Tweed Regional Museum’s new exhibition, Ritual, draws together historical artefacts, contemporary art and objects lent by local community groups to examine the traditions that hold communities together.
Entry is free, and the show runs until 21 November at the museum’s Murwillumbah site.
Organisers say much of the exhibition’s content comes from the Tweed itself. Local residents and lenders contributed stories, objects and traditions from across the shire’s communities, including artefacts from the local Sikh and Hare Krishna communities and more personal items such as children’s teeth collected by “the tooth fairy.”
Two local artists feature prominently: Matthew Aberline, whose new installation immerses visitors in giant inflatable works with light and sound to explore themes of transformation, and Jaz Meier of Harley & J, whose original artworks include a series of commissioned seasonal illustrations of the Tweed’s landscapes and flora.
The collection also holds two of the earliest known headstones in the Tweed, both memorials to maritime disasters. One honours Margaret and Charles Wootton, the latter drowned when the cutter Mary Jane was lost on a voyage between the Tweed River and Sydney in 1861. The other commemorates members of the Boyd family, killed when the schooner Ebenezer wrecked on the Tweed River bar on 30 July 1859 — a wreck whose 167th anniversary falls during the exhibition’s opening week.
Exhibition curator Kalindi Hopping said the show was intended as a counterpoint to present-day division. “At a time in the world where division can feel front and centre, it is my hope that Ritual offers a warm reminder of what brings us together,” Hopping said. On working with the exhibition’s contributing artists, she added: “It’s been a joy to work with Matthew and Jaz on this exhibition. Artists play such an important role in presenting our stories and creating opportunities for community collaboration.”
Ritual was developed by Tweed Regional Museum in collaboration with local communities, artists and lenders from across the region. The project is supported by Create NSW through its four-year Multi-Year Arts and Cultural Funding Program.
Exhibition details: Ritual is on display at Tweed Regional Museum, 2 Queensland Road, Murwillumbah, from Wednesday 29 July to 21 November. Entry is free. The museum is open 10am–4pm, Tuesday to Saturday. The exhibition will also open after dark during the Tweed Regional Museum Street Party on Saturday 5 September.
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