5 Day Tunbridge Gallery Western Australia Experience 2014
Sunday 18 May
Arrival into Broome and transfer to your accommodation this evening. Further transfer details will be advised once we have your flight information from you.
For those who arrive early enough, there will be a visit to the Short Street Gallery this afternoon. Short St Gallery is the agent for the Yulparija Artists from Bidyadanga, including Daniel Walbidi, Weaver Jack, Alma Webou, Donald Moko, Mary Meribida, Sally (Liki) Nanii, Bertha Linty, Jan Billycan, Margaret Baragurra, Lydia Balbal and many others. They also represent the following art centres in the Kimberly, Waringarri, Warmun, Warlayirti (Balgo), Mangkaja (Fitzroy Crossing), in the Pilbara Martumili. While in the APY and NG lands and Western Desert they represent TjunguPalya, Spinifex Art Project, Ninuku Arts, Warakurna Arts, Tjanpi Desert Weavers, Ernabella Arts, Mimili Maku, Tjala Arts, Kayili Artists, Papulankutja Artists and Papunya Tula. In Arhemlandthey represent Buku-LarringayMulka (Yirrkala) and Maningrida Arts, while in Tiwi Islands, they represent Jilamara, Tiwi Design and Ngaruwanajirri.
The group will meet this evening for welcome drinks and dinner. Tonight will be the first night of the tour, a time to get to know each other over dinner and to learn more about the places, art works and artists we will experience over the next week.
This will be an adventurous few days with the opportunity to experience what very few Australians can by visiting small, very remote Aboriginal communities in Western Australia. There’s the chance to meet some wonderful warm people, see fascinating landscapes from the air and to immerse yourself in wonderful contemporary works of art along the way. It will truly be an unforgettable experience.
Overnight Pinctada - Broome
Monday 19 May
Breakfast is included. We’ll check out and settle any incidentals. Transfer to the airport and meet our charter aircraft pilot for the next five days.
Fly to Kalumburu – spend day in the gallery, museum and rock art sites.
Fly to Fitzroy Crossing.
Overnight Fitzroy River Lodge, Fitzroy Crossing
Tuesday 20 May
After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll make our way to Mangkaja Arts in Fitzroy Crossing. Mangkaja Arts began its operation in Fitzroy Crossing WA in the mid 1980s in a modest concrete and tin structure with no windows. It took on the name Mangkaja, a Walmajarri word for the wet weather shelters, which the artists built in the desert. In 1987 the centre was re-established in a shop space in the supermarket complex, where it is still located today. In October 1993 the organisation became incorporated and known officially as Mangkaja Arts Resource Agency Aboriginal Corporation.
It provides an exchange for the purchase and sale of art and artefacts from artists throughout the Fitzroy Valley. They specialise in acrylic on paper and canvas and limited edition prints and a selection of handcrafted artefacts.
Fly to Warmun.
Warmun in the afternoon.Warmun artists are renowned for their use of natural ochre and pigments on canvas, which is integral to the contemporary expression of land and culture as identity for Gija people. The work of Warmun artists’ is an inseparable and celebratory part of Gija culture and country, and draws on traditional Ngarrangkarni (Dreaming) stories and contemporary life. Warmun art has a national and international reputation thanks to the leadership of highly successful Warmun artists like Rover Thomas and Queenie McKenzie, George MungMung and Paddy Jaminji.
Fly to Kununurra
Overnight Kununurra
Wednesday 21 May
Drive to Waringarri in the morning.
Waringarri Aboriginal Arts is a wholly Aboriginal owned art centre specialising in contemporary collectable indigenous art of the East Kimberley region. The art centre and was established in the early 1980’s by senior artists of the region and is located in the heart of Miriwoong Country at Kununurra in the east Kimberley.Waringarri ochre paintings present a powerful contemporary aesthetic interpreting
the grandeur of the Kimberley region and the importance of each individual artist’s
country and traditional knowledge. Artists relate images of country, traditional
stories and stories of station life and contemporary events. Painting only with ochre
pigmentsWaringarri artists comment on the importance of maintaining traditional
links to land and culture while exploring a celebration of colour, composition and
individualism.
Then fly to Kunawarriitji
Overnight Kunawarriitji
Thursday 22 May
Kunawarriitji at Well 33
later that afternoon fly to Newman
Overnight Seasons - Newman.
Friday 23 May
Gabrielle At Martumilli in Newman
Martumili Artists was established by Martu people living in the communities of Parnpajinya (Newman), Jigalong, Parnngurr, Punmu, Kunawarritji, Irrungadji and Warralong, after long and cautious observation of other desert artists’ experiences of the art market. The artists and their families are the traditional custodians of vast stretches of the Great Sandy, Little Sandy and Gibson Deserts as well as the Karlamilyi (Rudall River) area. Most Martu people maintain an entirely independent, nomadic desert lifestyle until the 1950s and 1960s when they walked into settlements in response to a long and severe drought.
Plane departs back to Broome. Those who wish to return on the plane can do so at no extra cost. You can also choose to remain in Newman and travel on from here at your own arrangements.
Shop 3/101 Bussell Highway,
(Over the road from Margaret River Visitor Centre) Margaret River,
Western Australia 6285
Featured Art Tour
This year we have designed a comprehensive tour of Arnhem Land, focusing not only on the art centres, but we have also included immersive environmental events. A spectacular time of year, after the wet season has abated, the drier air ensures comfort whilst the land is still lush and green.
The customised trip will give you the opportunity to walk around the community environs and engage with the local residents. In particular you will meet the artists, often the artist’s family and certainly the arts workers. On occasion we havebeen offered spontaneous invitations to visit the artist’s homes and camps, the chance to visit the local school, learn more about medicinal botany, Yolngu law, interpret rock art or do some night fishing. Overall the style and pace of the trip is to give those interested in Top End Indigenous Australian art and culture an opportunity to fulfil their curiosity in a real time way.
Make no mistake; this trip cannot be achieved without the expertise of the Aboriginal Art Connections team with many years of collective experience and enthusiasm for Northern Australia. Wewill provide a comfortable trip and an extraordinary experience.
The service you can expect from the team at Aboriginal Art Connections is exemplary. Please be aware that accessing these remote communities in Arnhem land is restricted, so we make all the applications on your behalf to clear entry, prepare your lodgings, ensure meals are hearty and fulfilling, down to the fragrant fresh coffee for morning and afternoon tea always in a scenic let’s just stop and take it in location.
As your accompanying indigenous art specialist I am on board to facilitate your growing knowledge of the art forms of the region, such the stylistic shifts from eastern to western Arnhem land, to introducing specific artists work to you, and being that calm third party when required to help you make decisions with confidence when on the ground.
Read more
Happenings
22.5.16 7 Day Tiwi Island and Arnhem Land Tour hosted by Vivien Anderson. Read more
1.9.16 Cape York Art Centre Tour - This tour is still in development. We will take you to the best art centres Cape York has to offer. This tour will be led by Vivien Anderson. Read more
