Ralph Close

I am Bundjalung and Dunghutti Artist. I live in Lismore and have for most of my life. My connection to the Bundjalung country is through my father’s mother’s linage.

I have always enjoyed art and music (guitar). For me it is a way to defuse, relax and re-centre and a way to connect to country.

I have gotten back into art in the last 4 years, especially with my work regarding sharing, passing it on and showing who are interested. I’ve been working at an Aboriginal men’s Drug and Alcohol Healing centre for many years on the north coast of NSW. I am a support worker and help facilitate music and art. I find art and music to be therapeutic.

I spent 10 years living in Sydney, back in the late 80’s, up until 1997, then moved back to the north coast. While living in Sydney, I worked here and there and attended Tranby College in Glebe. It was a good change at the time, I met a lot of people from all over and was good to brush up on education.

What has been an inspiration for me regarding art was finding out more about my grandfathers and who they were and what roles they played within their communities – back when they were able to freely practice ceremony, art, song and dance. I won’t go too much into it, but my great Grandfather on my mother’s side (Ralph Quinlan) from Bellbrook (Dunghutti) was a traditional medicine man healer (nguloongurra), with extensive knowledge of tribal ways (artifacts).

I was told by my father about connection to Muli Muli (Githabul). He mentioned stories about some of his uncles, one particularly Uncle Rory Close – who maintained and practiced traditional Lore, made boomerangs and other artifacts. This is a little of my story/lineage and connection to country and I guess this is where my interest in art comes from.