WARMUN ARTS CENTRE UNDER WATER.

WARMUN FLOODED

TURKEY CREEK RISES TO UNPRECEDENTED LEVELS IN MID MARCH….and tragically,Warmun Art Centre has been almost destroyed. This long established art centre lost about 90% of their works – washed away down the river- but by grace of being in an enclosed space, they have saved at least half of the community’s archival collection – many rather sodden and covered in mud., however if the art centre coordinators are allowed to stay, they hope to get them dried out before the paintings are mouldy and ruined.

There have been many wonderful offers of help but unfortunately there is no way in!  The roads are still cut off in both directions and may be for some time, as bridges and roads need major reconstruction. After weeks of heavy rain and in particular overnight into Sunday 13th March, Turkey Creek rose to levels that have devastated the Warmun community.

It had always been thought the art centre could have been built a little low down, but who would have thought that the school could ever be in danger- the people here have lost everything. The water inundated the whole community and spread across nearly 2 km, with water pouring onto them from all sides. Last Sunday morning, whilst getting nervous about the way the creek was rapidly rising, the staff stacked all the paintings in the art gallery onto tables so ‘just in case’ the water did get as high as the floor, then at least the paintings would not get wet. Little could they comprehend how high the water would go and how ferocious its force. When even the studio looked to be in danger Gary ran in and managed to get as much as he could up to higher shelving but then ran out in danger of being trapped as the water rose so quickly. Then the sickening sound of the gallery walls collapsing -  they just had to sit tight and realise the enormity of the situation. It was already too late for the people living on this side of Turkey Creek to get to safety of the green house which mercifully stands on solid concrete stilts. By about 9 pm the levels started abating as counting the number of steps they could see, and only then could some people wade across to them and enable them to sleep the night on dry ground. The ABC website has more pictures that show the complete devastation to the gallery. Currently they have no power but have managed to find a way to connect just today with the internet world intermittently.  The main thing is – the Warmun Art Centre will be rebuilt. The artists are saying – we will start again – build it up- make it strong again – then we get back. The entire community is being evacuated, however the art centre managers are staying as long as they can to secure what is left and to dry out as much work as possible – they don’t yet know what is left. Please don’t forget Warmun  – their art will return and everyone is working towards restoring the indigenous community who have lost their homes and everything in them. This is their country, its where they grew up and its it’s their place – they will not give up striving until their community is rebuilt and and all can return as soon as possible.

Sidney Nolan (1917–1992), Kelly, 1954. Felt-tipped pen on thin coated paper.

In April, the eagerly awaited OUT OF AUSTRALIA  exhibition will open at The British Museum.

In May I hosted an incomparable exhibition of 25 works by  the spectacular Queensland artist, Sally Gabori at The Gallery in Cork Street, Mayfair.  We are most grateful for this assistance and generous help from Anna Bligh, the Premier of Queensland ,  through the Queensland Arts Marketing and Export Agency ( QIAMEA ).  The Sally Gabori exhibition was a sellout!

The late great Bidyadanga artist Weaver Jack sadly died in October 2010. She will be missed by all who knew her. Weaver’s beautiful paintings of her country will live on as testament to her great spirit.

LUNGARUNG 2006 by Weaver Jack, acrylic on linen, 168 x 112 cm

LUNGARUNG 2006 by Weaver Jack, acrylic on linen, 168 x 112 cm

Weaver was born at Lungurang a jila (living water) in the Great Sandy Desert. This place is near Wirnpa country on the Canning Stock Route. Weaver grew up in this country and travelled around her country with her two mummies and daddy then was married off her promised husband. After mining started in the Pilbara, much of the valuable underground creek system was disturbed creating a devasting drought in the yulparija country. Many people died and others moved away. She had children with her husband, and continued travelling further from her home in search of water. Eventually they came to be with Weaver’s sister at Bidyadanga this was in the late 1960′s. She spent most of her life living a traditional lifestyle, and she was considered to be the senior law woman, for the Yulparija people. 

Goonboorooru Series 2 by Claude Carter, natural earth pigments on linen, 90 x 120 cm

Lloyd Kwilla Bushfire Series,natural earth ochres on linen 180 x 150 cm

See images of their recent paintings on this website or email info@jgmart.co.uk for an appointment to view.

IT WAS dubbed ”Una Notte Australiana”, the night the Antipodes invaded the Vatican. Bark and stone artefacts took their place beside the masters of the Renaissance and the mysterious drone of the didgeridoo enveloped St Peter’s Basilica.

As more than 8000 Australians flooded into the Eternal City for today’s canonisation of Mary MacKillop, Aboriginal treasures held in the vaults of the Vatican Museums for 85 years were revealed for the first time.

More than 300 artefacts – collected by missionaries for an exhibition commissioned by Pope Pius XI in 1925 – have been properly curated for the first time, an event project leader Professor Margo Neale described enthusiastically as “a miracle”.

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