Rodney Stevens

A woman who moved to Grafton two years ago and says she was inspired by the Valley’s connection to the river has been named the winner of the 2023 Clarence Valley Indigenous Art Award.

Kristal Russ who was originally from Derby on Jaru country in Western Australia, and was raised on Ngarinyin country in the Kimberley, was announced as the 2023 Open Acquisitive prize winner, receiving $5000 for her painting ‘Ngaba’.

After moving to Bundjalung country two years ago, Kristal used the region’s connection with the mighty Clarence River to inspire her artwork.

“Ngaba means “water” in Jaru, from my great grand-mother’s country,” she said.

“When I first moved to the Clarence Valley, everything felt connected to the water.

“I lived alongside the Clarence and have spent a momentous amount of my time here around water, experiencing the largest flood on record, fishing on the weekends and even just taking time to appreciate the river.”

Along with her appreciation for water, Kristal’s painting also conveys its power and sustenance.

“Water lifts us, sustains us, even allows us to travel through it, yet it is still one of the most powerful and destructive forces in nature,” she said.

“It can create new paths over time and will always find a way.

“I believe this can be relatable to our journey through life and is something to be respected and thankful for, our ability to keep moving forward yet remain connected.”

Other winners in the Clarence Valley Indigenous Art Award CVIAA were Jenna Rendell, who won the $1000 Emerging prize for her work ‘Coast Country,’ while this year’s youth prize was won by Janarla Mercy for her work ‘Basket Weaving’.

The 2023 CVIAA is proudly sponsored by the Yulgilbar Foundation and was co-judged by Arts Northern Rivers Indigenous Arts Officer, Kylie Caldwell, and Githabal artist of 30 years, Luke Close.

This year’s award is the ninth iteration of the exhibition, showcasing work by First Nations artists who reside on Bundjalung, Gumbaynggirr, or Yaegl Country in the Clarence Valley Council region.

The 2023 CVIAA will be on display until Saturday November 12, at the Grafton Regional Gallery alongside School of the Living and the Dead: Bill Platz and Relative Terrains: Karma Barnes and Robert Franken.