Aboriginal representatives attending.

First Nations visitors are advised that the exhibition may contain images, names, and voices of people who have deceased. Permission has been granted from the family for all images and artwork to be shown.