Spinifex Artists

The artists, Pitjantjatjara people from the remote Tjuntjuntjara community in Western Australia's Great Victoria Desert, are also known as the Spinifex People. According to the Spinifex Art Co-ordinator, Peter Twigg, "The artists' paintings are often produced when they are visiting their ancestral country and their intricately composed canvases detail the journeys and deeds of Ancestors who created the sites in their Spinifex homelands. Documenting these sites, their relationships and stories, provides the artists with a flexible vehicle to record, promote and pass on elements of culture that are crucial to sustaining the long-term future and health of their people."

Art has already served an important role in the maintenance of the Spinifex people's culture. The community used painting as part of the documentation in their successful claim for Native Title rights to their lands, which was granted in 2001. The members of the community continue to closely manage the country under their stewardship - some 55,000 square kilometres - making regular maintenance trips into outlying locations, led by custodians and elders. The paintings exhibited record specific sites of significance and reflect the kinship ties that bind the people to their lands.

The art produced by this remote community is of the highest standard and possesses an integrity and power that is indicative of the fact that these important paintings are not designed for art market demands and 'fashions'. They are direct depictions and aerial views of the artists' Country and the ancient traditional Dreaming Stories, which can only be painted by these true custodians of the sites represented. Spinifex artists have featured as finalists in the last two WA Indigenous Art Awards.

The exhibition opens Friday 30th July 2010 at 6.30pm and will remain open daily until Wednesday 25th August 2010.

For further information, please contact Ian Plunkett (Gallery Director) on +618 9335 8265 or via email on japingka@iinet.net.au.

Gallery Hours: Mon - Fri: 10.00am - 5.30pm, Sat & Sun: 12.00pm - 5.00pm. FREE ENTRY.

The exhibition can be previewed online via the following link:
Spinifex Artists.

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