Barkly artist camp puts Aboriginal art issues on the table
19 June 2009
A group of eighty Aboriginal artists have gathered at an artist’s camp near Tennant Creek this week to learn new art skills and discuss current issues facing Art Centre’s across Australia.
The Barkly Art Camp, one of several regional artists’ camps run by Desart, brought together artists, art workers and Art Centre managers from over 10 different communities.
Highlights included visits from Melbourne artist Victor Kuskoff who ran a workshop in material preparation of paints and canvas, together with stretching and repairing damaged artworks. A popular batik workshop was run by Sydney artist China de la Vega.
Michelle Culpitt, Desart Program Manager says that the event will culminate tonight with a marketplace at Nyinkka Nyunyu in Tennant Creek, to showcase the variety of works produced throughout the camp and work from other artists in the Barkly region.
“Artists from Julalikari Arts in Tennant Creek have been doing screen printing during the Camp and have created a new Tshirt design to produce back at their Art Centre, and Nyinkka Nyunyu artist Junior Frank, has been doing artifact making with the men on the Camp.”
“The ladies from Boroloola have led the way with bead-making, with artists from the different regions bringing their own local materials to make beads.”
“The collaboration between art communities has brought out some really creative ideas and artists have been able to share their techniques with each other.”
Art worker students at the camp also had the opportunity to become accredited in units of Certificate III in Arts Administration with a visit by Lecturer Suzi Lyon from CDU.
Desart held meetings and workshops at the Camp to discuss current events and issues facing Art Centres, artists and their families in this time of the Global Financial Crisis.
The recently released draft Indigenous Australian Art Commercial Code of Conduct, which is currently up for review, also generated a lot of interest from artists at the Camp.
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For more information please contact:
Laurelle Halford, Creative Territory, (08) 8953 7919, 0417 222 211.
High resolution images are available.
About Desart:
Desart is the member organisation for 43 Aboriginal Art Centres in Central Australia. The Art Centres are owned and managed by Aboriginal people. They are community-based enterprises which deliver economic growth as well as social and cultural benefits. The Art Centres strive to ensure artists work in decent conditions, receive fair returns and have their rights protected.
