Newsletter May 2010

Senior Desert Artists - Our latest exhibition, Senior Desert Artists, runs until the end of the month (28 May). A great opportunity to see works from leading Indigenous artists whose works are collected by State Galleries, National Gallery of Australia and contemporary art museums overseas. The exhibition includes paintings by Alice Nampitjinpa, Bessie Nakamarra Sims, Elizabeth Marks Nakamarra, Eunice Napanangka Jack, Joseph Jurra Tjapaltjarri, Judy Napangardi Watson, Molly Napaltjarri Jugadai and Shorty Jangala Robertson.


Lacquer ware boxes - Beautiful ‘fair trade’ lacquerware boxes are now
available in the gallery. The production of these boxes is a collaboration
between art and crafts people from around the globe.
The boxes are made of paper mache and handpainted with Australian
Aboriginal art. We have rectangular boxes in three sizes plus pencil boxes and jewel boxes.



Indigenous Art Fairs - It is May already! Right on time for some dates of interest for your diary.

Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair. The third Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair is taking place from 12 - 14 August 2010. The Fair coincides with the Telstra Award, (opening 13 August) and the Darwin Festival, a time when the city of Darwin becomes the focal point for Aboriginal arts.

Cairns Indigenous Art Fair from 20 - 22 August 2010. This fair Fair is a boutique art market for traditional and contemporary art work by Queensland Indigenous artists. The visitor experience is enriched by complementary programming including dance and music, a symposium and artist talks.




Desert Mob opens in Alice Springs on 10 September and the show runs until 24 October. Desert Mob is the premier Indigenous art event for this region showcasing work from artists across the Desart membership. This year Desert Mob marks its 20th birthday with a special Friday night exhibition opening.


Code of Conduct - A year ago, in our newsletter from may 2009, we announced the code of conduct for Australian Indigenous Art. The final draft has been published and a special committee is finalising the application process for signatories.
Visit www.indigenousartcode.org to download the code.



Gallery hours & new phone number - Please note that our phone number has changed. The new number is (07) 3256 9585.

The gallery is closed on Saturday 29 May 2010. The gallery is also closed from 18 to 21 August 2010 when we will be attending the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair. We always post changes in gallery hours on thewebsite. We recommend visitors who travel longer distances to check out the home page for different opening hours. Remember, we can arrange special visits by appointment, just give us a call.

SALE - SALE - SALE
During the month of September we hold our annual stock sale to make room for new works. It’s certainly worth having a look with up to 50% off. Check out the online gallery where you’ll find the paintings on sale on the first three pages.

26th NATSIA award
In August the winners of the 26th National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award (or Telstra Award) were announced. The over all winner this year is Danie Mellor with a work titled ‘From Rite to Ritual’.
Other winners are: Yinarupa Nangala (general painting award), Rerrkirrwanga Mununguurr (bark painting award), Glen Namundja (work on paper award) and Janie McAullay Bott (Wandjuk Marika 3D memorial award, shown).

For the first time this year an online People’s Choice Award has been created. Visit the online NATSIAA exhibition and vote for your favourite artwork before 25 October 2009.

Jukurrpa
Every year, Centred Art stocks the beautiful Jukurrpa calendars and diaries featuring Aboriginal art. The ones for 2010 are even more colourful than before.
New this year is a very stylish set of greeting cards (2 x 6 different artworks) in transparent envelopes. Available in the gallery now.

Boutique Markets
The Boutique Markets (formerly known as the Designers Emporium) has recently found a new home at Portside Wharf in Hamilton, Brisbane. A unique shopping experience featuring some of the best local talent in art, craft and design located in one of Brisbane’s premier riverfront dining and shopping precincts! Every second Sunday of the month you’ll find Centred Art at the markets. We’re there to promote the Aboriginal art, the gallery and we sell small paintings and our Jukurrpa products. Come and check it out, or visit the Boutique Markets website.

Sneak preview
A little taste of our upcoming exhibition. Keep an eye on the website for details! Or alternatively send us an email with "invite" in the subject to receive an invitation.

Centred Art goes International

In April Centred Art welcomed Michel and Danielle Arends from the Netherlands. They own the “I Love Global Art” gallery in Rotterdam. They fell in love with the colourful paintings from the Red Centre and their enthusiasm has resulted in 30 artworks going overseas for our first international exhibition. The show with paintings from Papunya Tula, Warlukurlangu and Ernabella opens in the beginning of June. It is a great opportunity for art lovers in the Netherlands to learn more about the Aboriginal art movement and we wish Michel and Danielle good luck with the exhibition.

Desert Mob 2009

From Sunday 6 September until Sunday 8 November 2009 the annual Desert Mob show takes place at the Araluen Cultural Centre in Alice Springs.


Desert Mob features art works from Aboriginal art centres in the NT, SA and WA, which are Aboriginal owned and governed. The exhibition gives visitors a complete overview of the work by Aboriginal artists in this vast region. Nearly every year, a new art centre has emerged and developed, which adds new energy and dimension to the exhibition. From our own experience we can say that this is an absolute ‘must see’ so check it out if you can. The image above gives an impression of a previous show.

New Paintings from the Desert

On Friday 27 March we opened our second major exhibition in the Nundah gallery. The exhibition was called “New Paintings from the Desert” with works from Ikuntji Artists, Ninuku Artists, Ernabella Arts and Kayili Artists. The selected paintings ranged from the more traditional dot paintings to very colourful and abstract, modern looking works. We thank the art centres for their cooperation and all our visitors for making it a wonderful event. Image: Zacius Tjakamarra Jack - Wilkinkarra (Lake Mackay).

RSPCA Fund raiser

In March 2009 local artist Deb Warburton took over the Centred Art gallery for a couple of days to raise money for the RSPCA. Deb is a very prolific artist who uses materials such as fabric, beads, pencil, ink and paint in her art. The exhibition included works of native flora & fauna, and also more political works concerning the protection of animals and animal rights.

The show was a great success and raised nearly $1,100. Congratulations and well done Deb!

Code of Conduct

The Australia Council for the Arts has developed a commercial code of conduct for the Indigenous art industry. It is currently in the stage of public consultation. This code is designed to strengthen fair and ethical trade in the Indigenous visual art industry. It specifies a set of minimum standards for all parties involved and defines rights and responsibilities for the sale and management of artworks. We would like to point out that Centred Art ONLY does business with Aboriginal owned art centres and as such all artists are treated with respect and all art is acquired ethically. We’ve already advised the Australia Council that Centred Art will, and always has, conducted it’s business in accordance with this code of conduct. (Image: Judy Napangardi Watson - Mina Mina Jukurrpa).