A salon style Aboriginal art exhibition bringing together art and objects from remote art centre communities.
Beginning their 2020 program as soon as the year takes off, South Fremantle’s Artitja Fine Art gallery will open their first exhibition for the year SUMMER SALON The Marketplace on Saturday 4 January, at the Earlywork exhibiting space,in South Terrace in the old Biscuit Factory.
What has now become an annual event for the gallery, the aim this year has been to create a marketplace atmosphere in which high end paintings and sculpture such as Mimih Spirit carvings and tall, elegant Larakitj poles from Arnhem land are coupled with items such as hand cut and painted metal desert dogs, cushion covers and small gift lines.
“The exhibition has a dual purpose” says Gallery Director Anna Kanaris. “It’s not just about attracting existing clientelle, it’s about expanding audiences to make Aboriginal art accessible to as many people as we can at a time when holiday makers are more relaxed with more time to visit a gallery. Our motto is “making cultural connections” and educating newcomers is a large part of what we do”.
“The style of this show may be casual, but the art is fine and significant and there will be something for everyone including paintings by emerging and globally renowned Aboriginal artists from remote community art centres around Australia”.
Ethically sourced licensed merchandise, ensuring royalties go directly to the artists, will also make up the exhibition. January is a time that remote community art centres close due to the heat and not a lot of art production happens, hence the opportunity for artists to continue to earn is crucial.
Included will be a range of fine art jewellery by artists from the Indigenous Jewellery Project (IJP), the first nationwide Australian contemporary jewellery project created to provide a national platform for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artist jewellers.
“It’s about visiting the exhibition and going away with an appreciation and understanding of Australia’s Indigenous art and culture, if not a beautiful artwork.” she adds.
An additional highlight this year, is the gallery’s support for the Red Sky Ride fundraiser for Solaris Cancer Care. The 700km ride over 4 days helps raise much needed funds for Solaris. Having used the Solaris services for their own family purpose a decade ago, the gallery Directors jumped at the chance to support the fundraiser by agreeing to host the event, and to donate a percentage of sales on the night.
Established in 2004 by South Fremantle locals Anna Kanaris and Arthur Clarke, Artitja Fine Art Gallery holds up to six satellite exhibitions annually in Fremantle, Perth and suburbs, and has become a regular at the York Festival.
The gallery was the recipient of the Outstanding Cultural Enterprise Award at the Fremantle Business Awards in 2017 and received the gong for Corporate Social Responsibility in 2016.
“Winning these awards is an incredible affirmation of how we approach our business and adhere to the values we set from the beginning of this journey” explained Anna.
SUMMER SALON The Marketplace will open on Saturday 4 January, at 2pm and continue until 26th January at Earlywork in South Fremantle. Everyone is welcome.
SUNDOWNER FOR SOLARIS will be held on Sunday 19 January from 5 – 8pm. Tickets can be purchased through trybooking.com