Elcho Island Arts

Work at the art centre has been challenging but incredibly rewarding and exciting. Much of the first week involved meeting and working with artists. At this point the art centre works with up to about 200 artists. Many live in Galiwin'ku (the town on Ekcho Island) while others come from homeland or outstation communities dotted across the Island, located on neighbouring islands or spread along the north east coner of mainland Arnhem Land.

The art from Elcho Island encompasses many traditional styles of Aboriginal art and some that are unique to this part of the world. Art styles include bark paintings, hollow logs, clan poles, spears, carvings and yidaki (didgeridoos), which are mostly done by the men. The women mostly create pandanas grass baskets and mats, bush string bags, boutique fibre work and jewellery. The Island is also know for the Morning Star Pole - a ceremonial pole decorated with ochres, bird features, bush string and bees wax. These poles are used during funerals to tell the story of how the spirit of the dead is carried across the night sky to meet the 'morning star'.

There are a number of significant artists working with Elcho Island Arts. These men and women artsits have exhibited and sold work nationally and internationally and their works are held in important gallery and museum collection across the world. Despite this, many people are still unfamiliar with the region, its artists and culture. But we are hoping to change that...

Last week we spent some time organising the work in the art centre, and purcahsed new work from artists and I spent a day and half photographing individual works. We will use these images to promote the art, the artists and the Island, and to entice visitors, buyers and galleries. They'll be used on our new website (which is being developed) and in all our promotional material.

Below is a sample of the pics to give you a glimpse of what is to come. The first is of a beautiful pandanas grass woven bag featuring parrot features, bush string and bees wax by Mavis, one of the Island's senior artists. The second is a pic of three Wirrah-Bun-Bun Spirit men carved by Jeremiah, one of Galiwin'ku's emerging artists. The third is of a mixed fibre basket woven by Phyllis, a wonderful artist who lives in a homeland on mainland Arnhem Land.