A big congratulations to CEDoW Aboriginal Education Assistant and talented Aboriginal artist, Uncle Kevin Butler, who has won the prestigious Mil-Pra AECG Exhibition Mayor's Choice Award for his artwork, 'Do trees feel pain when they burn?'.

The annual Mil-Pra Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (AECG) Exhibition and art prize celebrates the significance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture in our region. 

The award – sponsored by Liverpool City Council and Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre – means Uncle Kevin's impressive artwork using acrylic and enamel on canvas will now be on display for us to enjoy as part of this year's exhibition, running from now until 27 January 2021 at the Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre.

Watch Uncle Kevin announced as the winner of the Mayor's Choice Award at the official virtual awards ceremony here...

Launched on the weekend, the 29th Annual Mil-Pra AECG Exhibition received entries from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists of all ages living in NSW and the ACT, for a variety of artworks from paintings to ceramics and sculptural pieces.

"The exhibition is a place for First Nations artists to share and create a dialogue with a broader audience with their stories and concerns," Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre director, Craig Donarski, said.

"Thank you and congratulations to all the artists [like Uncle Kevin] who have contributed to this year’s exhibition."

"Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art is the oldest ongoing art in the world. Our traditional forms of artistic expression were rock carvings, body painting and ground designs, which date back more than 40,000 years," the 2020 Mil-Pra Art Exhibition Committee said.

"Art has always been an important part of Aboriginal life. It connects us to the past and present, the people and the land, and it also connects us to each other" — Mil-Pra Art Exhibition Committee 2020

"The quality and variety of art produced [in this exhibition] reflects the skill and talent of our community and incorporates a variety of different media and art styles, each of which reflect the individual artists’ experiences, voice and culture."

The award is a well-deserved recognition for Uncle Kevin and the wonderful talents that he shares with so many of our CEDoW Catholic school communities. Well done, Uncle Kev!

© Aboriginal Artist Uncle Kevin Butler, ‘Do trees feel pain when they burn?’  2019