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Designing a new tradition from Aboriginal art

Oct 08, 2015

Jewellery has always been here is the name of an exhibition opening at Adelaide’s Jam Factory today, but despite its title, this show is both innovative and unique.

Although we are familiar with Aboriginal painting and sculpture, printmaking, photography and ceramics, there has been far less focus on the long and rich tradition of Aboriginal jewellery making.

This show is curated by Emily McCulloch Childs, working with founder of Pieces of Eight jewellery designers, Melanie Katsalides and jeweller Kate Rohde.

JamFactory-installation-Virginia-Ngalaia-Napanangka-Ikuntji-Artists

Virginia Ngalaia Napanangka Western Desert series Ikuntji Artists JamFactory

Together they have collaborated with jewellery makers at four arts centres across Aboriginal Australia and the Torres Strait islands to marry indigenous traditions with contemporary materials and processes.

The artwork created and the new techniques learnt have the potential to create new revenue opportunities for Aboriginal communities.

“We (Australia) are 25 years behind New Zealand in what they are doing with Maori jewellery,’’ says McCulloch Childs.

Aboriginal men and women have a long tradition in using seeds, beads, shells and “Punu” wood carving to make decorative and ceremonial jewellery including necklaces, bracelets, bangles, waistbands and head-dresses.

Virginia Ngalaia Napanangka Western Desert series Ikuntji Artists JamFactory

Virginia Ngalaia Napanangka Western Desert series Ikuntji Artists JamFactory

Artists in this new project have taken those traditions but have created new designs and worked with modern materials including resins, and even silver which has never been part of Aboriginal culture.

Artists in this show include Anne Thompson, Marissa Thompson, Niningka Munkuri Lewis, Virginia Ngalaia Napanangka, Walter Jugadai Tjungurrayi.

There are 42 works on show (prices range from $80 to about $400) and the hope is that these pieces will be recreated in further editions.

The show is part of the Tarnanthi Festival of Contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art and is at the Jam Factory, Adelaide until November 28.

This article was first published in the Daily Review.

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