Hear from a selection of artists featured in this year’s exhibition who have travelled from regional and remote arts centres as well as local stories from Nyoongar artists and independent artists living in Walyalup | Fremantle and Boorloo | Perth.

These talks will share fascinating insights into the artists’ practices and the stories behind the making of their artworks.

2:00-2:45pm | Independent Artists Panel

Shannon Clohessy

Shannon grew up between Perth and Busselton. After studying environmental science in Perth, she moved back down to Busselton, spending her time reconnecting to Country and assisting her family as a Wadandi custodian. She focuses her time working at the interface of cultural and contemporary environmental management. Drawing on her experiences growing up, and the connection she has always had to places along the coast, Shannon’s work is intrinsically linked to family, Country and the salt water. Shannon specialises in glass, acrylics, carved wood, clay and the weaving of natural fibres in her work on Country.

Valerie Woods

Valerie Woods has been interested in art all her life. Growing up Woods’ main influences were her Grandmother Florrie Colbung and Grannie Bella Kelly and most importantly her brother Ralph Woods-Winmar. They were all great teachers; each told a story which captured her koort (heart) into self-reflection. For a long time, Woods’ artwork has been consisting of acrylics landscapes and portraits and now has been experimenting with other styles.

Zali Morgan

Zali Morgan is an emerging artist and curator based in Boorloo | Perth. Zali Morgan’s work ‘Australia by the Book’ is an interrogation of the colonial ideology surrounding how we describe what we now call Australia. “This language often diminishes the struggle of First Nations people” Zali says. The work is made using steel plate etching and chin collé to collage text.

3:30-4:15pm |Arts Centre Artists Panel

Maruku  Arts – Cynthia Burke

Cynthia Burke was born in Alice Springs and grew up in the central desert of Western Australia. An internationally exhibited painter with Warakurna Artists, Cynthia also works with Tjanpi Desert Weavers and is one of Maruku’s foremost up and coming wood carvers. In 2014, she became one of its youngest directors. She carries on the traditions of the Tjukurpa, the Law and way of life governing her country. In this work, Cynthia employs the technique of Walka, traditional desert design which is inextricably linked with Tjukurpa: the law and way of life of Yarnangu (Western Desert Aboriginal people). The symbols were traditonally used in cave, ground, and body paintings, in storytelling, teaching and signalling inheritance.

Martumili Artists – Marlene Anderson

“I paint all the different colours I see out in Country. I like to paint about all the bush foods and wildflowers. We go out getting honey ants and bush potatoes from the ground and bush bananas on a tree, hunting for goanna.

I work with KJ [local ranger group, Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa), take the kids out Country, out in the bush. ‘Kids on Country’ we call it. When they go out and see the countryside and the bush, makes them feel a bit happy and like they want to go out more and more. I help take them out to track a goanna, take them right up to the hole and they dig it out. It’s important for them to learn the traditions from their old people so they can be proud of themselves.”

Waringarri Aboriginal Arts  – Cathy Marawuk Binbirridj Ward

“I grew up mostly around the old people. I was raised by Peggy and Mr A. Griffiths who taught me right from wrong and raised me to be a good mum to my kids. They taught me about culture and painting. I grew up at Waringarri Arts from a little kid. I remember running around the centre when I was 6 years old. I started painting when I was 10 which I enjoyed. I also work in ceramics and textiles. I want to pursue textiles for now and maybe in the future I will start painting again. I have also become a board member for Waringarri Arts. Both my father and mother’s side of the family are strong artists. My goal is to be an artist for the rest of my life and teach my kids about their culture and passing down knowledge.”

Register 

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2023 Revealed Exhibition

Don’t miss the 2023 Revealed Exhibition: New and Emerging WA Aboriginal Artists – Fremantle Arts, opening 6:30pm Friday 5 May and open daily until Sunday 23 July.

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