Connection to country runs through creative inspiration
Connection to land and culture drives the Freshwater Saltwater Exhibition being held at UMI Art’s Jensen Plaza Gallery.
The exhibition is free to view and is running between Monday and Friday and through until Wednesday August 31.
Opening last month some of the Far North’s leading Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists attended the launch of UMI Arts’ ninth annual Freshwater Saltwater exhibition.
Established in 2005, UMI Arts is the peak Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts and cultural organisation for Far North Queensland. As a not-for-profit company managed by an all-Indigenous Board of Directors its mission is to assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to participate in the maintenance, preservation, and protection of cultural identity.
Featuring thirteen works in a range of mediums including print, paintings, and fibre by eight of the region’s best-known artists, ‘Freshwater Saltwater’ has already attracted the attention of art lovers and collectors alike.
UMI Arts’ Exhibitions and Gallery Officer, Robyne Pacey said Freshwater Saltwater is a curated group exhibition for mid-career and established artists spanning cultural groups from Gordonvale and Kuranda to western Cape York and the Torres Strait Islands.
“The exhibition is so named to reflect a metaphorical ideology of Far North Queensland’s two very distinct and diverse cultures from an artistic perspective in which mainland Aboriginal custodians are mostly connected to ‘freshwater’ while Torres Strait Islanders find closer association to ‘saltwater’,” Ms Pacey said.
“This year’s beautiful and thought-provoking collection of artworks is a response to culture and Country.
“It acknowledges each artist’s cultural diversity and distinct connection to freshwater and saltwater in Far North Queensland.”
Freshwater Saltwater’s 2022 exhibiting artists are Tatipai Barsa from Torres Strait Islands, Dorothy Edwards from western Cape York, Kevin Edmondstone from Cairns, Lara Fujii from Badu Island, Lisa Michl Ko-manggén OAM from western Cape York, Melanie Hava from the Johnstone River, Natasha Davui from southwest and far north Queensland and Robert Tommy Pau from Merian, eastern Torres Strait Islands.
According to UMI Arts Executive Officer, Peter Lenoy there are many notable works comprising this year’s Freshwater Saltwater exhibition.
“Freshwater Saltwater is a real celebration for our artists who have independently achieved a major milestone in their career with artwork that is a high level of quality, collectible, and exhibition ready,” he said.
“While we do focus many of our programs and exhibitions at developing emerging artists, Freshwater Saltwater is about enhancing the profiles and careers of our more established members who by osmosis, provide an inspiration to newcomers.
“Demonstrating just how far art practice and cultural expression can take you.”
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