A friend of mine Raewyn, is an Arts Development Officer with the organisation called Desart, based in Alice Springs, in the Northern Territory of Australia.
She is in Melbourne at the moment with a group of 10 Aboriginal artworkers, one other Desart staff member, and a film maker, who is recording the Marrka Wangka tour, as a short documentary.
The 10 artworkers have been selected to participate for training in digital storytelling and public speaking.
The Marrka Wangka or "strong talk" project is focused on building the artworkers confidence in public speaking.
There is a stage presentation about Aboriginal art centres tonight at Burrinja.
Glad it's there, it's a wonderful cultural and community arts centre, where I used to work.
Raewyn was kind enough to invite me and another Hills artist Grietje, to be a part of this exciting tour.
We started with a welcome dinner last Thursday night.
These artists come from some very remote areas of Australia, including :
Ali Curung, Tjukurla, Balgo, Tennant Creek, and Papunya.
Saturday night, was a relaxation night! The artists have been non stop working and touring.
I bought along some Henna, hoping it would create a little interest...and it did. I henna'd until midnight!
Isobel Namitjinpa Major, who is the granddaughter of well known artist Billy Stockman Tjapaltjarri and daughter of emerging artist Punata Stockman, henna'd my hand.
I was just bursting with privilege and pride of my stunning Indigenous henna body art.
Isobel henna'ing my hand...it was the first time she had experienced henna!!! and I was thrilled that she wanted to henna me.
She was a born natural to it...she looked as though she had done it for years
Isobel's and my hand, decorated...
Me with Isobel, Susan and Maisie...girls showing off their new henna and warm smiles.
Susan presented me with a thank you gift!!! A carved wooden goanna with burnt in markings on the body.
I was honoured and I had such a great night...it was allot of fun!
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18 comments:
Love the henna Jo...and would love to hear some of their stories!
Thanks D...so happy to see my distant family all set up with a blog, it's great and about time...
I heard some wonderful stories last night...allot of fun with the henna too.
Looking forward to seeing you in NY next year!!! love Jo xx
What a gorgeous post. how lucky you are to be amongst these artists.
love the henna pics, I bet you will never want to wash it off xx
That's freaky... I was just thinking, before clicking on MY STORY...I wish Jo would blog about Australian aboriginal art and the next second the first photograph materialised on my screen.
It sounds like a wonderful time was had by all. Love the goanna!
wow, thatis so cool, I bet those women are all so talented.. I want to study their baskets soon..
One of the marvelous things about the internet and blogging is the opportunity for the world to see different cultures and art styles. Thank you so much for showing these aboriginal women artists.
Jo, what a wonderful experience to share with us. Thank you so much. Seeing your lovely hands together moved me.
What a wonderful experience Jo, love the henna treatment, I've only every used it on my hair.
what an extraordinary experience, Jo! - the photo of your hand and Isobel's hand is a piece of art - it's an amazing photo....
What a lovely post Jo - there was a great programme over here about aboriginal art on the BBC and it was good to hear about the support instead of the exploitation - the henna is exciting - I had it done a few years ago and loved it!
jo, this makes me cry... the photo of your hand and isobel's hand touches me to the core... as does the photo of all of you together. everyone's authentic nature smiling... all of you together for a brief moment in time.
xo
Hi Mim...I was lucky...and yes I'm looking after my henna! Have taken some photo's of it.
Robyn, that's amazing! Glad you liked the post...hope you check out all the links, you will see some wonderful art!
Grrl, the artists didn't talk about thier personal artwork much...other than to say (quietly), the work they do "tells thier stories" so they will never be lost.
They are such proud, gentle and humble people.
Mary, I'm glad you liked the post too. There were 10 artists including 5 men...2 of whom wanted some henna too :)
Elizabeth, Isobel gently placed her hand on mine...the connection moved me too. I will never forget it.
Ro, you will have to come over and get some henna work done!!! The henna I use is quite different to the hair dye!
Jeane, I'm going to enlarge that photo and send one to Isobel, and hang one on my wall!!!
Rosie, this organization is all about community development, support and protection of these artists. The funding for this program runs out next year...it's a bit of a stuggle, but hopefully someone will step in with some money to keep things going.
Lynne, I was crying last night at the stage talks...the digital story telling was a wonderful achievement. Some of the artists spoke thier own language and the pictures were subtitled...so moving.
I'm was so tired in that photo (past midnight) I love Isobels face...she is as warm as she looks.
hey again jo... i had to come back and look at these photos. you're all so beautiful... xo
Loved the photo of the two hands and your goanna. Sounds like a special night.
I love that their work tells their stories so they won't get lost. Thats it for me. Absolutely that’s it. Thank you for this Jo.
I love your hands and the beautiful henna creations... what a magical time you have shared. Roxanne
Certainly would have been a magical time for you Jo. Thank you so much for the photos and your henna creations. You all look so happy!
One of my girlfriends works with the aborigines local to the Warragul area. They are doing a lot of art and introducing their art and their stories into our local community through the schools and exhibitions which has been fantastic.
Art, friendship, sharing...Sounds like my kind of evening...
You're blessed.
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