From the Stars to the Shores of North Queensland

Japingka Gallery invites you to two new exhibitions.

Gallery1- Yanjirlpirri Jukurrpa - Star Dreaming
In Gallery1 Japingka features the fine work of Warlpiri artist Alma Nungarrayi Granites in her magnificent series of Star Dreaming paintings. While most Aboriginal art looks down onto the land from an aerial perspective, Granites is one of the few Indigenous artists to look up into space, through the clarity of the desert air, and paint the constellations.

Yanjirlpirri Jukurrpa (Star Dreaming) relates the story of the seven ancestral Napaljarri sisters who are found today in the cluster of the seven stars of the Pleiades in the constellation of Taurus. The Pleiades, seven women of the Napaljarri skin group, are often depicted in paintings of this Jukurrpa carrying the Jampijinpa man, Wardilyka, who is in love with them, and who is embodied in the Orion's Belt cluster of stars.

Jukurra-jukurra, the Morning Star, a Jakamarra man who is also in love with the seven Napaljarri sisters, is often shown chasing them across the night sky. In a final attempt to escape from him, the Napaljarri sisters turned themselves into fire and ascended into the heavens to become stars.

Alma Granites' work offers a rare opportunity to see Aboriginal representations of the night sky and to gain an insight into Aboriginal astronomy.

Alongside these paintings, fellow Nyirripi and Yuendumu artists from the Tanami Desert present striking new works that chart other major Jukurrpa, or Dreaming Stories, from their homelands. Ormay Nangala Gallagher depicts Yankirri, Emu Dreaming. In her intricately detailed and richly colourful paintings, Ormay paints the tracks of the emu as it feeds on bush raisins around the rockhole at Ngarlikurlangu. Margaret Napangardi Brown and Pauline Napangandi Gallagher paint Mina Mina Jukurrpa, Women's Ceremonial Dreaming, while Mary Anne Michaels depicts Lappi Lappi Dreaming, one of the stories of the Rainbow Serpent.

Mickey Jampijinpa Singleton, Jorna Napurrurla Nelson and other talented artists from this region are also exhibiting. The exhibition is presented in association with Warlukurlangu Artists. Many of the works featured come from a new and emerging art centre at Nyirripi. All of the artworks are very affordable and range from AUS $400 to $3,900.

Gallery2- Lisa Michl
In Gallery2, paintings and limited edition prints by north Queensland artist Lisa Michl Ko-manggén are on show. The artist's family connections run through her mother and grandmother's side to the Kokoberrin language group on the central west coast of Cape York Peninsula. Lisa's bold designs in earth tones of red, yellow, black, white and blue are inspired by traditional Kokoberrin stories. These large, contemporary canvases have met with resounding success. This is the artist's second exhibition at Japingka Gallery.

Both of these exhibitions present a great opportunity to see and possibly procure a wonderful, original indigenous art work.

The exhibitions open this Friday 26th February at 6.30pm and remain open daily until 7th April 2010.

The exhibitions can be previewed online via the following links:

Star Dreaming.

Lisa Michl.

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