22174009024

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Status: Stock

Make it Real Bag Charm by Ben Ward

Goorloordoordoog – Pigeon Dreaming

Goorloordoordoog – the peace pigeon created this country by scratching out the ground with his feet in the Dreamtime. The central design represents a freshwater spring that the pigeon hid underground. A long time ago this place may have been a desert. The old people had to dig for water and used to walk across the country with water in their mouths swallowing a little bit at a time to save their thirst before finding the next place to dig for water. This spring is a dreaming place and should be protected but it has been destroyed by pastoralists who have allowed cattle to roam all over it. I use the nuclear waste symbol at the centre as a sign to say – keep away!

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Make it Real
Make it Real is a project delivered through the Aboriginal Art Centre Hub of Western Australia (AACHWA). As a not-for-profit Aboriginal organisation, our profit story ensures the artist receives the economic benefits of their shared generational stories and culture. When an artist thrives, their community also benefits.

The profits generated from this product give 90% back to the artist and 10% back to their art centre. 

*The way profits are distributed can vary, and we ask consumers to be mindful of this when buying Authentic Indigenous Art or products.

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Categories: WARINGARRI ABORIGINAL ARTS

Name: BEN Galmirr WARD

Language: Miriwoong

Biography:

Ben Ward – Galmirr’s painting practice focuses on his unique perspective of seeing and being with Country. His images depict his cultural knowledge and memories of the Country he explored as a young man mustering cattle. He employs triangular designs of juxtaposed coloured ochre depicting the waterways, mountain ranges and the sacred sites of his Country while also commenting on cultural and environmental concerns that are close to his heart.

In 2015, he was the first Indigenous artist to win the prestigious John Fries Award for emerging artists.


“I was born at Argyle Downs Station in 1949 on the banks of Behn Creek, hence my name. My family all worked on the station, and we lived there until I was 10. We walked from Argyle Station to Ivanhoe so I could go to school at the Kimberley Research Station. My parents and extended family gained work at Ivanhoe Station. My stepfather, Jeff Junarma, taught me everything I know. He took me on as his own son. My real father was a stockman at Argyle Downs Station; he was half Miriwoong and half Afghan, and in those days, he couldn’t claim me as his own.”
After Ben left school, he worked as a mechanic, and it was the shop owner’s wife who taught Ben how to paint in watercolour. In 1964, he began working at Carlton Hill Station mustering cattle. He then studied nursing to take a position with Kimberley Aboriginal Health Service.
A great speaker, Ben has remained strongly involved in land rights and community issues. He was the critical supplicant in the landmark claim - Ben Ward versus the State of Western Australia, which successfully granted native title to Miriwoong and Gajerrabeng peoples. He worked for the Aboriginal Development Commission and was instrumental in the establishment of several local Miriwoong organisations, including Waringarri Aboriginal Arts. It wasn’t until 2011, following a serious car accident, that Ben began regularly painting and woodcarving at Waringarri Arts.

Ben has held the position of Chairperson on the Board of Directors at Waringarri Aboriginal Arts in 2012-13, 2015-2017 & 2019.

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