The Blak Markets organisation will again host the National Indigenous NAIDOC Art Fair next weekend at the Overseas Passenger Terminal in Sydney. The event will kick off celebrations ahead of this year’s national NAIDOC Week and will offer a vibrant festival of Australia’s rich Aboriginal cultures.
Seventeen Aboriginal artists are confirmed to visit from 22 remote art centres and will bring their artworks, sculptures, textiles and accessories to Sydney to exhibit and sell at the market. They’ll also host workshops demonstrating their cultural practices. The lively market will also feature more than 30 stalls from across NSW, bush tucker cooking demonstrations, weaving workshops and live music and dance performances.
But this is a rare opportunity in our southern cities to engage with artists from further afield. The event is supported by the NSW Government via its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW, in proud partnership with the Port Authority of NSW.
The inaugural NAIDOC Art Fair was a one-day event last year and was attended by 10,000 visitors to Barangaroo.
The list of art centres and artists confirmed to attend so far is:
APY Art Centre Collective (APY Lands, SA) “ Iluwanti Ken from Tjanpi Desert Weavers
Artists of Ampilatwatja (Ampilatwatja, NT) “ Kathleen Nanima Rambler and Ada Pula Beasley
Bábbarra Women’s Centre (Maningrida NT) “ art centre employee, Jess Phillips (she speaks 10 Aboriginal dialects)
Bula’Bula Art (Ramingining, NT) “ No artists attending
Ernabella Arts ( APY Lands, SA) – Nyunmiti Burton,
Gapuwiyak Culture and Arts (Gapuwiyak, NT) “ Lucy Wanapuyngu joining the communal weaving workshop
Ikuntji Artists (Indulkana Community, APY Lands, NT) “ Iluwanti Ken from Tjanpi Desert Weavers
Iltja Ntjarra Many Hands Art Centre (Alice Springs, NT) “ Mervin Rubuntja and Benita Clements hosting a watercolour painting workshop
Iwantja Arts (Indulkana Community, APY Lands, SA) – TBC
Kaltjiti Arts (Fregon Community, APY Lands, SA) “ Jennifer Ingkatji
Martumili Artists (Newman, WA) “ TBC
Mimili Maku Arts (Mimili Community, NT) – TBC
Munupi Arts (Tiwi Islands, NT) – Josephine Burak and Bernadette Mungatopi
Tangentyere Artists (Alice Springs, NT) “ Terazita Turner-Young
Tjala Arts (Amata Community, APY Lands, SA) – TBC
Tjarlirli Art & Kaltukatjara Art (Tjarlirli Community, NT)
Tjanpi Desert Weavers (Amata, SA) “ Iluwanti Ken
Tjungu Palya Arts (Nyapari Community, SA) “ TBC
Warakurna Artists (Warakurna Community, NT) “ Martha Ward and Judith Chambers
Warlukurlangu Artists (Yuendumu, NT) “ Athena Granites
Warmun Art Centre (Warmun, WA) “ Marika Riley hosting an ochre painting workshop
Warnayaka Art Centre (Lajamanu, NT) “ Tiana Gurruwiwi and Ursula Napangardi Marks
Yarrenyty Altere (Alice Springs, NT) “ Marlene Rubuntja
