In the Grey: The Saltwater Story – Benjamin Allmon and David Kelly

In the Grey: The Saltwater Story is a story of connection, collaboration, co-operation and cultural continuance.

This exhibition documents author Benjamin Allmon’s voyage of discovery with Bundjalung canoemaker Kyle Slabb and the local Indigenous communities, as they set out in traditional canoes from the heart of the Gold Coast to North Stradbroke Island, a journey not made for over 100 years.

What started as one man’s attempt to educate himself became something far bigger — The Saltwater Story — a fully-illustrated book, with 177 photos by renowned photographer David Kelly and a feature-length documentary by award-winning director Jeff Licence.

The exhibition features photographs by David Kelly, the feature documentary and a canoe crafted and paddled by young Bundjalung, Yugambeh, and Quandamooka men.

The artists would like to acknowledge the Bundjalung, Yugambeh and Quandamooka peoples, upon whose lands this story occurred. The Saltwater Story was made possible by support from The Australia Council for the Arts, Arts Queensland, Gold Coast City Council, and Silver Service Marine.

David Kelly
High rise, two gundal (canoe) (detail) 2018
digital photographic print
Image courtesy of the artist