'Story Country: Uncle Jim Ridgeway' opening celebration

Enjoy an exhibition preview with an introduction from special guest speakers. Wine can be purchased from Ernest Hill Wines and light refreshments will be provided by Three Bears Cafe.

Story Country: Uncle Jim Ridgeway

The paintings and ceramics of Uncle Jim Ridgeway echo petroglyphs and entrusted stories. These artworks trace stories of the artist’s connection to Birpi and Awabakal Country.

Respected Aboriginal Elder, the late Clifford James ‘Jim’ Ridgeway grew up on a mission with the Biripi language group. From the age of 15 he was an amateur boxer with Les McNabb’s troupe until deciding to pursue his talent as a country and western singer. He became a celebrity in country music circles, scoring an award from Nashville, USA, and being named top Aboriginal country and western male vocalist in Australia in the late 1970s.

A serious car accident in the early 1990s diverted his career from singing to art, beginning with painting then ceramics. Uncle Jim Ridgeway was a founding member of the MAC yapang Aboriginal Refence Group and collaborated on artworks that are a feature of the MAC yapang Sculpture Park.

Image at top: Jim Ridgeway Kangaroo 2002. hand coiled pottery, 280mm diameter

Image below: Jim Ridgeway's hand coiled pottery. Clockwise from left - My Country 2004, Mukkun (Muk-kun) Lizard 2004, Toomulla (A Creek) 2003, Kangaroo 2002.