Bird Wood carving has always been part of Aboriginal culture and Djilpin artists continue this tradition. Men carved wood for many purposes – tools for hunting or gathering food, axes and knives for building shelters, spears and clubs for protection of their lives and territory, objects for ceremony and to Read more…
Witchety Grub Bernadette’s painted logs are often offcuts from mako or didjeridu manufacture. Rather than wasting the pieces or relegating them to the fire, Bernadette collects these, sands them smooth and then experiments with different painting techniques. Painted using a combination of brushes; handmade traditional Jarlk grass reed brush harvested Read more…
Raark on log Bernadette’s painted logs are often offcuts from mako or didjeridu manufacture. Rather than wasting the pieces or relegating them to the fire, Bernadette collects these, sands them smooth and then experiments with different painting techniques. Painted using a combination of brushes; handmade traditional Jarlk grass reed brush Read more…
Raark on log Bernadette’s painted logs are often offcuts from mako or didjeridu manufacture. Rather than wasting the pieces or relegating them to the fire, Bernadette collects these, sands them smooth and then experiments with different painting techniques. Painted using a combination of brushes; handmade traditional Jarlk grass reed brush Read more…
Yok This yok, or bandicoot sculpture has been created from pandanus and stuffed with paperbark to keep its shape. Details such as ears and legs are crafted from beach hibiscus wood. The piece has then been finished in acrylic paints using modern paintbrushes.
mermaid, crocodile + barra This painting depicts two freshwater crocodiles, one of which is diving. On either side is a barramundi and a mermaid spirit – a culturally important story. Painting has been completed using a handmade grass reed brush called Jarlk. Raark or fine line work is in Yirritja Read more…
Billabong This painting depicts multiple animals found in billabongs surrounding Beswick. Included are multiple eel tail catfish, three file snakes, a water goanna and a freshwater crocodile. Also included are two water lily plants along with their yam roots. All are gudwan dagga, or tasty tucker. Painting has been completed Read more…
Hairy Yams This painting depicts three bush yams, sometimes known as hairy yams. These are a prized bush tucker and one of the tastiest yams available, somewhat similar in taste to a commercially bought sweet potato. Painting has been completed in stark contrast colours using a handmade Jarlk brush harvested from local Read more…
Gumnuts This painting depicts gumnuts along with their respective leaves. Gumnuts are important to Bernadette as she collects them, paints them, and turns them into jewellery. “They call me gumnut lady. All them Balanda from down south”. Dots behind the gumnuts are in Central Australian style from her time growing Read more…
Woven Mat Fibre Art is an ancient Aboriginal women’s craft that is still made today using the same techniques as their ancestors. Making fibre art is labour intensive and much care and fine needlework is required to ensure the finished object is both functional and beautiful. Fibre art from Ghunmarn Read more…