Desert River Sea Opening Cultural Celebration

Desert River Sea: Portraits of the Kimberley is the highly anticipated culmination of the Art Gallery of WA’s six-year Kimberley visual arts project, supported by Rio Tinto.

This landmark exhibition showcasing the vibrant and contemporary creative talent of Kimberley artists opens with a cultural celebration on 9 February 2019. Join AGWA for an unmissable celebration of Kimberley art and culture with artist talks, art demonstrations, cultural performances, and family activities.

Learn about the art of pearl shell carving with the Sibosado brothers—Darrell and Garry, and bush-dying with natural materials with Eva and Ivy Nargoodah. Hear from Mowanjum Arts on ochre crushing and Wandjina Rock art education, or watch Mervyn Street of Mangkaja Arts carve and shave a cow hide. Waringarri Aboriginal Arts will demonstrate boab nut carving.

AGWA and art centre curators, along with artists will talk about their experiences across the day. Listen to live music by David Pigram and browse handmade items including carved pearl shells, dyed silks, textiles, and jewellery at the AGWA Shop.

Visit Art Gallery of WA for the full program.

Image credit: Sonia Kurarra at Danggu Geikie Gorge with artwork Noonkanbah Highway 2018 (detail)
synthetic polymer on cow hide
140 x 268 cm
Courtesy Mangkaja Arts Resource Agency