The First, First Families: A Curator’s Archive

The First, First Families: A Curator's Archive  

The exhibition The First, First Families contains many of the earliest views of Sydney and representations of Aboriginal people from 1788: the ‘First, First Families’. As the site of the invasion and ongoing resistance Sydney has always been a contested place.

As a curator Ace Bourke has, in several major exhibitions, explored the entwined narratives of his own colonial family history, Aboriginal history and his experiences as a curator of contemporary Aboriginal art. You will see etchings from the earliest published journals based on artwork by leading artists such as Thomas Watling, Nicholas-Martin Petit from the Baudin expedition and Joseph Lycett.

The Gallery will be open 11 to 6pm, Thursday to Saturday*

(*Saturday close at 4pm).

The curator Ace Bourke will be present in the gallery from 2 to 4pm, Thursday to Saturday.

Associated 'conversations' will also take place. Times to be confirmed. Please visit www.crossart.com.au for more information and announcements.

Event Website:  http://www.crossart.com.au 

Contact: info@crossart.com.au 

Photo credits: Image 1: Thomas Medland (1755-1822) after Richard Cleveley (1747-1809). Copper engraving, 230 x 145mm. From Arthur Phillip, The Voyage of Governor Phillip to Botany Bay, London. Published June 17, 1789 by John Stockdale. Image 2: A Family of New South Wales c.1792. From a sketch by Governor King. Artist William Blake, Copper engraving, 280 x 200mm. From John Hunter, Historical Journal of the Transactions at Port Jackson and Norfolk Island (London 1793). Image 3: Nouvelle-Hollande. Cour-Rou-Bari-Gal. J. Barthelemy Rogers after Nicholas-Martin Petit 1811. Hand coloured engraving, 320 x 250mm. Plate XV111 from Francois Peron’s journal Plate X1X from Francois Peron’s journal.