John Wolseley returns to Darwin in June as part of his continuing exploration of the Daly River and Blue Mud Bay in East Arnhem Land. Immersed in swamps, wetlands, tidal mangroves and the life forms that inhabit them, his work is a search to discover how we coexist within the landscape.
Wolseley’s paintings are a study of the inner workings of living organisms, an idea that has emerged out of the rivers and swamps of the Top End environment. While the compositions can be thought of as figurative, they also go beyond to a combination of stylised dynamic abstraction and rhythmic energy and still further to the exploration of hidden dimensions of being.
While primarily an artist John Wolseley brings to his work a deep sense of philosophy, research, ethno-biology, botany, zoology and humanitarianism coupled with acute observation. His exhibition Desert Drypoints, Wetland Woodcuts and the Magnificent Mangrove Lithograph Series is on show at Nomad Art from 31 May – 29 June, 2013
View the Exhibition Catalogue
These beautiful new hand printed fabrics from Merrepen Arts on the Daly River in Northern Territory are the result of a recent fabric printing workshop with Bobby Ruben.
Merrepen artists are renowned for their stylised designs, which have traditional associations to the plants and animals of the Daly River region. The New fabrics feature work highly regarded artists Marita Sambono and Kieren Karritypul.
Contact the gallery for more information about these fabrics.
gallery@nomadart.com.au
08 89482178
Or go to the online textile store to look at other
New fabrics from Maningrida feature hand printed designs on fine quality hand woven quilting fabrics and shot cottons. The women’s designs depict their landscape, dreaming stories, bush foods and bush activities. The exhibition will feature new and exciting screen prints and lino block printing.
Proudly owned by Bawinanga Aboriginal Corporation, Babbarra Designs is a creator of fine indigenous textile art. They are based at Maningrida in central Arnhem Land and operate out of the Babbarra Women’s Centre. The Maningrida region of central Arnhem Land is one of immense cultural and linguistic diversity. The work of our textile artists depicts the landscape, dreaming stories, spirit beings, bush foods and bush crafts from their country surrounding Maningrida. The variation in subject matter reflects the cultural identity of women from the different language groups.
Our art comes from the Roper, that’s what connects us here, the river. The river is the source of our creativity and energy and our art flows like the river.
The artists called this exhibition ‘Flowing from the Roper’, because they see it as a journey where the art has flown from the Roper to Melbourne, back to the Roper.
In 2012 seven Ngukurr artists were invited to develop new work in collaboration with Melbourne-based printmaker Rebecca Mayo. The artists explored the medium of screen-printing and produced exciting new work that complemented their own arts practice. The project has been made possible through the generous support of the Methodist Ladies’ College (MLC), Friends of Ngukurr, who raised over $35,000 through various fundraising events. The positive response to this project has reinvigorated and nourished the vibrant arts community in Ngukurr and will continue to foster the special relationship between Ngukurr and MLC.
Ngukurr community lies at the very South Eastern edge of Arnhem Land. The town is perched on a rise above a bend in the mighty Roper River, with heavily wooded country stretching away to the distance. The Roper River country, with its wild escarpments and dense woodlands, billabongs full of lillies, magpie geese, crocodiles and rock formations is as diverse as the people and art from the area.
Dion Beasley loves to draw dogs, their interactions and the world around them. Dion’s humorous observations capture the character and relationships of the animals and situations he draws. ‘A Dogs Life II’ is the latest body of prints produced by this unique Tennant Creek artist, editioned by Franck Gohier, Red Hand Studios, Darwin.
Drawings and sculpture by Talitha Kennedy.
In this body of work Darwin based artist Talitha Kennedy examines the human relationship with nature in small sculptures and drawings.
Talitha Kennedy’s small hand-stitched sculptures are inspired by the idea of holding a mini-world in your hands.
‘Humans have the power to make big changes to the world. The capability of our technologies give us the power to destroy the land –deforest, make a huge hole in the ground for mining, avert rivers to dam, move mountains for roads. Geographic forms are themselves in transition, formed by moving tectonic plates in constant states of erosion as everything transforms by entropy.
The land as a body, an organism –alive and with spirit’
Talitha Kennedy 2013
A selection of beautiful new screen printed fabric designs from Injalak Arts in Western Arnhem Land.
Screen printing is an important part of art centre activities creating employment for artists and a alternate way to express traditional motifs. The designs were created by Injalak artists under the direction of Tim Growcott.
The Wet Season reinvigorates the landscape and brings new life across the Top End. As you fly into the community of Wadeye at this time of year, you see vast stretches of green – brilliant carpets of light and dark punctuated by mirror-like giant ribbons of water stretching across the land and isolating the [...]
This exhibition features powerful images of the Arrernte homelands west of Alice Springs by artists from Yarrenyty-Arltere. The Centre is a family resource and learning centre located in Alice Springs which aims to improve the social, health, environmental and economic well being of the community in a way that strengthens and respects culture.
Build Up is an exhibition of handmade paper by Darwin artist Winsome Jobling. Winsome Jobling makes works in paper, which are linked to the environment on both political and physical grounds. Winsome’s art is tactile and sensual, often contrasting elements of texture, translucence, fragility and strength. She creates images by pouring thin layers of coloured pulp one [...]
Mardbalk Arts and Crafts Centre was established in February 2009 and represents the Warruwi and Minjiland communities in west Arnhem Land. The art centre has nine permanent and 55 casual artists and is run by the West Arnhem Shire Council – a local board consisting of traditional owners, elders, artists and various clan members. The [...]
Comes with the Territory is an exhibition of new work from Darwin artist Merran Sierakowski. The exhibition features small sculptures and woodblock prints with uniquely local (Northern Territory) themes. ‘The creatures depicted in this exhibition are an opinionated lot and express themselves loudly and often on subjects they may or may not know [...]
An exhibition of etchings and bark paintings by Naminapu Maymuru White and etchings by Heather Burness The confluence of freshwater and saltwater is important for the Yolngu people of east Arnhem Land. The ebb and flow between these waters shifts and changes through the cycle of seasons and tides. The meeting point is a fertile zone [...]
Manme Mayh: Gardens of the Stone Country explores the links between Indigenous cultural heritage, environment and aesthetic traditions of artists from the Stone Country of western Arnhem Land through food and plants (manme) and animals (mayh). The artists selected for this project represent a small and unique group of senior and emerging and artists [...]
Seven Sisters is a series of eight limited edition etchings celebrating the ancestry of the seven Yunupingu sisters from North-east Arnhem Land. The Seven Sisters is a creation story told in many parts of Australia. The story is based on the two constellations of stars known as the Pleiades and Orion. The Yunupingu Sisters are: Barrupu Yunupingu Dhopiya Yunupingu [...]
These new prints and fabrics from Merrepen Arts on the Daly River in Northern Territory are the result of print workshops held at the Art Centre in 2011 with Basil Hall Editions and Bobby Ruben. Merrepen artists are renowned for their stylised designs, which have traditional associations to the wetlands, plants and animals of the [...]