A new exhibition, Northern Impressions: a celebration of contemporary printmaking, which features mostly contemporary indigenous fine art prints, has opened at the new Chan Contemporary Art Space in Darwin. It’s only the second exhibition there, following the Togart Contemporary Art Award 2010 which closed earlier this month.

Northern Impressions features more than 50 of the best prints produced in collaboration between printmakers at Charles Darwin University’s Northern Editions and some of northern Australia’s most talented Indigenous artists, such as Rammey Ramsey and Conrad Tipungwuti, as well as non-Indigenous artists Marina Strocchi and Wayne Eager.

The exhibition takes its audience on a rich visual journey through the Northern Australian landscape through the powerful medium of printmaking,said Apolline Kohen from the NT Arts Department.

Northern Impressions showcases 53 limited edition prints by artists from across the Top End, from Mornington and Bentinck Islands in the Gulf of Carpentaria to The Kimberley and then down into the Deserts, and reveals the beauty and diversity of artistic expression in these regions, each with their own distinct visual language. Produced with Northern Editions in Darwin since 2004, this selection of the printmaking studio’s finest works will challenge and delight audience perceptions of the printmaking medium, displaying its limitless potential for collaborative virtuosity, technical excellence and luminous colour.

An iconic Northern Territory art institution, Northern Editions is well known locally and nationally for the limited edition fine art prints it produces. The Northern Editions team of printmakers have been collaborating with Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists since 1993, with the printmaking workshops they hold often taking place in remote communities as well as at the Darwin studio. Together, printmakers and artists have collaborated to create prints that celebrate the strength, beauty and diversity of printmaking in northern Australia.

Designed as a travelling exhibition, the Northern Territory Government has provided Artback NT as curators of the exhibition a $14,000 grant so that they can take the show on tour to Katherine and Tennant Creek in 2011. After that it will go on a two year national tour late 2011 “ 2013 “ venues to be confirmed.

A full list of the artists involved is:
Minnie Lumai, Daisy Bitting, Gloria Mengil, Carol Hapke, Judy Mengil, Agnes Armstrong, Peter Newry, Alan Griffiths, Phyllis Thomas, Rammey Ramsey, Freddie Timms, Nina Puruntatameri, Karen Puruntatameri, Maryanne Tungatalum, Glen Farmer, Timothy Cook, Conrad Tipungwuti, Ita Tipungwuti, Raelene Kerinauia, Alma Webou, Jan Billycan, Donald Moko, Harry (Nabiru) Bullen, Daniel Walbidi, Helicopter Tjungurrayi, Kathleen Paddoon, Ningie Nangala, Eubena Nampitjin, Shorty Jangala Robertson, Lucy Napaltjarri Kennedy, Reggie Roberston, Sally Gabori, Joyanne Williams, Netta Loogatha, Dorothy Napangardi, Mitjili Gibson Napanangka, Wayne Eager and Marina Strocchi.

Artists, art organisations, art centres and curators who want to hold exhibitions at the Chan Contemporary Art Space in 2011 still have a few days to submit Expressions of Interest, with the EOI set to close on Monday, 25 October 2010. Proposals are invited that focus on contemporary visual art in any media including multi-media, craft and design and the Northern Territory. For more information about the Chan Contemporary Art Space and support available through the NT Arts Grants Program go to www.arts.nt.gov.au or contact 1800 678 237.