ARTS BACKBONE Volume 5 Issue 2: June 2005

Gulumbu Yunupingu GAN’YU (detail) ochre pigments on stringybark, 2005

© Buku-Larrnggay Mulka & the artist INSIDE • Yananymul Mununggurr • Milingimbi Art & Craft Centre Re-Opens • Glenys Newry from Waringarri Arts • Musée du quai Branly 2006 • “Yakumirri” • Bula’bula Arts Archive • Warlayirti Artists’ Glass Workshop • OZeCulture Conference • Who’s Who & What’s New • Events & Exhibitions Calendar

www.aboriginalart.org Message from the ANKAAA Chairperson Terry (Djambawa) Marawili

Today ANKAAA is formally standing government that working together solid with six staff and 12 Yolngu makes the job easier. GPO BOX 2152 DARWIN (Indigenous) Executive. This We are spending the funding NORTHERN TERRITORY Yolngu and Balanda are working (VACS funding from Arts NT and together and sharing together, AUSTRALIA 0801 DCITA through Australia Council) this is the way it should be to wisely on training and support for make ANKAAA and all its members artists in their Art Centres where and the Indigenous art industry Frog Hollow Centre for the Arts 56 the arts and skills are needed. This strong, to keep moving forward. McMinn Street Darwin Northern training is helping their Art centres This way we are both learning and Territory Australia get stronger. sharing Yolngu and Balanda ways Phone +61 (0) 8 8981 6134 and showing government and non Fax +61 (0) 8 8981 6048 email [email protected] Message from the ANKAAA Manager www.ankaaa.org.au Stephanie Hawkins www.aboriginalart.org Welcome to the 2nd issue of the Centres including the recruitment Arts Backbone for 2005. We have of a Business Development Offcer and a new look newsletter and with the assistance of DEWR. Also All text & images are copyight the artists hope you like it! Issue 1 introduced in the fnal negotiation stage is & Art Centres or ANKAAA (as indicated) ANKAAA’s new staff structure the Tripartite agreement between unless otherwise stated. with the addition of two Regional ANKAAA, Arts NT and the Australia ANKAAA Arts Backbone is © ANKAAA 2005 Industry Development Offcers Council for three year Visual Arts in Katherine and Kununurra and and Crafts Strategy funding and a new Darwin based Industry the NT Indigenous Building Strong ANKAAA is a non-profit incorporated Development Offcer. We have been Arts Business funding. Art Centres Aboriginal Association developing some exciting projects across the ANKAAA regions have which will be coming to fruition been participating in workshops, in the next quarter including an exhibitions and increasing sales ANKAAA is proudly supported by: International Export Strategy with through the their online galleries the assistance of NT DBIRD, Arts and are preparing for a busy dry NT, Austrade and DESART which season with a schedule of events will result in a export focused including the NATSIAA awards, trip by dealers and galleries GARMA and the KALACC Festival from Germany. We are currently all in August 2005. fnalising a two year Business Development Project for Art

Glenys Newry Art Gallery Assistant, Waringarri Arts

I have been working at Waringarri Arts since Easter 2005, but I used to work here about 3 years ago also. I look after the gallery and make sure it is always tidy and the paintings are well displayed. I also

© Waringarri Arts Waringarri © do a lot of customer service such as selling work and explaining the art to tourists. I also take people on tours of the gallery to educate people about the art and culture at Waringarri. Although I don’t paint myself, I enjoy listening to the old people and the stories they tell about the paintings. I am Mirrawoong, but my father is Ngariman. Most of the artists at Waringarri are Mirrawoong and they paint this country. Milingimbi Art & Craft Centre Re-Opens Story by Rachelle Burke, Manager

Milingimbi Art & Craft Centre is Assistant & Elvira Manybunu Admin artists Enrika Marmar, 15 and experiencing very exciting times. Assistant. Jacinta Burukumalawuy aged With the re-activation of the art 17. These are two sisters who I have spent a lot of time with the centre after over 2 years of non- are producing some wonderful new staff talking, listening, and operation. art works on paper. Their style watching. We were all exploring is bright and has a youthfulness The Art Centre re-opened on the what position would be suitable. about it. I feel strongly that these 7th of March 2005. Looking back After one month the staff members are two young women to keep on that frst day, it’s incredible to have narrowed it down as to which an eye on. Also three young men see where we are now after such area they feel they are best suited by the names of Paul Wurrutjpu, a short period of time. Accounts to. All staff members have put in Jonathan Roy and David Roy. have been opened, artist materials a tremendous effort and are very These young men are producing in shop, staff on board, paintings, excited to have an outlet for their high quality works on paper, woven pandanus works, artefacts, artwork and to be represented in a canvas and bark. carvings, yidaki and necklaces professional manner. are all on display in the open Many people have commented We are planning workshops for plan gallery, which exists within that since the opening of the staff and artists, the frst of which a charming mud brick building MACC something wonderful has will be printmaking. situated right on the beach! happened, it’s brought a real buzz After many conversations with into the community. The Milingimbi Art & Craft Centre staff and artists we have planned now has a full staff. Joey Djakala Phone 08 8987 9888 our frst exhibition to open April Trainee Manager, Alfred Walpay 2006 in Melbourne. Email [email protected] Field Offcer, Jonathan Roy Packer and Bush Trip Coordinator I would like to take this opportunity Paul Wurrutjpu Packer & Gallery to mention a couple of emerging

Yananymul Mununggurr Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Art Centre

Winner of Best Bark at the 1995 Her work is in museums in National Telstra Aboriginal & Torres Queensland, Victoria, Western Strait Islander Art Awards. Her Australia and the Northern father Mutitjpuy Mununggurr was Territory. the overall frst prize winner in Yananymul’s work will feature 1990. Her second mother Gulumbu in ‘Yakumirri’ opening at Raft Yunupingu won frst prize in 2004. Artspace, Darwin 15th July. Yananymul is one of Yirrkala’s

This landmark commission is being curated by Brenda L. Croft (Senior Curator, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art, National Gallery of Australia) and Hetti Perkins (Curator, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts, Art Gallery of New South Wales) & will be a permanent, site-specifc public artwork exhibiting eight major Indigenous Australian artists. The artists are Lena Nyadbi (WA), Paddy Nyunkuny Bedford (WA), Judy Watson (Qld), Gulumbu Yunupingu (NT), John Mawurndjul (NT), Tommy Watson (WA), Ningura Napurrula (NT) and

Michael Riley (NSW). © Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Mulka Buku-Larrnggay © The works will be part of the Left to right: Brenda Croft, Hetti Perkins, Gulumbu Yunupingu architectural fabric of the building. The artists’ work will combine original Gulumbu Yunupingu is elder sister to Galarrwuy and work and high quality reproductions Mandawuy, healer and sage of North East Arnhem, translator of original work for the ground, frst, of the Bible into Gumatj over 26 years, winner of the 2004 second, third and fourth foor ceilings Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award. and façade of the rue de l’Université The design on the three memorial poles which won that prize Building, one of the museum’s four was based on stories of the stars from her father Munggurrawuy buildings. The museum is dedicated (1905-79). When she looks at the stars, Gulumbu thinks about to the art and civilisations of Africa, the universe, all around, and about every tribe, every colour. Asia, Oceania and the Americas. Its In every corner of the world people can look up and see the collection includes more than 3,500 stars. This is Gulumbu’s vision. In her art, she focuses on the artefacts and masterpieces from link between all people everywhere. Gulumbu stressed that the Musée de l’Homme (Museum of “We look UP to the stars, trees grow UP, people sit or Mankind) and the former Musée des stand UP, the poles stand UP. What do we grow up to? Arts d’Afrique et d’Océanie (African (looking up)...the stars!” and Oceanic Art Museum). The life force (growth) inevitably matures into eternity (death) ‘It’s extremely signifcant that as a natural stage of growth. She also says that the larger stars she represents are those visible to our naked eye but the dots Indigenous work from Australia was are those that we cannot see which are there as well. This is selected by the museum to realise the what a being with an infnite view would see in the night sky highly artistic vision of internationally nothing but stars. renowned architect Jean Nouvel for this landmark building. From a When Hettie and Brenda came to Yirrkala they went bush with curatorial perspective it’s extremely Gulumbu and found a nest of three baby Red Wing Parrots right at the base of a hollowed trunk that she chopped down. They satisfying being part of such a are still alive and doing well. large-scale, highly collaborative venture drawing on traditional and Will Stubbs, Manager, Buku-Larrnggay Mulka contemporary urban practice,’ said Ms Perkins. Australia Council for the Arts

ANKAAA Members Feature in the Largest International Commission of Indigenous Contemporary Art from Australia Musée du quai Branly - opening on the bank of the River Seine, Paris in 2006

Lena Nyadbi - Warmun Art Centre Paddy Nyunkuny Bedford - Jirrawun Arts Gulumbu Yunupingu - Buku-Larrnggay Mulka John Mawurndjul - Maningrida Arts & Culture John Mawurndjul and Maningrida John Mawurndjul with Arts & Culture staff have been samples at Eumundi, QLD closely working with the Australia Council, curators Hetti Perkins and Brenda Croft and the reproduction team on the project. After choosing an image from an existing painting for the ceiling, Mawurndjul has decided to create on site, in Paris, a design for a huge column that he will paint with the help of the reproduction team comprising four mural artists. The team came to Maningrida early February to learn more about Mawurndjul’s art and

technique. Back at their studio, they © Maningrida Arts & Culture tried to reproduce Mawurndjul’s is on the right track to reproduce working on the ceiling. work on a large scale. Mawurndjul Mawurndjul’s work. and Apolline Kohen went to Eumundi Apolline Kohen, Arts Director, to check the samples. After The next step is for Mawurndjul to Maningrida Arts & Culture discussions and more experiments, go to Paris and start working on the we are now confdent that the team column and supervising the team

Lena Nyadbi has been painting at the Warmun Art Centre since it was established in 1998. Her paintings of the Jimbala (spearheads) from her father’s country have become world renowned and are collected by major galleries in Australia and Europe. It is the image of Jimbala that will be carved in relief on the outside of the new Paris museum. Jimbala country lies to the south of Warmun near the sight of the Daiwul Ngarrankarni (Barramundi Dreaming) which is now where the Argyle Diamond Mine is located. Lena lives in Warmun with her partner Clancy Patrick and sister Centre Art Warmun © Goody Barrett who are also well it. Lena says, “Goody has been to Above - Lena Nyadbi at the Warmun Art known artists. She is pleased to Paris and its too cold!”. Centre with her Jimbala painting. have the Jimbala imagery going Megan Buckley, Manager, Warmun onto the new Paris building but Art Centre is reluctant to visit France to see

ANKAAA Members Feature in the Largest International Commission of Indigenous Contemporary Art from Australia Musée du quai Branly - opening on the bank of the River Seine, Paris in 2006

Lena Nyadbi - Warmun Art Centre Paddy Nyunkuny Bedford - Jirrawun Arts Gulumbu Yunupingu - Buku-Larrnggay Mulka John Mawurndjul - Maningrida Arts & Culture “Yakumirri” Will Stubbs, Buku-Larrnggay Mulka

Q: What do the following ten hollowed stringybark trunks instead term is used around the art centre people have in common; Wolpa of the internationally accepted and at Yirrkala and amongst artists as a Wanambi, Wukun Wanambi, understood acrylic, canvas and point of pride. Gulumbu Yunupingu, Naminapu paper. Although it has taken some time Maymuru-White, Gawirrin Gumana, Other artists from Yirrkala and for non-Yolngu speakers to learn to Djambawa Marawili, Galuma homelands who have also had say and remember these names, Maymuru,Yananymul Mununggurr, successful solo exhibitions but who all of these artists are ‘yakumirri’ Baluka Maymuru, Banduk Marika? have struggled to be recognised as having won a major prize or had A: They have all won major individuals are Wanyubi Marika, at least one successful solo show. Australian art prizes. They are Nawurapu Wunungmurra, Waturr The quality of their work has all living artists from North East Gumana, Gunybi Ganambarr and overcome the barriers of unfamiliar Arnhem Land. But most people, Mulkun Wirrpanda. pronunciation and media to the including many in the art world, do point where people seek their art Slowly though, over the last ten not know who they are. by name. years, through these prizes and Despite intense critical acclaim, shows, each of them has developed This exhibition is a joint celebration institutional recognition and sell out a small personal following to match of their individual achievements solo shows over the last decade, it the regard they are held in at in getting to that level without is a relatively small group of private home. compromising their law, their art collectors and museum curators or their identity. It is also a chance Now, for the frst time, each of who could pronounce any of their for more people to learn these these individual unsung stars join names. important names. together in an exhibition at Raft Their art is highly sought after but Artspace in Darwin. The exhibition So at Raft Artspace, Darwin from their names rarely remembered. is ‘Yakumirri’. 15th July we can see the work of Perhaps this is because they do each of these individuals together This word literally means ‘named.’ not use Anglicised names or maybe again at last. To say an artist is ‘yakumirri’ means because they use natural media, they have a ‘name’ or a profle. The earth pigments, bark and termite

Bula’bula Arts Archive Project Louise Partos, Manager

In 2004, Bula’bula Arts received a collection will facilitate the recording Community Heritage Grant through of oral histories. This in turn will the National Library of Australia lead to increased documentation, for its archive project. As the title thereby ensuring the collections indicates, the aim is to preserve the relevance and meaning for future photographic and document archive generations. However, the most at Bula’bula Arts. signifcant beneft will be for the artists and their families at A major outcome of the project will Ramingining. As the collection be increased access to the collection is being inventoried and sorted, by artists and other community there will be much discussion and members. The archive will also amazement about its contents. hold relevance for individuals and organisations independent Stories will be told, memories of the Ramingining community. relived and children shown images These parties include academic of their family members and works researchers, art historians, of art which are now housed in students of anthropology, galleries, museums and private interested persons in Aboriginal art, collections throughout Australia visual historians and many others. and overseas. A signifcant element of the project This is why the archive is important is the digitisation of deteriorating for Bula’bula Arts. material. It is also anticipated that Above - Frank Dururrunga and Michael Dawu the sorting and rehousing of the looking through photos before the rehousing project begins © Bula’bula Arts Glass Coolamon Workshop April 2005 Warlayirti Artists, Balgo

Warlayirti Artists recently held a Kirstie worked with a number of the Myer Foundation for the Glass very successful glass workshop to artists to make silica moulds taken Workshop Program develop a range of limited edition from two locally made wooden Image below Marie Mudgedell working on a glass coolamons. This success was coolamons. glass coolamon during the workshop. the product of the participatory Artists then worked with a range of planning process, the great input © Warlayirti Artists glass pieces to create their designs. of glass technician Kirstie Rae, a Many of the stories painted well-known Australian glass artist related to the use of coolamons in and teacher, and the artistic ability collecting and carrying bush food. of participating artists. The pieces were then fred once to The frst step in the process was fuse the glass and a second time to identify artists to participate to slump them over the moulds. in the workshop who were The experience the artists have both senior enough to produce gained in working with glass over coolamons and who had previous the last fve years is refected in experience working with glass. the stunning glass coolamons that Senior community women met have been produced. The small and agreed on a group of men and coolamons are currently available women to invite to participate in from Warlayirti Artists and the the workshop. large coolamons will be launched at an exhibition in 2006 together with The next step was the development a publication on coolamons. of two prototypes that could be used to slump the glass pieces Warlayirti Artists acknowledge the over to create a coolamon form. fnancial support provided by The

OZeCulture Stephen Hutchison, ANKAAA IT Development Offcer

In April this year Lilly Carpenter artists living in remote communities professionals working to develop Assistant Manager of Munupi Arts to publish their stories and details similar projects and to look at and Craft, Ita Tipungwuti, an Artist of their work on to the Internet. ways ANKAAA can collaborate on IT from Jilamara Arts and Craft and I ArtWeb would have usability as a projects with organisations such as attended the OZeCulture conference key design objective. For example, the National Museum of Australia in beautiful Byron Bay. The theme the user interface will be highly and Museums Victoria. of the conference was “Magic, visual with minimal text, the built- The conference was a terrifc Money and Myth” and showcased in help will be presented aurally in opportunity for Lilly and Ita. Lilly ideas and success stories from the the local language and software said “I really enjoyed the New world where the Creative Industries would perform consistently Zealand presentation, especially and Cyberspace intersect. irrespective of the quality of the on Te Papa (Museum.) It was good Internet connection. Check it out at I presented a paper on ANKAAA’s talking to others and to see how www.ozeculture.com proposal to develop a computer they worked, and it was good to based tool known as ArtWeb, that The conference also provided the explain to others what we’re doing will easily and seamlessly allow opportunity to network with IT at Munupi and with ANKAAA.”

Gunbalanya (Oenpelli) Cultural Open Day Saturday 20th August 2005

The community, through its and 70 kms from Jabiru. Features Camping overnight is permitted traditional owners, welcome guests include sports carnival, scenic (leaving the community frst thing to observe the beautiful country, fights, rock art tours, cultural on Sunday.) No alcohol except share in the culture of the Kunwinjku dancing, bush foods and didjeridu purchased at the community club. speaking people of western Arnhem playing demonstrations. Aboriginal Further information phone 08 8979 Land and enjoy their hospitality. bands will perform and a visit to 0170. Located 300 kms east of Darwin Injalak Arts and Crafts is a must. Who’s Who & What’s New ANKAAA Executive Staffng, Stories, News & Events 2005

New ANKAAA details from San Diego who has been involved with Yirrkala yidaki for Kununurra Offce the last decade most recently as Susie Blake a Fullbright scholar has joined Industry Development Offcer Buku. Sasha Earle has left after Phone 08 9168 2522 three years of coordinating the Fax 08 9168 2422 Chairperson Terry (Djambawa) Print shop, the Garma Festival’s Mobile 0428 614 551 Marawili Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Gapan Gallery and the Darwin Arnhem Land Region 2A/11 Banksia Street Kununurra Festival’s Galuku Gallery. Araluen Vice Chairperson John Martin PO Box 375 Kununurra WA 6743 Maymuru is taking on her role Tipungwuti Jilamara Arts & Craft Association Tiwi Islands Region and will be guiding the Print shop Katherine Offce through those Festivals and into Secretary Peggy Griffth Waringarri Charmaine Wharton Wall Aboriginal Arts Kimberley Region its etching phase. Sophie Waugh, Industry Development Offcer Treasurer Alice Snape Coomalie daughter of artist Gundimolk Shop 2 / 6 Kintore Street Cultural Centre Katherine Region Wanambi, is on board as ‘front Katherine NT 0850 Gary Lee Darwin based artist & of house’. We also have artists curator PO Box 1177 Katherine NT 0851 Wukun Wanambi and Napuwarri Mob: 0429 614 551 Freddie Timms Jirrawun Aboriginal Marawili moonlighting as Art Corporation Kimberley Region Artsworkers and a young trainee, Tommy May Mangkaja Arts Resource Munupi Arts & Crafts farewell Bamuwuy Ganambarr. Agency Aboriginal Corporation Diana Stewart in June and Kimberley Region welcome new Manager Tara Waralungku Arts Miriam Charlie Richard Birrinbirrin Bula’bula Arts Leckey. Tara has worked with a local yanula/karwa women is Aboriginal Corporation Arnhem Land Region Aboriginal artists in a variety of now working at the art centre community settings including assisting in cataloguing, sales and John Mawurndjul Maningrida Arts & Culture Arnhem Land Region Yuendumu with Warlukurlangu supplying materials to artists. Jeannie Herbert Mimi Arts & Crafts Artists, Haasts Bluff with Ikuntji YBE Art Centre (formerly Katherine Region Artists and the Ngaanyatjarra, Nambara,) Nhulunbuy fare welled Marita Sambono Merrepen Arts Pitjantjatjarra, Yankuntjatjara Manager Michelle Konicek in April Aboriginal Corporation Katherine region with Tjanpi Aboriginal Region & welcomed new Manager Sue Baskets and recently with Kayili Regis Pangiraminni Munupi Arts & Richards. Artists in the Gibson Desert. Tara Crafts Association Tiwi Islands Region worked with Northern Editions Injalak Arts & Crafts Rebecca in 2001-2002 and is excited to Say and Federica Lazzarini have recently joined Injalak. Rebecca be back in the Top End to work ANKAAA Staff with the wonderful Tiwi artists at comes from Mimi Arts & Crafts 2005 Pularumpi. in Katherine and will take on the Arts and Cultural Offcer role. Assistant Manager Lilly Carpenter Federica as Finance and Sales has left Munupi Arts & Crafts & Offcer. Andrew Sinclair will be re-located to Darwin & is now joining Injalak as a print maker with the Tiwi Art Network. and to manage the screen print Warlayirti Artists, Balgo Sarah workshop. Mengler starts as the Art Centre The Museum & Art Gallery of Development Assistant on 23rd Stephanie Hawkins Manager the Northern Territory (MAGNT) June. Sarah is coming from Curator of Indigenous Art, Susie Blake Industry Development Canberra and has a Masters Offcer (Kununurra Based) Margie West has retired from her Degree in Art History and position after over 25 years with Michelle Culpitt Industry Curatorship. Development Offcer (Darwin the Museum Based) Buku-Larrnggay Mulka, Yirrkala Australia Council for the Arts Chris Charmaine Wharton Whall We have lost Jeremy Cloake Sarra has been appointed as the Industry Development Offcer after 4 years during which he Chair of the Australia Council’s (Katherine Based) gave us a very strong yidaki Aboriginal and Torres Strait Stephen Hutchison I.T business. Randin Graves a Islander Arts Board (ATSIAB) Development Offcer musician and yidaki specialist Erica Luchich Offce Manager & Bookkeeper www.aboriginalart.org