Page 58 - Tropic Magazine Issue 33

TROPIC • ARTS

Just Not Australian, installation view,
Artspace, Sydney, 2019. Photo: Zan Wimberley

NorthSite’s
upcoming
exhibitions
JUST NOT AUSTRALIAN
Tangible stories Across their collection of tote bags, Until 5 February
Just Not Australian pulls together
sarongs and tea towels, each textile the works of 20 artists, ranging
TEXTILES depicts its artist’s connection to Country, in age and cultural heritage, to
exploring tradition through new forms explore the idea of nationhood
NorthSite Contemporary Arts and colour through new canvases. – taking the country’s ‘official’
has recently launched a new Lynelle, a Dharrba Warra artist history to task, while spotlighting
line of textile merchandise specialising in hand-printed materials, people and events that have often
celebrating the forms and told Tropic textiles are an exciting medium been sidelined. The nationally
to work with. “If I were to do one of
touring exhibition was curated
features of Far North Country. these designs as a painting and someone by Artspace and developed in
bought it, then only that person will get to partnership with the Sydney
Wa Yo Way (yes yes yes), recently appreciate the work,” she said. Festival and Museums & Galleries
released in the NorthSite Contemporary of NSW.
Arts store in conjunction with First
Nations Fashion and Design (FNFD), NORTHSITE ART MARKET PRINT
includes the work of four local female EDITION
Indigenous artists from the Torres Strait There is a much wider 16 December – 29 January
to Yarrabah – Lynelle Flinders, audience when someone This year the NorthSite Art
Grace Lillian Lee, Elverina Johnson, Market celebrates the region’s
and Emily Doolah. wears your art unique suite of contemporary
printmakers. This group exhibition
Lynelle Flinders,
Artist involves over 28 local and
Indigenous artists and studios
from across Queensland resulting
“Textiles are also my way of telling our in a stunning collection of fine-art
stories and passing on history from one prints. If you’re on the lookout
generation to the next.” for some new artwork or the
Lynelle’s three designs reflect the perfect Christmas gift, head to the
flora and fauna of her Dharrba Warra NorthSite Art Market’s opening
homelands, north of Cooktown – event on 16 December, 5pm start.
ngurraar (black cockatoo), bugul
(large ant hill) and bunguurr (yam).
In each, she seamlessly combines Elverina is the 2017 NAIDOC Artist of the
interesting geometric patterns with Year and has recently featured on the ABC
rounded, flowing shapes. show Art Works. She has also partnered
The set works in harmony with other with national plus-sized clothing brand
Wa Yo Way pieces – and particularly so Taking Shape on a collection of bold,
next to Elverina’s designs. The Gungganji print-focused clothes (see page 33).
artist’s work features bright ocean colours Wa Yo Way has been made possible by the
and the undulating landscape of her federal government’s Regional Arts Fund.
rainforest home in Yarrabah, while also
carrying the stories of her 25 years as a MORE: northsite.org.au
multidisciplinary artist.

58 • Tropic • Issue 33