By MARC MCGOWAN
EIGHT artists from a remote Indigenous community will showcase their work and offer insight into their way of life at Burrinja Cultural Centre next month for the second straight year.
The exhibition, branded “A Pictorial Letter from Arlpwe at Ali Curung”, will run between 5 and 16 September, with an official opening on Sunday 14 September at 11am.
Arlpwe Arts Centre artists are visiting from Ali Curung, near Tennant Creek, for the duration of the exhibition and running workshops for community groups and schoolchildren.
The paintings on display represent both modern and traditional style and the artists are also bringing down unique artefacts, such as stone knives, spears and boomerangs.
Councillor Noel Cliff instigated the relationship between the two centres after discovering the work being done on a Northern Territory trip two years ago.
He said he was privileged to witness a local corroboree and got to know the 500-strong community through that experience.
“I saw their work and thought, ‘This is so good’ and I asked them, ‘How about coming to Melbourne for an exhibition, if we can get you to Burrinja?’,” Cr Cliff said.
“They were just over the moon about it and put a grant into the Northern Territory government through their art people and got the green light, so they came down last year.
“It was just fantastic and they got the schools to come in and spoke to the kids about their food, their artwork, what they make and brought loads of artefacts with them.”
The artists presented Burrinja Cultural Centre with a stone knife, which Cr Cliff described as “the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen”, in appreciation of their invitation.
Burrinja executive director Ross Farnell was thrilled to welcome the artists back again.
“Being able to present these works is one thing, but to bring the artists as well presents a wonderful opportunity for the communities of Ali Curung and the Dandenong Ranges to interact,” Mr Farnell said.
“Students will also have a unique opportunity to meet with Central Desert artists and learn about the life in a remote Aboriginal community.”
The exhibition will be open from Tuesday to Sunday between 10.30am and 4pm at Burrinja Gallery, cnr Glenfern Rd and Matson Dve, Upwey.
Entry costs $5, but is free for Yarra Ranges residents and Jarmbi members. Visit the http://burrinja.org.au/ website for more details.
