News

Ninuku Arts is a wholly-Indigenous owned and governed art centre which supports artists from two communities – Pipalyatjara and Kalka. Each have populations of around 100-150 Anangu people and the majority are Pitjantjatjara speakers. Anangu means ‘people’ in Pitjantjatjara. Both communities are located in the far north western corner of South Australia, near the tri-state border of South Australia, Western Australia and Northern Territory. The art centre prides itself on its inclusivity by providing opportunities for all generations and embracing individuality in artists. For the Revealed Exhibition, four artists with vastly different artistic styles have been selected – Selinda Davidson, Judy Miller, Rita Watson & Cassaria Young-Hogan.

Fremantle Arts Centre’s much-loved course program is set to resume. To ensure the safety and comfort of our students and tutors, we’ve implemented several new measures in line with public health advice. Kids’ Holiday Classes begin first, running weekdays Monday 6 – Friday 17 July. Enrolments now open.

A full Term 3 program for Adults then commences on Monday 3 August, running across weekdays, weekends and nights for eight weeks until Friday 25 September. Members enrolments open Monday 6 July, with the general public able to enrol a week later from Monday 13 July.

Desmond Taylor is one of five early career Martumili Artists selected to showcase their works in this year's Revealed Exhibition. Born in 1964 near the Oakover River, his family later moved into Jingalong and were amongst the last Martu to live entirely in the desert with access to rations. Desmond now works as a professional translator and educator as well as an artist. He primarily paints his family’s Country around Karlamilyl (Rudall River) and the creation stories for that Country, especially the Ngayarta Kujarra Dreaming.

Matilda Oxtoby is one of two Kira Kiro Arts Project artists selected for the 2020 Revealed Exhibition. An established artist, Matilda’s works are inspired by the important spiritual figure – the Wandjina (rainmaker), who brings the Wunju (wet season). “A long time ago my people believed that he (the Wandjina) was a god. They used to ask him for rain and food. He travelled around the coast creating the world and carrying the clouds… the Wandjina taught people how to make artefacts and hunting tools.”

Fremantle Arts Centre will re-open to the public on Monday 15 June. In the galleries we are presenting Revealed 2020: New and Emerging WA Aboriginal Artists, a fantastic exhibition with works from 120 artists from all over the state; and Tim Leura Tjapaltjarri in WA: Hunter Dreaming, an exhibition of two major works from the 1970s by the celebrated NT Papunya Tula Anmatyer artist. Both exhibitions run until Sunday 26 July. Our shop FOUND and reception also re-open on Monday 15 June, while the Café and FAC’s beautiful grounds are already open. In relation to courses, we will present a July Kids’ School Holiday Program, with a full Term 3 Adults’ Program to follow. The classes, dates and booking information will be announced as they become available.

Started in 1958, the City of Fremantle Art Collection is the largest municipal art collection in WA with over 1,500 artworks which shine a light on Fremantle’s past and help us make sense of what it means to live and work in Fremantle today. In this episode of FAC CHATS, the Collection's Curator André Lipscombe selects six significant and diverse works as part of a virtual gallery talk.

Ku’arlu Mangga, meaning ‘good nest’, is a community centre that provides assistance to Aboriginal residents in Northampton, a town north of Geraldton. Four Ku’arlu Mangga artists were selected to be part of the 2020 Revealed Exhibition – Colleen Drage, Mauretta Drage, Beverly Peck and Leanne Peck. The group were supported by the Revealed Regional Exhibition Workshops program to make a new series of work for the exhibition inspired by the bushfoods, collecting vessels and animals of the region.

Peter Walker, the longstanding and much loved tutor of drawing and painting, recently retired from his role at FAC after 42 years of service. Peter was invited to teach and work in residence at FAC by Director Ian Templeman in 1978 and through his extraordinary tenure Peter has shaped the lifelong learning experiences and art values of thousands of people across WA. André Lipscombe caught up with Peter to reflect on his amazing, influential career.

We have a new podcast! FAC CHATS is a new avenue for us to connect our audience to the fascinating and talented artists we work with year round. Listen for in-depth insights into the art making process across the spectrum of artforms. You'll hear from musicians, visual artists, craftspeople and the FAC team as you hear them discuss their process and projects.

Gideon Gardiner is the son of Spinifex Hill artists Nyaparu (William) Gardiner and Kae Nalgood. His distinctive drawings are a record of his memories and his experiences of hunting, lore and initiation as a young man in the Kimberley.