Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(
www.desertmob.nt.gov.au
) has grown from somewhat humble beginnings to an
exciting event involving artists from up to 40 Desart member art centres. Calendar
events include a one-day symposium where artists share stories, images and films,
and a weekend marketplace where visitors have the chance to meet artists and
works can be acquired for incredibly reasonable prices. A central event of the Alice
Desert Festival, the exhibition is on from September until late October.
Our Mob
South Australia's OUR MOB
UR MOB (
www.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au
)
, held in October,
is the new annual exhibition kid on the block. First held in 2005, it's quickly blos-
somed into an exciting event bringing South Australian indigenous artists and their
work together at the Adelaide Festival Centre Gallery on the banks of the Torrens
River. Works of all mediums are represented, with art centres from the APY Lands
showing alongside artists from the west coast, Riverland and Coorong regions, as
well as urban-based artists. The public program includes talks by artists, curators
and arts workers. It runs from October until early December.
Artefacts & Contemporary Objects
Objects traditionally made for utilitarian or ceremonial practices, such as weapons, hunt-
ing and gathering tools and musical instruments, often feature intricate and symbolic
decoration. In recent years many communities have also developed nontraditional forms
of weavings and objects that have generated cultural revival and pride, employment and
income. In central Australia, artists have created idiosyncratic works such as
mukata
(beanies or hats),
tjanpi
(woven natural grasses, brightly coloured wool, seeds and beads)
objects ranging from birds, animals and humans to the more quirky - the near life-size
Tjanpi Toyota
by Tjanpi Desert Weavers, which won the overall Telstra NATSIAA in
2005 and is on permanent display at the Museum & Art Gallery of the NT in Darwin.
The depiction of ancestral beings in indigenous art is a signifier of respect and cultural
connection to specific regions and language groups. For example, the Nyoongar
people's Wagyl (Waugal or Waagal) in southern WA is similar to the Rainbow Serpent
Ngalyod or Yingarna in parts of Arnhem Land. Every community and nation has their re-
spective ancestral beings and totemic spirit beings.
Didgeridoo
The most widespread craft objects seen for sale these days are didgeridoos. There has
been a phenomenal boom in their popularity and they can be found in outlets around the
