Last chance to nominate for the 2013 Deadly Awards

Applications are still open for the 2013 Deadly Awards, so if you know someone who is outstanding in the field of music, sport or the arts, or is simply an all-round community role-model, nominate them now!

The Deadly Awards recognise the contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders to our community, and provide national and local role models to inspire all Australians.

Time is running out, so click here to find out all of this year's Deadly categories, and here to lodge your nomination.

Entries close 30 June 2013.

YMAC Congratulates Les Hill for Works Showcased in 2013 Good Heart Art

YMAC would like to congratulate one of our Community Liaison Officers, Les Hill, for being chosen to exhibit his artwork in the 2013 Good Heart Mid-West Art Exhibition, which finishes up in Perth this evening.

His collection of pieces reflects the everlasting wildflowers unique to his home town of Mullewa and the Murchison River.

This has been Good Heart Art's sixth exhibition sponsored by Oakajee Port and Rail, and almost 200 pieces from over 50 new and established mid-west artists were showcased.
For more information on this year's event, visit the Good Heart website.

If you would like to know more about Les and other YMAC Community Liaison Officers, read our blog post from March this year. 

Pieces of Gutharraguda exhibition opens in Carnarvon this Friday evening

After the success of Jimmy Poland's Pieces of Gutharraguda exhibition opening in Shark Bay in May, the exhibition will now travel to Carnarvon, where it opens at the Gwoonwardu Mia Cultural Centre this Friday, 31 May, from 5:30 to 7:30pm.

At 86 years old, respected Malgana elder and local Denham community icon, Jimmy Poland, has been carving pearl shell, emu eggs and boab nuts for many years - a skill that was passed down from his father - and he tells the story of his life in Shark Bay through the Pieces of Gutharraguda exhibition.

The exhibition will run from 31 May to 20 June 2013.

For details about the exhibition opening, please see flyer below.

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2013 Good Heart Art Exhibition set to open in Perth

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The 2013 Good Heart Art Exhibition will soon open in Perth after a spectacular preview of the exhibition finishes up in Geraldton today.

Almost 200 pieces from over 50 new and established mid-west artists will be showcased in Perth from 10-14 June, and all artwork will be for sale with proceeds going to the artists.

This will be the Good Heart Art's sixth exhibition, sponsored by Oakajee Port and Rail.

The exhibition will run from Monday 10 June - Friday 14 June 2013,  10am to 4pm daily, in the foyer of the QV1 Building, 250 St Georges Terrace, Perth.

For more information, contact Nan Rickards on 0417 184 290 or visit the the Good Heart website.

Pieces of Gutharraguda Exhibition Opening in Denham

Respected local Denham community icon, Jimmy Poland, will tell the story of his life in Shark Bay through an upcoming exhibition of his jewellery and artwork called Pieces of Gutharraguda.

At 86 years old, Malgana elder Jimmy has been carving pearl shell, emu eggs and boab nuts for many years - a skill that was passed down from his father - but this is the first time his works have been documented visually as part of Malgana cultural history.

Through a mentorship program supported by contemporary WA arts organisation, FORM, Jimmy has been able to work with leading WA jeweller and designer, Helena Bogucki. His pieces reflect the evolution of Gutharraguda (Shark Bay) country, as well as the fishing and pastoral industries of the town.

Pieces of Gutharraguda will be showing at the Rose de Freycinet Gallery, Shark Bay World Heritage and Discovery Centre, 3-24 May 2013. The exhibition will then travel to Gwoonwardu Mia Gascoyne Aboriginal Heritage and Cultural Centre in Carnarvon, Port Hedland Galleries, and Perth.

For details about the exhibition opening, please see the flyer below.

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Good Heart 2013 Calls for Indigenous Artworks

There is just over a week left for Indigenous artists from the mid-west to submit contributions to be considered for the Good Heart 2013 art exhibition.

Now in its sixth year, the Oakajee Port and Rail Good Heart Aboriginal Art Project showcases traditional and contemporary works by emerging and established mid-west artists to a metropolitan audience.

The main exhibition will take place in Perth from 10-14 June 2013, after a preview in Geraldton from 13-27 May.

Works must be submitted for consideration by Wednesday 1 May 2013.

Artists interested in submitting works should contact Nan Rickards on 0417 184 290 or email nan.rickards@bigpond.com

Perth Celebrates West Australian Aboriginal Art through Revealed Exhibition and Marketplace

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Come down to the Revealed exhibition and marketplace in Perth this weekend for the opportunity to view and buy Aboriginal artworks directly from the artists creating them.

The Revealed exhibition presents work from new and emerging West Australian Aboriginal artists, and runs from 13 April to 4 May at the Central Institute of Technology in Northbridge.

To kick off the exhibition, the Perth Cultural Centre will come alive on Saturday 13 April with the Revealed marketplace, where visitors can both purchase art and take part in array of activities celebrating Aboriginal culture.

The State Library of WA will also be holding a free symposium in the afternoon, which explores current issues in the Indigenous art industry and highlights creativity and innovation from regional WA.


For more information on the exhibition and a list of activities taking place at the marketplace, visit www.revealed.net.au

Local Art and Stories Wanted for Zest Festival

This year's Zest Festival organisers are calling on people with a 'story to tell' to submit sculptures, stories and objects for presentation at two exhibitions at the Kalbarri event in September this year.

The 'Binding Realities Sculpture Exhibition' will showcase sculptures on the Murchison River Foreshore, while the 'Far from Home Exhibition' will display objects and their associated stories.

The Festival, taking place 21-22 September 2013, commemorates the 300th anniversary of the sinking of the Dutch East India Company merchant ship, the Zuytdorp.

Expressions of Interest for participating in the 'Binding Realities Sculpture Exhibition' close 15 May, and 31 May for the 'Far from Home Exhibition'.

To receive an expression of interest information pack, email bursnell@iprimus.com.au

For more information on the event, visit the Zest Festival website.

Applications Open for International Indigenous Photo Competition

Are you a budding photographer?

Applications are still open for the Through Your Eyes photo competition, held in conjunction with the 2013 World Indigenous Network (WIN) Conference taking place in Darwin during May this year.

Following the theme 'through your eyes', applicants are encouraged to send in photos of  'what you see' - your experiences, your perspective, your passions, your connection to country and culture.

Shortlisted photos will be posted to the WIN website, and will be on display in a gallery during the conference.

Prize packs will be awarded to all winners, who will be announced in the final days of the conference, 27-28 May 2013.

Entries to the competition close Monday 15 April 2013. Click here for eligibility requirements and conditions of entry.

For further information about the World Indigenous Network and the 2013 Darwin conference, please visit the WIN website or phone (02) 6274 1016.

Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Awards

Indigenous artists are encouraged to enter the 2013 Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards.

The awards, now in their 30th year, recognise the important contribution made by Indigenous artists and promote the understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art from both regional and urban Australia.

The Grand Prize is $40,000, with five additional $4,000 awards in various other categories.

Entries close 15 March 2013.

For more information, including application and eligibility requirements, visit www.nt.gov.au/natsiaa

New Children's Book from West Australian Indigenous Artist

West Australian artist Norma MacDonald will release her new illustrated children's book next month through Indigenous publishing house, Magabala Books.

Spinifex Mouse is the tale of a cheeky, spinifex-hopping mouse who lives in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Written and Illustrated by Ms MacDonald, the book will be available from February 2013 in bookshops across Australia and online from Magabala Books, www.magabala.com

Magabala Books is a not-for-profit publishing house based in Broome that aims to promote, preserve and publish Indigenous Australian culture.

Norma MacDonald descends from both the Yamatji and Nyungar people of Western Australia. Spinifex Mouse follows on from her 2011 success, Stolen Girl, also published through Magabala Books.

         

Applications for Mid West Art Prize 2013 Still Open

Applications for entry into the 2013 Mid West Art Prize are still open to all artists throughout Western Australia.

This will be the third year the Mid West Art Prize takes place, with the exhibition scheduled to open at the Geraldton Regional Art Gallery on Saturday 2 March 2013.

There will be a total of $45,00 in non-acquisitive awards presented across seven award categories. Application forms are available from the Geraldton Regional Art Gallery, or can be downloaded from their website.

Yamaji Arts manager Allison Yearwood has wished all artists of the region good luck, and any new indigenous artists that would like assistance in setting up their profile can contact the centre via the Yamaji Art Website, or on (08) 9965 3440.

For more details about the Mid West Art Prize 2013, please contact the Geraldton Regional Art Gallery on 9964 7170 or email grag@artgallery.wa.gov.au

Entries close 4pm Wednesday 16 January, 2013.

www.artgallery.cgg.wa.gov.au

Artists Honoured at Yamaji Art's New Home

Lakiesha Green-Ryan, Allison Yearwood and Charmaine Green of Yamaji Arts.

Yamaji Art, the Aboriginal owned and operated art centre in Mid West, Western Australia, has opened its new doors at the Bill Sewell Complex in Geraldton, along with its website launch, yamajiart.com

The new gallery space was officially launched on Friday 12th October, with a tribute event honouring the memory of two artists who played an integral part in the growth of Yamaji Art.
Representatives of the McIntosh and Boddinton families celebrated the memory of the artists with speeches, songs, dancing and a tree planting ceremony.

Yamaji Arts Manager Allison Yearwood said, "Today was about celebrating the lives of these two women who helped us so much, who brought us to the point of now having our own space. We've grown from a little art centre to this, and our new website is showing local work to international audiences. We are here opening our doors and we hope the community feel this is their place to share."

www.yamajiart.com

Yamatji artists on show in Perth

Artwork: Yalibirri Nesting Time
Artist: Sonya Edney
Copyright 2012

An art exhibition aimed at raising the profile of Indigenous artists from the mid-west region of Western Australia will open next week in Perth's city centre.

The 'Good Heart Mid-West Aboriginal Art Exhibition 2012' is a community-based project backed by Oakajee Port and Rail, which will showcase work from contemporary and traditional Indigenous artists of WA's mid-west region.

This is the fifth year the exhibition has been run in Perth, and in celebration of its continued success, Oakajee Port and Rail have announced a new devleopment grant for two participating artists. The recipients of these scholarships will receive art supplies and tutition at the Kidogo Art Institute in Fremantle.

The exhibition will be staged in the foyer of the QV1 Building from 18-22 June. Entry is free, 10am-4pm. All artwork is for sale.

For more information, visit the exhibition website.

Indigenous Arts Funding: applications now open

The WA Department of Culture and the Arts (DCA) awards a wide range of grants to artists, artsworkers, groups and organisations, including targeted Indigenous Arts Funding grants.

The DCA is now accepting applications for two different categories in their Indigenous Arts Grant Program:

Development (click here for more): This category is open to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, groups or organisations working in all eligible art forms for projects that involved the exploration of new ideas, the development of new skills, the creation of new work or the recreation or reinterpretation of traditional or customary practices or cultural expression.

Distribution and Marketing (click here for more): This category is open to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, groups or organisations working in all eligible art forms and facilitates the distribution of an existing WA arts activity, event or product to new audiences locally, interstate, and/or internationally.

Applications close on 23 March, 2012. To find out more information, visit http://www.dca.wa.gov.au/funding/ or call 1800 199 090.