Last week Northern Editions, Charles Darwin University’s printmaking studio and gallery, ran a printmaking workshop at Jilamara Arts & Craft on Melville Island, Tiwi. The five-day workshop, conducted by Trent Walter and Leon Stainer, was a follow-up to one that had been conducted earlier at Northern Edition’s studios on the University campus.
The NE printmakers had been working with three Tiwi artists and wanted to go to Tiwi and see what else they might come up with in the artists’ own location [a fantastic new Troppo-designed shed within Jilamara].
Jilamara is a successful art community and when the two organisations work together there is the scope to broaden the artists’ capacity to produce.
“There are many benefits to having a workshop at CDU, including ready access to the University’s professional facilities, but another set of opportunities open up when we visit remote communities,” says Emma Fowler-Thomason, Manager Northern Editions.
“We enjoy the flexibility of working with artists in their own centre, where they’re comfortable working. We’re always looking for a fresh quality in the printmaking and, more importantly, looking to see what can come of the collaboration between artist and printmaker, “ says Emma.
The trip doesn’t disappoint. Pedro Wonaeamirri, one of five artists selected for the prestigious 2005 Primavera exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney, and who has had a number of solo shows at Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne, has been selected by Jilamara and NE for the workshop. He is entertaining, delighted to talk to us, and shows us the proofs he’s working on. Timothy Cook, and Raelene Kerinauia, both of whom are amongst the best at Jilamara, are also keen to show us their work. All of them have some printmaking experience.
The results will be on show at an exhibition at Northern Editions in August to coincide with the Telstra Art Award — and the peak art and tourist season.
Exhibition dates: 7-18 August 2006
Visit the Northern Editions website.