Yorta Yorta woman Vicki Walker, who has been organising NAIDOC Week exhibitions at The Foundry for 15 years, said the 2026 showcase would focus exclusively on men.
“In 2025, we did all women, so this year we are doing all the men, with an exhibition called ‘Our heroes, way more than 50 years deadly’,” Aunty Vicki Walker said.
“We think our men, going back, have been deadly for way longer than that.
“We are going to have a wall of fame, which are pieces that aren’t for sale about our athletes, our musicians, our artists, our shearers that have come from Yorta Yorta country.
“There will be a photographic exhibition and some other pieces from what we like to call our heroes, our elders, our old people.”
Community involvement forms a central part of the exhibition, with local male artists contributing works in various mediums.
“Anyone who is part of the community will be allowed to submit work,” Aunty Vicki said.
“We will reach out to other Yorta Yorta artists who don’t live on country anymore, but are always part of country.”
Students from St Joseph’s College will also participate through workshops and performances, with one student performing on the Yidaki during the opening night.
“I do a bit of work with St Joseph’s College and I’m going to be doing some art with the male students in the next few weeks,” she said.
“That will include some fabulous framed photographic landscapes from one of the students in particular, who is phenomenal at photography.
“Then there will be other students that I am doing workshops with making beautiful little possum skin pieces that will be burnt and framed for sale on the night as well.”
The opening night on Friday, July 10 at 6pm will feature traditional food including kangaroo, wattleseed, Davidson plum, and lemon myrtle, with everyone welcome to attend.
Our heroes, way more than 50 years deadly, The Foundry Arts Space 13-17 Murray Esplanade, Echuca.
