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Mowanjum 50 years

Mowanjum Aboriginal Community decided to share their stories and Wandjina traditions in this lively and richly illustrated book. It tells of their journey from their homelands in the north Kimberley to Derby where Worrorra, Ngarinyin and Wunambal peoples established Mowanjum Community in 1956. Historical photographs were selected by senior men and women for the stories they tell, and to rescue them from the anonymity of archives thousands of kilometres from their community. Songs, myths, stories and poems from past. and present community members have been combined with over 100 photographic images of contemporary community members. The book is a commemoration of the strength of spirit of past community members and an expression of confidence in the future.

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Jigeengadi bush camp

“This is a community book about the week long sustainable harvesting bush camp that was held in June 2006 at Jigeengadi (Wire Yard) on Gibb River pastoral station. It shows pictures of how we made things, some of the trees and barks and their language names. It also lists some sustainable harvesting techniques that we talked about in workshops. The reason we had the camp was to get out on country for seven days to share knowledge and culture. It was a chance to talk about using trees, barks and plants to make traditional objects and bark paintings for commercial enterprises. … There were 65 people at the camp from all three language groups, Ngarinyin, Worrorra and Wunambal.”

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Two Goannas

Djilpin Arts is an Aboriginal Corporation that promotes the maintenance, development and transmission of traditional cultural knowledge systems. Djilpin Arts specialises in live cultural performance, digital media, and produces the annual performance event – the Walking With Spirits Festival. Djilpin Arts also operates the Ghunmarn Culture Centre – home of the Blanasi Collection and fine art & craft for sale. Djilpin Arts also operates a cafe/gallery in Katherine where all works are sourced from the Ghunmarn Culture Centre. The Ghunmarn Culture Centre is in the Wugularr (Beswick) community of South East Arnhem Land. All artworks are made by local artists living in the community. Artwork reflects the traditional songs and stories that have been passed down through the generations for thousands of years.

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Ungud (Snake)

Stanley Taylor is a Nykina man who was born and lives in the Derby region. He started working at the Mowanjum Aboriginal Art and Culture Centre as a Studio Technician in 2008 and now is the Exhibitions Coordinator

In all of his various roles, Stanley has played a key role in the day-to-day operations of the Art Centre and in the staging of the annual Mowanjum Festival. Stanley’s often paints the Ungud Snake. 

In 2022,  The Jimmy Pike Trust and Open Bite at Edith Cowan University conducted a three-day lino-cutting workshop with nine artists from the Mowanjum centre, Derby. A suite of 13 prints were created including Stanley’s Ungud.

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Didgeridoo & Clapsticks

Phillip “ Cracker” Duckhole

Phillip is a senior Ngarinyin man, a cultural leader and a skilled bushman. He was born at Glenroy Station in the Kimberley of Western Australia. He and his family have spent time living in both Derby and Mowanjum.

His art practice encompasses shaping, carving and decorating traditional objects, and he plays a vital role when returning to Country to harvest bark following the annual wet season. These skills he passes on to the younger members of his community.

 In 2022,  The Jimmy Pike Trust and Open Bite at Edith Cowan University conducted a three-day lino-cutting workshop with nine artists from the Mowanjum centre, Derby. A suite of 13 prints were created including Phillip’s work, Didgeridoo and Clapsticks.

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Kungkarangkalpa / Seven Sisters

Kungkarangkalpa means the Seven Sisters. This is an extensive creation story that relates to the Pleiades constellation in the southern hemisphere. The story traverses Australia taking on different forms, however local women are privy to the part of the story which takes place in the country near Ernabella. For this part of the story, the man called Nyiru is chasing the sisters as he wants to sleep with the oldest sister. All the younger sisters are deeply afraid of him. As Nyiru is chasing the sisters, he tries to catch them by using magic to turn himself into the most tempting bush tomatoes for the sisters to eat and the most beautiful ili (fig) tree for the sisters to camp under. However, the sisters are aware of his magic and go hungry and run through the night rather than be caught by Nyiru. Eventually, to escape Nyiru, the sisters fly into the sky where they turn into stars and form the constellation.

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Goanna, Crocodile & Fish

This painting depicts three animals found in billabongs around Beswick. At top is a water goanna, in the middle is a freshwater crocodile, and at the bottom is a fish.

Raark or fine-line work is completed using a handmade traditional Jarlk grass brush.

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Four Fish

This piece by Frankie Lane depicts some common billabong fish in the local area. It is finished in traditional rarrk (fine cross-hatch painting style).