In less than 14 hours, Wurundjeri artist William Barak’s artworks will be going up for auction at Sotheby’s New York.
At 4pm New York time, 6am tomorrow Melbourne time, two culturally significant works from the First Nations leader will be available as part of the live auction.
A GoFundMe set up by the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation has been aiming to raise $250,000 to bid on the rare artworks.
On Wednesday 25 May at 4pm, over $94,000 had been raised to purchase the works.
As a figure tightly linked to Healesville and the Coranderrk campaign for freedom of place and uniting Aboriginal people, Barak was also the first Indigenous artist to be renowned for his artworks.
The first of the artworks up for sale is a drawing called ‘Figures in possum skin cloaks’ which was created by Barak in 1897.
“It is different from previous work and depicts a group of male and female figures in possum skins cloaks who are shown gathered for a cultural purpose,” the GoFundMe says.
“The second artwork is a Barak parrying shield. The shield is unique, as there are three boldly incised motifs at the centre. These motifs are design elements not found on other parrying shields attributed to Barak.”
There’s still time to donate to the cause by going to GoFundMe and searching for the page ‘Bring William Barak’s artwork home to Wurundjeri’.
