Published on Tuesday, 19 May 2026 at 12:06:35 PM
Art GalleryReconciliation Action Plan
Honouring Elders, strengthening culture and embracing reconciliation through art
The Shire of Carnarvon is proud to present Portraits of Yinggarda Elders II at the Shire of Carnarvon Library & Art Gallery, celebrating the strength, stories and cultural legacy of Yinggarda elders through portraiture.
The exhibition will open during the Gnulli Festival on Saturday 23 May from 10–11am with a special Yarns & Tea gathering.
A private Elders lunch will also be held on 3 June, the final day of National Reconciliation Week, bringing together Elders, artists and community leaders to yarn, connect and reflect on the project.
This unique community art initiative brought together eight local artists to paint eight respected Yinggarda Elders engaged by Cheryl Moncreiff. The artists were guided by award-winning Carnarvon artist Gosia Taylor and participated in a series of workshops from September 2025 to January 2026, developing their portraits in a supportive and collaborative environment.
The project aims to celebrate culture, strengthen relationships and increase the visibility of Yinggarda women within civic spaces.
Shire of Carnarvon staff visited each Elder and capturing reference photographs that became the foundation for a striking series of black and white acrylic portraits.
This marks the second iteration of the Portraits of Yinggarda Elders project, with selected artworks from the original exhibition also on display throughout National Reconciliation Week. Following the exhibition, all portraits will become part of the Shire of Carnarvon Art Collection, preserving these stories and cultural contributions for future generations.
Celebrating Strong Cultural Women
The eight Yinggarda Elders are artists who participating in the project include:
- Marion Crowe – painted by Carmen Reilly
- Merle Dann – painted by Helen Brooks
- Sharon Crowe – painted by Dave Stewart
- Philomena Dodd – painted by Rowena Christ
- Cheryl Moncreiff – painted by Wendy George
- Bella Randall – painted by Bernadine Anning
- Kath Ryan – painted by Karla Tittums
- Esther Edney – painted by Senia Samuela-Eastmure
Cheryl Moncreiff shared:
“For the Portraits of Yinggarda Elders project this year we have eight women who are strong cultural women who all grew up in Carnarvon and have connection to Country.”
These portraits are more than artworks, they are records of living knowledge, leadership and cultural strength. By honouring Elders in this way, the project contributes to preserving Yinggarda culture and increasing its visibility within the Carnarvon community.
Art as Cultural Respect, Learning and Legacy
For facilitator Gosia Taylor, the project was both technically challenging and deeply rewarding.
“Portraiture is demanding, even small changes in proportion or shading can alter likeness. Working from a photograph adds further complexity. Translating a flat image into something dimensional and emotionally present requires patience, discipline and strong observation skills,” she said.
“Yet beyond technique, the project fostered something equally important: cultural respect and shared learning. Artists supported one another, exchanged ideas and built confidence across the sessions.”
Teaching in black and white encouraged artists to focus on light, shadow and structure while carefully honouring each Elder’s individuality and presence.
“Watching community artists grow in confidence was incredibly rewarding. You could see the shift from uncertainty to pride as the likeness began to emerge,” Gosia said.
“The process created space for deeper reflection, attentive observation and respectful representation, demonstrating how creative practice can contribute to cultural understanding and reconciliation in action. This project has been challenging, emotional and incredibly fulfilling. I feel proud of the artists and grateful to have been part of their journey.”
Reconciliation Week 2026: All In
The 2026 National Reconciliation Week theme, All In, calls on all Australians to commit wholeheartedly to reconciliation every day.
Portraits of Yinggarda Elders II reflects this commitment through meaningful action, strengthening relationships, honouring Elders, supporting cultural learning and embedding Yinggarda visibility within the Shire’s permanent collection.
The exhibition will run from 23 May to 13 June 2026 at the Shire of Carnarvon Library & Art Gallery.
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