Page 58 - Tropic Magazine Issue 30

TROPIC • ARTS

1. Natasha Davui 2. Dorothy Edwards
3. Lisa Michl OAM 4. Trish Barnard

Sharing stories

1 2
INDIGENOUS ART
Cultural strengthening
continues to be at the core
of UMI Arts, reflected in a
number of exciting exhibitions
across the city.

On the back of the brilliant Lore to Law
exhibition in the newly refurbished Court
House Gallery, UMI Arts has been busy
welcoming visitors to You and Me in its
Jensen Plaza Gallery. The collection of
works by five local Indigenous female
artists – Shirley Mayo-Collins, Lisa Michl 3
OAM, Dorothy Edwards, Trish Barnard
and Natasha Davui – spans the themes UMI Arts Executive Officer, Peter Lenoy
of old lore and new law, bush food, said the grassroots organisation is
medicine and nature’s abundance, while community-driven and the You and Me
showcasing varying styles, inspirations exhibition reinforces this engagement
and mediums. while mirroring cultural values and the
Trish Barnard, a Yambina artist from practice of sharing. “To me, this particular
central Queensland and UMI Arts’ exhibition is really special because it’s
contract curator, is thrilled to have three an opportunity for established artists
works on show in this latest exhibition. to showcase their works with emerging
“What I am exhibiting is a diptych and intermediate artists, which blends 4
entitled Old Ways New Ways and Marks well together in the exhibition,” he said.
with Meaning in acrylic combined with “I am continually being impressed by our adaption and online marketing.
textural impasto,” she said. “Old Ways members’ sheer talent and flair and it is It’s anticipated the day’s sessions will
New Ways draws inspiration from cultural a privilege to be able to showcase this to inspire members to stay connected,
shields and invites the viewer to consider others,” Mr Lenoy said. upskill and create, as well as promote
cultural traditions from a First Peoples’ On 10 June, UMI Arts will also host a cultural strengthening.
standpoint, taking cues from powerful symposium at Bulmba-ja Arts Centre. UMI Arts’ blue chip annual Freshwater
themes of protection and possession. The all-day event involves local and Saltwater exhibition will follow on from
How horrible it must have been for our regional artists alongside funding You and Me in the Jensen Plaza gallery,
warriors, accustomed to defending partners, stakeholders and tourism launching on 8 July ahead of NAIDOC
themselves during combat against representatives in an effort to reconnect week activities, Darwin Aboriginal
traditional weapons like axes and spears, the Indigenous arts sector post-COVID. Art Fair and CIAF. Some of the works
to all of a sudden be faced with rifles The organisation’s partners including Gab will also be hung at the Pullman
and bullets.” Titui, Yarrabah Arts Centre, the Cairns International Hotel.
In her artworks Trish has created bands Indigenous Arts Fair (CIAF), Arts Law You and Me will be on display
of totemic symbols used traditionally and Indigenous Arts Code will join the until 25 June.
during initiation to create cicatrices group to speak about copyright, licensing
(scarification marks) across a warrior’s agreements and contracts, as well as new MORE: umiarts.com.au
shoulders and midriff. ways of doing business through digital

58 • Tropic • Issue 30