Our Stories Our Way: Our Mob 2015 on Tour is a collection of works by South Australian Aboriginal artists who exhibited in Our Mob 2015, presented by Adelaide Festival Centre and TARNANTHI Festival of Contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art.
The exhibition aims to engage the public with reconciliation and cross cultural understanding by showcasing Aboriginal artists’ visual expressions of their own stories.
2015 marked the tenth anniversary of Our Mob. Over this time, it has grown to include several new exhibitions presented by the Adelaide Festival Centre such as Our Mob Contemporary, Our Young Mob and Ripple Effect, a capsule exhibition by Anna Dowling, winner of the second Don Dunstan Foundation Our Mob Emerging Artist Award.
The twelve artists selected to tour are Imiyari Adamson from Ernabella, Tjangili George from Fregon, Samantha Lester from Copley, Kunyi June McInerney from Oodnadatta, Donny McKenzie from Whyalla, Josina Pumani from Mimili, Debra Rankine from Meningie, James Tylor from Adelaide, Fah Fah Walsh from Murray Bridge, Ian Willding from Adelaide, Henry Witjita Young from Moonta (and Irrunyju Community) and Anna Dowling from Adelaide.
Each artist’s work is unique to their personal heritage and practice. The alternative photographic practice of James Tylor, who currently lives in Adelaide, examines racial and cultural identity in Australian contemporary society and throughout history. Weaver Debra Rankine was taught her skills from Ngarrindjeri Elder Auntie Ellen Trevorrow, who is known worldwide for her basket weaving.
Our Mob has become a feature of the South Australian art scene and Our Stories Our Way: Our Mob 2015 on Tour helps to keep Aboriginal arts active and sustainable right around South Australia.