From international exhibitions and exciting workshops to local art festivals and collaborations, 2024 has been a year of creativity and connection for Martumili Artists. Our artists and staff have been busier than ever, sharing the richness of Martu culture with the world. Join us to reflect on all the special moments.
The year kicked off with the gallery and studio still closed for the last stretch of the previous end of year holidays. However, behind closed doors, something special was brewing… the all-important stocktake! There’s nothing quite like the experience of a Martumili stocktake, when we are lucky enough to be able to view literally hundreds of artworks, each glowing with their own individual beauty, richly imbued with history and culture. Our artsworkers Judith Anya Samson and Marlene Anderson spent a week carefully cataloguing the artworks in our stockroom, getting them ready for upcoming exhibitions and sales.
By the time the studio and gallery reopened in February, our artists returned full of energy, painting up a storm after a month off. We were especially excited to send several artworks off to exhibitions around the globe, with pieces heading to the Mexico Art Fair and the Outsider Art Fair in New York.
As momentum built, March saw the launch of the first exhibition of the year in our Newman gallery; ‘Following in Footsteps’ featured the works of eight Martu families exploring the deep ties of Martu kinship and familial relationships. We also had the pleasure of hosting artist Jacky Cheng for a series of silk painting workshops, a technique that Martu artist Jenny Butt has continued to develop throughout the year.
With the weather cooling over the Wantajarra season, our Field Officer season began in April. Our team travelled to remote Martu communities Parnngurr and Punmu in Land Cruisers jam packed with supplies. Our Field Officers remain in community for up to six weeks at a time, providing essential art production support for the creation of works on country at the community art sheds and on camping trips.
May is always an exciting month for us with the annual ‘Revealed Exhibition: New and Emerging WA Aboriginal Artists’ taking place. This was a particularly exciting year, with the Aboriginal Arts Hub of Western Australia (AACHWA) taking helm of the event’s leadership. Just a couple of weeks later, emerging curator and Martumili Artist Sylvia Wilson’s first self-curated show, ‘Powerhouse Wanti’, opened at the nearby Moores Building Art Space. The show was a smashing success- no surprise considering Sylvia’s own powerhouse talent! On the ground in Punmu, Martumili collaborated with the local school on painting activities at Budgy Claypan. Another special trip saw the team head to the sacred site of Wantili in Parnngurr, also with the school.
June was a pivotal month for the Warrarnku Ninti Sound + Light Show. Tura sound artists Philip Samartzis and Annika Moses travelled to Newman for a final residency with Martu artists as part of the ongoing ‘Kulininpalaju (We Are Listening!)’ project. Animation artist Sohan Ariel Hayes also joined us to help Martu artists create the animated sequences for this groundbreaking production.
The Warrarnku Ninti Sound + Light Show made its spectacular debut in July. This multi-media installation brought together years of work and collaboration, including paintings from the ‘Kujungka (All Together in One)’ project and creations from our weaving workshops. In Parnngurr, we supported the annual Martu footy festival by facilitating art activities that celebrated the event through painting and photography.
In August Martumili hit the road for the Darwin Art Fair, bringing along artists Sylvia Wilson, Sarafina Dickie, and Wendy Nanji. One of our Field Officers also travelled out to the most remote of the Martu communities, Kunawarritji, where Bugai received some very welcome painting supplies to continue painting her epic works! In Newman, work began on Marlene’s vibrant mural at Miner’s Promise Park, adding a splash of Martu culture to the town.
Artists Corban Clause Williams and Judith Anya Samson travelled to Sydney in September for Corban’s successful show at Sydney Contemporary. In Newman, we hosted AACHWA workshops that form part of their ‘Our Future: Aboriginal Arts Worker Training Program’, while out in the field, our team joined a Bush Foods camp in Parnngurr, celebrating Martu culture and connection to Country.
In October we participated in the Tarnanthi Art Fair online, while Corban and Kuru Gladys Bidu made the long journey to Finland to represent the ‘Songlines: Tracking the Seven Sisters’ project, taking Martu stories to a whole new audience.
As Field Officer season wound down in November, we began preparing for the busy holiday season. The ‘Kujungka’ exhibition made way for our highly anticipated Xmas Sale, as artists created new works to make sure everyone has access to the best of all Christmas gifts- Martumili Artists paintings!
The year wraps up with our Xmas Sale exhibition in full swing, showcasing fresh and exciting pieces just in time for the holidays. As we prepare to take a well-earned break, we’re already looking ahead to an exciting 2025 filled with more Martu stories to share with the world.
Explore more of our current 2024 Christmas Sale!
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24-1571 - Marlene Anderson
$1,855.00 -
24-1570 - Bugai Whyoulter
$3,710.00 -
24-1569 - Ngamaru Bidu
$3,245.00 -
24-1568 - Thelma Dundan (Dunjan) Judson
$1,665.00
