Country Always

Caring for Country

A Corner of the Empire

The Garden Palace

The Holding Pen

The Agricultural Hall

Regional Networks

Across New South Wales

A Museum of Doing

Technological Museum

Expanding Stories

Evolution of the Castle Hill site from botanical research station to Museum Discovery Centre

Transforming the Tramsheds

Powerhouse Stage 1 and the Harwood Building

A Symbol in Time

Sydney Observatory

Ongoing Transformations

Powerhouse Ultimo

Applied Arts and Sciences

Defining the terms in the 21st century

Powerhouse Renewal

A transformative renewal program across four sites

Durrmu Arts Aboriginal Corporation

Alchemy

We Rise

Blak Powerhouse

Powerhouse-1 Mission Launch to the ISS

An initiative of the Powerhouse: Future Space program

2024

Exoskeleton

Powerhouse Parramatta

Parramatta

2024

Stories

Durrmu Arts Aboriginal Corporation

Alchemy

Words by Coby Edgar

A worn rectangular sign behind long dry grass. There is a thin orange border around the sign edges. Text on the sign reads ‘DURRMU ARTS aboriginal corporation Peppimenarti info@durrmuarts.com.au monday to friday 8am-4pm OR by appointment 08 8918 1322’. On top of the sign is a longer, and thinner orange rectangle with thick black text reading ‘Ph: 89782586 or 89782134.’

Stories

Curator Coby Edgar reflects on time spent in Peppimenarti with Durrmu Arts Aboriginal Corporation artists, as they prepare for Powerhouse Castle Hill exhibition, Alchemy.

‘Regina and a few other women were already weaving on the deck when we arrived in the early morning. Weavers seem to start at the break of dawn and they keep going late into the night sometimes. It's continuous.’

Coby Edgar

It was August and a last-minute trip was tacked on to an already long few months of travelling. Emily McDaniel, the inaugural Powerhouse Director First Nations, had decided it was time to talk to Agency about the possibility of doing this show, Alchemy. Agency is a not-for-profit organisation that promotes First Nations art, culture and people, and facilitates investment in First Nations-led projects. It was THAT time of the year again. Garma, Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair, Darwin Festival, the Telstra Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards, National Indigenous Music Awards and National Indigenous Fashion Awards. I had missed Garma because I had caught COVID-19. Stuck in my tiny Sydney apartment, I waited for it to pass then headed to Darwin. Straight after these events, Emily had organised for the two of us to jump in a car with Agency CEO Kade McDonald and art projects manager Miriam La Rosa. We would head out to Peppimenarti to meet with Regina Pilawuk Wilson and talk natural dyes.