ReCoil: Change & Exchange in Coiled Fibre Art

This exhibition introduces some of the most recent, innovative and important developments in contemporary Australian fibre practice. Central to these developments has been the rapid spread and diversification of the coiled basket making technique, especially among Aboriginal women in remote communities. The spread of coiling has also been influenced by creative partnerships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous practitioners, and to highlight this, ReCoil profiles the work of thirteen Aboriginal and three western textile artists though a diverse range of baskets, bags, mats, paintings and sculptures.

Touring nationally November 2007 - May 2010.

This exhibition is supported by Visions of Australia, an Australian Government program supporting touring exhibitions by providing funding assistance for the development and touring of Australian cultural material across Australia.

REPLANT: a new generation of botanical art
Supported by Nomad Art Productions, NT Government, the Australia Council, Wildlife in the Northern Territory and Artback NT

Replant is a ground breaking exhibition which straddles boundaries between science and art.

The exhibition reinvestigates botanical drawings through its six diverse and renowned Australian artists: Fiona Hall (SA), Judy Watson (QLD), Winsome Jobling (NT), Deborah Wurrkidj (NT), Marita Sambono (NT), Irene Mungatopi (NT) and photographer Peter Eve from the Northern Territory.

Working with the Northern Territory Herbarium, artists explored the scientific, cultural and social aspects of Indigenous plant species with traditional knowledge custodians from the Daly River region. Images were then developed as 26 limited edition etchings.

Touring nationally June 2008 - December 2011.

This exhibition is supported by Visions of Australia, an Australian Government program supporting touring exhibitions by providing funding assistance for the development and touring of Australian cultural material across Australia.

Touring supported by Visions of Australia

Image: Black Plum

Artist: Deborah Wurrkidj 2006
Photo: Courtesy of Nomad Art

More Than My Skin
Supported by the Campbelltown Arts Centre

The role and character of urban adult Aboriginal males is the subject of intense discussion in recent times. Are we ‘warriors’; and how does one escape all the negative attributes connected with that primitivist title?

The science of photography was discovered in France in 1839, not long after the arrival of European colonials in Australia in 1788. The first black and white photographic images of Aboriginal people were taken in 1847. Photography belongs to no-one and yet everyone except Aboriginal people has been a liberating tool in our representation both publicly and personally.

For most of our history we were at the ‘victim’ end of the lens and it was only towards the end of the 1800’s that some yet to be recognised Aboriginal people moved behind the camera to record their vision. As there was a legacy from this 'American' influence with 'white' Australian photographers including Max Dupain and David Moore, there is a set of Aboriginal male photographers in a similar style. They are photographers who are not just spectators but participants and that the very image depends on a [their] viewpoint.

The idea of More Than My Skin is to show a set of male Aboriginal photographers who have a history of working in black and white photographs, in a similar way to the Magnum photographers when they started after WWII. More Than My Skin has been developed to show those people who often miss out in today's much worked-on and photo-shopped photography, and to illustrate some idea of Aboriginal maleness whatever that is perceived to be. It's a very basic simple idea with complex trails and tales.

Djon Mundine OAM

29 May - 19 June; Watch This Space, Alice Springs

26 June - 16 July; Nyinnka Nyunyu, Tennant Creek

1 August - 5 September; 24HR Art, Darwin

11 September - 25 October; Council Gallery, Katherine

In This Together, curated by Khaled Sabsabi
Supported by Kultour: touring multicultural arts, changing Australian culture

The Arab world and its people are diverse in tradition, religion, place and background. The beliefs, opinions and hopes of these people cannot be encapsulated into one simple statement.

These works by established and emerging video makers explore Arabness from a broad social, political and religious spectrum with suggestions that there is no singular way of communication or conflict resolution but diversity of opinion about the Arab world and diaspora.

Following the success of some Thing screening and Tone Curated by Khaled Sabsabi in 2006 and 2007 at Liverpool Regional Museum and in partnerships with Casula Powerhouse, Information and Cultural Exchange (ICE) and Sydney Arab Film Festival 2007 (SAFF), comes a single channel video compilation screening titled In This Together.

Collected over a 3 year period, these works cross a range of genres and techniques dabbling in the experimental, the dramatic and the often very controversial. This exhibition will provide opportunities for audiences to gain insights into stories emerging from zones of conflict, challenging representations through the presentation of a variety of viewpoints. This opportunity for conversation and debate can not exist unless people approach the process of negotiation with and to an openness of opinions. This screening program showcases stories emerging from diverse Arabic speaking cultures locally and globally to all Australian audiences. Furthermore this program aims to address the (mis)representations of Arab culture through film by providing critical spaces and give exposure to alternative representations of Arab culture, Arab commentary and self-representation to mainstream Australia.

16 - 21 August ; Darwin Festival, Brown's Mart

22 - 29 August ; Darwin Community Arts, Malak

Artist: Dion Beasley
Title: Dangerous Dog 2008
Screenprint with wash, 625 x  825mm

Photo Credit: Angus Cameron

PDF Download

Education Kit

A Dog's Life - Dion Beasley

Many people will be familiar with Dion’s work from the Cheeky Dog tee shirts that adorn the backs of many Northern Territorians and tourists alike. Dion Beasley is a 17 year old Indigenous artist from Canteen Creek near Tennant Creek in the N.T. Dion was born profoundly deaf and has muscular dystrophy. With his friend and mentor Joie Boulter, Dion has been producing Cheeky Dog images for tee shirts and bags for a number of years. This exhibition sees a whole new side to Dion’s work.
Ten large limited edition hand coloured prints give a humorous and astute observation into the community life of Canteen Creek’s camp dogs and introduces several new characters. The works were printed at Julalikari Arts in Tennant Creek under the guidance of Alan Murn.

These works captivate and delight and highlight the wonderful contribution artists with disabilities make to our cultural and artistic life. Murn says “The works on print are more than very, very good drawings of dogs. Dion’s line work is very confident and very skilful. His use of space that he works within is very clever, and his perspectives and perceptions are highly developed for someone without any training.”

26 November - 31 March ; Nyinka Nyunyu, Tennant Creek NT

06 May - 17 June ; Goulbourn Regional Art Gallery VIC

21 July - 23 August ; Cessnock Regional Art Gallery VIC

04 September - 2 October ; Tablelands Regional Art Gallery VIC

21 October - 25 October ; Awakenings Festival, Horsham VIC

Yiloga! is a exploration of football and it’s importance in the life of an Indigenous community.

This series of documentary style photographs deals with the place of footy in Tiwi culture and explores not only the Tiwi communities passion for the game of AFL Football but also it’s positive influence on life in the community.

The caliber of the footballers that have originated from the Tiwi Islands is remarkable; they have thrilled crowds with their sporting prowess, athleticism and style on the football field. This exhibition explores the links between sport, culture and art resonating deeply within the collective Australian psyche.

The colour and excitement of ‘footy’ is captured as well as some of the startling history of the islands over the last 5 years. Photographers Peter Eve and Monica Napper have worked collaboratively with the community to produce a remarkable work that endeavours to break down barriers and redress stereotypes.

Sport and life are inextricably linked in Australian culture and these images explore some of the cultural and social aspects of ‘yiloga’ and the prominent place of footy in the social network of the region referencing the tribal/clan alliances which form the basis of football on the Tiwi Islands. As Brother Pye once noted: “Football has unified people on the islands. They are all from different clans, but as soon as you pick a footy team they are all in it together.”

This exhibition is a striking reminder of the complexity of the country in which we live.

2009

6 June - 4 July; King Island Cultural Centre

11 September - 23 October; Benalla Regional Art Gallery

Gilt Bracelet
Artist: Felicity Dalgleish
Photo: Courtesy Territory Craft

Territory Craft Jewelery

In association with Territory Craft, a traveling exhibition from the Alice Springs Territory Craft Acquisition Permanent Collection has been developed featuring works by nationally renowned jewelers and craftspeople. The exhibition has a comprehensive education kit to facilitate the learning and enjoyment for a younger schools audience. Currently touring and available.