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When do we go up again? – Girrungun Aboriginal Art Centre

"I went for a short trip on the chopper and it was too short. There was so much to see when you’re up there. It was so exciting and enjoyable. It was good fun. It was good to see from above and see places where you work. It is so different, inexplicable…. It will help my work seeing it from above."
Alison Murray, artist

A helicopter ride has given Queensland artists from the Girrungun Aboriginal Art Centre in Far North Queensland the opportunity to create a special artwork series titled Survival in a Changing Land.

Through the experience of viewing their country from a new perspective,  Survival in a Changing Land presents a suite of 10 limited edition silk prints that explore the artists’ impressions of country and its changes.

 The project was a collaborative process as artists Alison Murray, Ninney Murray, Debra Murray, Emily Murray, Ethel Murray, John Murray, Sally Murray and Theresa Beeron worked with Cairns print maker and tutor, Bobbie Ruben.

Bobbie Ruben delivered workshops in screen printing at the Girringun Art Centre and provided practical professional development skills, while the prints were produced by Cairns printmaker Hannah Parker.

The Girringun Aboriginal Art Centre represents Aboriginal artists from the nine Traditional Owner Groups it represents, the Nywaigi, Warrgamay,Gugu Badhun, Warungnu, Girramay, Gulnay, Bandjin, Djiru and Jirrbal tribal groups.

The traditional country of these groups covers some 25,000 square kilometres, from north of Townsville, south-west to Clarke River, north to the Mission Beach area, west to Ravenshoe and east to include Hinchinbrook and the Family Group of islands.

The Queensland Government supports the Girrungun Aboriginal Art Centre through the landmark Arts Queensland Backing Indigenous Arts initiative, which provides economic opportunities for Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and nurtures the next generation of artists, artsworkers and organisations.

Backing Indigenous Arts supports the state’s network of Indigenous Art Centres which offer employment, creative and career development, cultural learning and other opportunities for artists in remote communities.

To view and or purchase the limited edition prints (only 15 per artwork), download the Survival in a Changing Land catalogue or contact artsmanager@girringun.com.au


Photo captions

View from chopper trip, Girrungun. Photo: courtesy Girrungun Aboriginal Art Centre.

Girringun Artists research for print series. Photo: V Keenan, courtesy Girrungun Aboriginal Art Centre.