Painter lives for art

Thursday, 24th February, 2011

SOLO ARTIST: Eddie "Durrugarra" Wighton will be the first Aboriginal artist to show his work at the BH Art Precinct when his exhibition opens tomorrow night.

The Broken Hill Art Precinct in Duff Street is presenting its first ever solo exhibition by an Aboriginal artist tomorrow.

This show by Eddie "Durrugarra" Wighton features a mixture of traditional motifs in acrylic in canvas, on board and behind glass as well as wooden objects.

His exhibition opens at 6.30pm and will run for four weeks.

Eddie came to live in Broken Hill a year ago.

"I used to live here years ago. I worked at the railway station, moved off then I came back because I've got family here," he said.

Eddie said he doesn't think he'll ever leave and hopes to continue painting and possibly teaching tradition Aboriginal art.

Founder of BH Art Exchange, Susan Thomas, said at Friday's exhibition locals will be able to see the artist at work painting a large wooden crocodile that will be raffled at the end of the four-week exhibition.

Ms Thomas said Eddie was from the Wiradjuri people in Wellington, NSW and his traditional name was "Durrugarra".

Eddie said the key to Aboriginal dot painting was to "never rush it".

"Never rush things ... take your time with each line. If you feel you need a break, take a break and if you make mistakes just keep going and come back after," he said.

Each piece of artwork represents a story from Eddie's people and other Indigenous tribes.

He first started painting in Western Australia, has lived in Alice Spring and exhibited in Canberra.

"I've travelled all around painting," he said.

"I live for it. Every day I am outside painting."