Whale Dreaming
Artist: Graham Toomey
The artwork connects each viewer to the ancient story of Whale Dreaming and captures Saltwater Country. My whale tale sits along the ‘treasure hunt’ where it will also connect the viewer to the stars and moon that mirrors the landscape of Gadigal Country. The stars reference ‘Biami’, my people’s creator (Wiradjuri nation), who protects us, guides us and watches over us, along with our ancestors and the journeys the whales make under the stars. The artwork features the ancient tracks that connect the clans to each other and the sharing of stories and culture.
Graham Toomey
Graham Toomey is a ‘freshwater man’ of the ‘Wurramunga’ clan of the Wiradjuri nation and also of the Wongaibon nation of Western NSW. His visual art practice involves creating paintings, ceramics, word work, public art and installations. Graham creates works about Spirituality, Culture, History, Movement and about the landscape, stories and images of ‘Country’. “I like to explore and find new creative ideas and put those into practice. I have achieved many things with my practice, but the most pleasing was in my second year as a visual artist, being a finalist in 2013 and 2014 Aboriginal Parliament Art Awards.”
As Uncle Graham Toomey’s work connects the stars with the oceans, and ancient clans with each other, this place connects us to the Harbour, and the Old Harbour to the New. Like Barangaroo’s marriage to Bennelong, this headland joins the New Sydney Waterfront – spanning Blackwattle Bay to Walsh Bay – with traditional Sydney postcards of Sydney Opera House and The Rocks.
Close by at Dawes Point (Tar-ra) a First Fleet astronomer, William Dawes, built his observatory to watch and record the southern skies. Befriending an Aboriginal woman, Patyegarang, he learned and recorded the language of the Sydney peoples. This place has long been a place of wonder and reflection.
First Nations Audio Narrative: With thanks to our Indigenous Cultural Advisors, Aunty Jo Selfe and Uncle Graham Toomey, and special contributors who have generously shared important stories of place. Listen to the First Nations Audio Narrative here.
Charity Auction
Love Whale Tales? Want to keep one?
You can! After the Waterfront Whale Tales trail concludes, all 30 sculptures will be offered for purchase at a dedicated art auction at Sydney Maritime Museum, Terrace Room.
The net proceeds from the auction will go to The Kids’ Cancer Project.
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