Indigenous arts and culture - News and events

Events | Featured projects | Call for entries | Announcements

Events

Douglas Kwarlple Abbott & Doris Thomas exhibition - Collingwood, Melbourne

23 February – 20 March 2010

Indigenart, Mossenson Galleries, in conjunction with Ngurratjuta Iltja Ntjarra (Many Hands Art Centre), Alice Springs, showcases two visions of the central desert, from Douglas Kwarlple Abbott and Doris Thomas. Alongside these paintings will be a selection of mixed media sculptures from the artists of Greenbush Art Group, Alice Springs Correctional Centre. Stylistically very different, the paintings of Abbott and Thomas are united in revealing the complexity and depth of the Indigenous relationship to the landscape. Mossenson Galleries.

Jimmy Pike, Desert Psychedelic - Brisbane

22 February – 28 March 2010

Jimmy Pike's designs are vivid, dynamic and groundbreaking in their use of non-traditional colours. In collaboration with the company Desert Designs, they exploded onto an international stage via high-fashion garments, textiles and furnishings. Desert Psychedelic, curated by Kirsten Fitzpatrick for artisan in partnership with Desert Designs, features Pike's original prints, textile lengths and the garments produced from his fabric designs. Australian Catholic University, Brisbane.

Ninuku Artists - Melbourne

23 March – 10 April 2010

Alcaston Gallery presents new works from Ninuku Artists. Ninuku Arts Centre is the most westerly community in the APY lands representing artists from the communities of Kalka and Pipalyatjara. This region is in the far north-west of South Australia, close to the tri-nation border of WA, NT & SA. Ninuku Arts (meaning Bilby in Pitjantjatjara) represents artists painting strong, story based work. Ninuku Arts is an Indigenous owned art centre. Some Ninuku artists are Renee Fox, Maxine Mick, Molly Miller, Samuel Miller. Alcaston Gallery, 11 Brunswick Street Fitzroy.

Barney Ellaga exhibition - Melbourne

2 March – 18 April 2010

This exhibition presents the colourful artwork of Barney Ellaga, born circa 1941 at Hodgson Downs in the Northern Territory. His bright, paintings, multicoloured composition and linear brushwork represent his country and also make reference to the skin of King Brown Snake. Ellaga's work continues to be sought after over the world. He has held a number of solo exhibitions as well as being represented in both private and public galleries and collections, such as the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra and the Laverty Collection. A south-east Arnhem land artist, Ellaga is a senior custodian for Mambali country. Dacou Melbourne.

The Dreamers - Sydney

9 May 2009 – 26 April 2010

This exhibition celebrates the lives and work of eight distinguished Aboriginal artists who have contributed significantly to Australia's cultural landscape. Profiling major bodies of work by Kutuwulumi Purawarrumpatu (Kitty Kantilla), Ronnie Tjampitjinpa, Rusty Peters, Dr David Malangi, John Mawurndjul, Ginger Riley Munduwalawala, Judy Watson and Munggurrawuy Yunupingu from the Gallery's collection, the exhibition draws comparisons with key works by other artists with whom they share a synergy, each creating a new vision. Art Gallery of NSW.

Bipotaim: Stories from the Torres Strait - Brisbane

13 February – 16 May 2010

Bipotaim: Stories from the Torres Strait is a travelling photographic exhibition from the Gab Titui Cultural Centre. The exhibition is from four communities in the Torres Strait and is illuminated with recollections of the days before and after the 1967 Referendum. It features striking portraits taken by photographer David Callow, combined with personal accounts of the impact of the referendum. The 1967 referendum saw more than 90 per cent of eligible Australians vote 'Yes' for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders to be included in the national census and gave the Commonwealth Government power to make laws for all Australian people. State Library of Queensland.

Emerging Elders: Honouring Senior Indigenous Artists - Canberra

3 October 2009 – 14 June 2010

In Indigenous Australian arts, beginning a career in painting or sculpture later in life is neither new nor uncommon, but practically the norm for many living in remote or regional areas. The artists in Emerging Elders are self-taught, and have only over the last decade created and consistently shown their work. The works are bold and contrasting and they illuminate the individual artists' culture and individuality. National Gallery of Australia.

Tayenebe - touring Canberra, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide

Canberra 1 March – 16 July 2010

Tayenebe means 'exchange'. Over the past three years more than twenty-five Tasmanian Aboriginal women have journeyed together across the island in a process of cultural retrieval of the techniques of basket making. Tayenebe includes contemporary fibre work made during the project alongside historical pieces from the Museum's collection as well as a video and blog. National Museum of Australia.

Cairns Indigenous Art Fair - Cairns, Queensland

20–22 August 2010

The Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) is Australia's only art fair dedicated to showcasing the best contemporary and traditional art work by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. First held in 2009, CIAF presents a diverse program which celebrates the art work from Queensland's best known and emerging artists with an art fair, exhibition, dance, music, artists' talks, workshops, children's art station and symposium. This fair invites first-time buyers, investors and the curious to seek out new artists and view paintings, prints, sculpture, ceramics, photography and new media arts that are available for sale. Tanks Arts Centre, Cairns.

Dhari a Krar: Headdresses and masks from the Torres Strait - Canberra

Ongoing

Dhari a Krar, meaning 'headdresses and masks' in the western Torres Strait language of Kala Lagaw Ya, brings together a diverse collection of masks, headdresses and dance objects from the late 1800s to the present. The exhibition explores their continuing significance to Torres Strait Islander cultures. National Museum of Australia.

Featured projects

Putipula online gallery

January 2010

Putipula Gallery stocks artwork from community based Aboriginal art centres in the remote Central Desert region of the 'APY Lands' (Anangu/Pitjantjatjara/Yankunytjatjara). Personal visits to remote Aboriginal communities are used to source this magnificent artwork and through this travel, strong relationships between the Art Centres and Putipula Gallery have been developed. Art centres include: Ernabella Arts (Pukatja, SA), Iwantja Arts (Indulkana SA), Kaltjiti Arts (Fregon, SA), Kaltjiti Arts (Fregon, SA), Mimili Maku Arts & Crafts (Via Alice Springs, NT), Ninuku Artists (Kalka, SA), Papunya Tjupi Arts (Papunya, NT), Tjala Arts (Amata, SA), Tjungu Palya Arts (Nyapari, SA), Warlukurlangu Artists (Yuendemu, NT).

Call for entries

Young Indigenous Writers' Initiative

Ongoing

In 2008, the Federation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages (FATSIL) announced the launch of the Young Indigenous Writers Initiative. The Young Indigenous Writer's Initiative is a mentoring program run by FATSIL that helps young Indigenous writers to develop writing skills and get work published. The aim of the program is to foster and promote the next generation of Indigenous writers in Australia.

Indigenous Media Training Scholarship - New South Wales

Ongoing

This scholarship offers Indigenous people in NSW the opportunity to enrol in Metro Screen training courses. Scholarships are awarded on a first come, first served basis. Courses are listed on the Metro Screen website.

Announcements

Sundance Film Festival selects Bran Nue Dae

10 December 2009, opening Australia 14 January 2010

Bran Nue Dae will have its USA premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, a high profile independent film festival. Filmed in Western Australia, the musical road-movie Bran Nue Dae is a new Australian film set in Broome. The film follows the journey of a young man, in the summer of 1969, on the run from his mission. Written by Rachel Perkins, Reg Cribb and Jimmy Chi, the film was produced by Robyn Kershaw and Graeme Isaac with cinematography by Andrew Lesnie. The cast includes Jessica Mauboy, Geoffrey Rush, Ernie Dingo, Missy Higgins, Ningali Lawford-Wolf and Broome locals Rocky McKenzie and Stephen Baamba Albert. Bran Nue Dae opens in Australia from 14 January 2010.

Key online resources

• Aboriginal Art Directory
• The Black Book - Indigenous Portal
• Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
• Message Club - Indigenous online space for children
• Message Stick - ABC online
• Vibe (the Deadlys)
• Centre for Appropriate Technology
• Reconciliation Australia
• The Institute for Aboriginal Development
• IAD Press - National Indigenous Publishing
• Indigenous Community News Network
• Indigenous language map

Indigenous peoples

• Eora: Aboriginal Sydney, 1770-1850
• Garma
• Indigenous Australians - online exhibitions at the Mitchell Library
• Mission Voices - Koorie
• Narungga people, Yorke Peninsula, South Australia
• Nyoongar people - Murdoch University
• Sacred Ground
• Wallumedegal - Aboriginal History of Ryde
• A brief Aboriginal History of Ryde
• Bundle (also known as Bon-del, Bundal, Bundell or Burreach)

Arts and culture

• Twelve Canoes
• ANKAAA - Northern Territory Top End and Kimberley Indigenous art centres
• Adjahdura Land
• Desart - Indigenous art centres in Central Australia
• Dust Echoes
• iDIDJ Australia
• Koori Heritage Trust - Victoria
• Bruce Pascoe with AIATSIS, The Little Red Yellow Black Book
• Ngaanyatjarra Regional Arts
• Queensland Indigenous Arts Marketing and Export Agency (QIAMEA)
• Roebourne Art Group
• Indigenous Torres Strait Islander Art
• Tiwi Art
• UMI Arts- Far North and West Queensland
• Us Mob
• Warlukurlangu Artists' Aboriginal Association
• Magabala Books

Media and broadcasting

• Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association (CAAMA)
• Imparja Television
• Waru - hosted by PY Media in APY Lands