Part documentary, part fashion shoot, in a captivating piece of cinema, Yindjibarndi man Wimiya Woodley invites us on an intimate journey of self-discovery, deep into the heart of his ancestral homelands. Ngurrawanna, originally established by Woodley’s grandfather, Woodley King, serves as a sanctuary for Yindjibarndi people seeking rejuvenation and reconnection with their roots. Through Ngurrawanna, we witness the transformative power of returning to ancestral lands, where the spirits of the past guide First Nations people towards rediscovering wirrart – essence and strength. 

And, with remarkable happiness for the team, the film took home first prize for the 2023 Monster Children Short Film Award and has been shortlisted for the BAFTA-qualifying Aesthetica Short Film Festival held in York, UK this November.  

Monster Children Short Film Award 

The year 2023 revolves around the theme of “Regeneration,” which embodies the concept of rebirth, renewal, and restoring what was once lost. As our planet grapples with the ecological consequences of centuries of human activity, regeneration takes on a vital role in revitalizing our communities and ecosystems. The imperative for regeneration has never been more pronounced. Our Earth, burdened by pollution and degradation, requires a remedy, and regeneration offers a path forward. 

Meet the Esteemed Judges 

• Malia James: A director known for her versatile style, Malia has directed music videos for renowned artists and worked with prominent commercial clients. Her commitment to projects is palpable on every set, and her work speaks for itself. 
• Clare Plueckhahn: A director with a diverse portfolio spanning scripted drama, TV commercials, and documentaries. Clare’s career is marked by a keen eye for visuals, storytelling, and a roster of prestigious clients in the Australian commercial world. 
• Peter Meteherangi Tikao Burger: A filmmaker of notable distinction, Peter Burger’s work has garnered acclaim and awards. His contributions range from drama to supernatural fantasy, and he’s recognized for his impressive television projects.  

Aesthetica Short Film Festival 

The Aesthetica Short Film Festival (ASFF) stands as an international celebration of independent filmmaking. Taking place annually in the picturesque city of York, England, ASFF provides a platform for filmmakers from around the world to showcase their creative prowess. It holds the esteemed title of being a BAFTA-Qualifying festival, allowing screened short films the opportunity to earn BAFTA awards recognition. 

A Journey Facilitated by Support and Mentorship 

Ngurrawaana was brought to life through the collaborative efforts of Garuwa, a Worimi organization from NSW’s mid-North Coast, commissioned by Juluwarlu. Juluwarlu expresses its gratitude to Jirra Harvey from Kalinya for their instrumental role in this project. Their mentorship and guidance culminated in a mesmerizing photoshoot and film that speaks to the heart of the Yindjibarndi people. 

Ngurrawanna is more than a documentary; it combines elements of fashion to create a visually stunning and emotionally resonant narrative. It showcases samples and fashion experiments that were nurtured through the Flourish Fashion grant by the Australia Council and a commercial development grant from DLGSC, all woven into this captivating short film. 

As we celebrate Ngurrawanna, let’s reflect on the power of storytelling, reconnection with ancestral lands, and the imperative of regeneration. This film serves as a testament to the resilience of Indigenous cultures and their enduring bond with the land. 

Creative Directors – Wimiya Woodley & Iya Ware 
Producer/Director – Kieran Satour 
Producer – Ramona Telecian 
DP – Ryan Andrew Lee
Edit & Grade – Rah Dakota 
Stills Photographer – James Evans 
Marketing Consultant, Kalinya – Jirra Harvey

Talent – Wimiya Woodley, Michael Woodley, John Woodley, Wil Woodley, Curtis Lockyer, Curtis Junior Lockyer, Bowen Larry, Courtney McKay, Rehanni Lockyer, Iya Ware, Deanha Robinson, Misari Walker, Aneisha Larry, Mrs Read, Lorraine Coppin, Tazerendenna Lockyer, Mary Watson, Drew Woodley, Wendy Hubert, Alice Guiness, Pearlina Jacobs, Taj Lockyer, Narani Dann, Rainee-Lee Woodley.

Filmed on the lands of the Yindjibarndi people.

We are so thrilled to be launching a very special collaboration between leading Australian potters Robert Gordon x Juluwarlu. The forms and shapes of the collection are inspired by Yindjibarndi utility and function – old and new – with patterns inspired by Aunty Jane Cheedy’s yaranga marni fine line works. 

An 18-month process, the Robert Gordon team were so inspired by Jane’s artworks that they created a whole new way to manufacture the product so to maintain the intricate line work of the original artworks. Of the ceramics, Juluwarlu artist Jane Cheedy says,

The ceramics look so fantastic. When I see the ceramics, I feel proud and uplifted. When I see them amazed and thankful because I have always looked at things like cups with artworks on them and thought they looked so great and wondered how could I get my artworks on something like that and wouldn’t it be fantastic to have aboriginal art work on ceramics too, so to see my works on these beautiful ceramics is amazing. My family are also very proud and its fantastic to celebrate our Yindjibarndi culture with the rest of Australia. It makes our whole community empowered and it feels good to share through art. 

As seen in The Design Files, Inside Out June 2023, Home Beautiful July 2023 and Houses Magazine July 2023. 

Shop the Robert Gordon x Juluwarlu Collection exclusively at Myer. 

The story of the Jirriwi/Echidna

When Aboriginal people go hunting for an echidna, it usually curls up into a ball. The hunter says to the echidna, ‘I want to look at your scars!’ The echidna will listen if you ask him ‘Can I have a look at your scars? Where are your scars?’ It will then open itself up, then you can hit it with a stone on the scar on its chest until it’s dead.

Once this is done, the hunter can go into the shade, light a fire in a pit and throw the echidna in the fire.There are special rules about the echidna -whoever cooks it can’t drink water until he’s finished cooking, or the echidna fat will turn to water. The tongue has to be pulled out and cut off. The two thyroid glands are cut off and thrown away and the belly cut out and thrown away. It is turned over in the fire. The hunter also has to sing a special song to make sure the spikes are removed. The echidna will then be smooth and fully skinned. It is cooked under hot ashes in the ground.

Young girls aren’t allowed to eat the echidna, or when they get pregnant they’ll have a long and hard labour. There’s a song about the echidna in the Burndud.

Story from Juluwarlu’s Gurruragan book by Lorraine Coppin.

Launching our Wendy Hubert x Nancybird Ngurrawaana collection at this year’s 2023 Country to Couture was such a special moment. C2C is such an amazing display of all the different ways that people are playing with fashion and design and really pushing the boundaries and we really get such a buzz being amongst it all.

The Nancybird x Wendy Hubert x Juluwarlu collection features statement pieces including delicate beaded bags; a gorgeous quilted vest; midi dresses and of course, we requested a Nancybird iteration of a bomber jacket! 

The designs were based on two original artworks by Wendy, Cork Tree (2022), Oil on Canvas; and Old Millstream Road (2022), Oil on Canvas (pictured with Wendy in a photo c/o Claire Martin). The original artworks are no longer available for sale, but we do have a limited edition run of giclee prints of Old Millstream Road if you are looking to add a little warmth, colour and the Pilbara to your home. 

As our collaboration with Nancybird is Juluwarlu’s second significant collaboration for 2023, we’d like to share what the creative process looks like for us, for other Aboriginal art centres contemplating similar ventures. 

Why collaborate? 

Juluwarlu loves collaborating with established designers. It is a great way for us to engage with new audiences across Australia and beyond.  

How and when did this collaboration come about? 

We reached out to Nancybird in 2021 thinking about the previous collaborations they had done with landscape artists and how beautifully artworks had been translated into clothes. We instantly thought of Wendy’s vibrant paintings and how it would be a good match.  

What are the impacts collaborations with established brands can have for Aboriginal artists and community? 

Collaborating Artist Wendy Hubert says: It was interesting for me to work with Emily. She chose paintings for the collaboration that surprised me, but I loved her choice and how she used them in the designs. She used them in ways I could never imagine and it is so exciting to see my paintings on such beautiful fabrics. It took my breath away. I am very grateful for this experience. 

What kinds of advocacy and agreements do you put in place?  

We negotiate industry best practice agreements between the artist and the company using an Arts Law contract template. That way, we know the artist is receiving a fair fee.

It’s also really important that our values align when thinking about collaborations. For us, it is about sharing culture in a respectful and culturally safe way; sustainability and ensuring the artist is being fairly represented. With Nancybird, the collaboration was really made in line with Wendy’s sassy style in mind, which was so important and lovely.  

The line officially launches in April 2024, but if you would be interested in wholesaling, please send us an email at shop@juluwarlu.com.au 

You can read more about the collection in the latest Frankie magazine.

Photos by Marley Morgan.

Ngurra Nyujunggamu, When the World Was Soft, is a profoundly important showcase of Yindjibarndi culture, using large-scale puppetry and Yindjibarndi-led storytelling to masterfully weave the story of how the world came to be. These are our Creation Stories and important life lessons, told by us.

The concept of utilising puppets as a medium to transmit Yindjibarndi Stories originated with Lorraine Coppin, the Executive Producer, Cultural and Project Lead, in 2019. Collaboratively, we used muslin, bamboo, and natural fibers to craft puppets, bringing vital narratives to life. We then performed our important stories through our puppets for the opening of our Ganalili Cultural Centre in Roebourne.

Its purpose was to engage the younger generation in a tactile experience while introducing novel audiences to our culture—our lifeline, our identity. It emerged as a conduit to safeguard Yindjibarndi Culture that has endured through oral tradition for more than 65,000 years. Our team were invited to present a performance at the Opening Night of the 2023 Red Earths Arts Festival.

The transition from oral storytelling to puppetry to performing on a larger stage, necessitated a production scale up. Despite operating under challenging circumstances, including restricted borders and a pandemic, we brought in leading creative professionals and secured funding from government and corporate partners. We worked and rehearsed all through the summer, long in to hot Roebourne nights. 

We are so proud of the outcome. The performance at the opening of REAF was an experimental and contemporary odyssean piece of art that traverses time, place and space, Ngurra Nyujunggamu is an endurance of team work across pandemics and politics; a heartfelt legacy project for the world’s coming generations, passed down from the times of when the world was soft.  

Warjiwarlu (well done) to everyone who contributed and a huge thanks to all who came down to watch it. Next stop – New York!

Photos courtesy of CakeWalk Media

Presented by: Juluwarlu Group Aboriginal Corporation

Creative Team

Executive Producer, Cultural and Project Lead: Lorraine Coppin

Creative Director: Peter Wilson

Assistant Director: Wimiya Woodley

Advising Elders and Knowledge Holders: Judith Coppin, Alice Guiness, Wendy Hubert, Jean Norman, Michael Woodley, Bruce James, Kaye Warrie, Kerri-Anne Churnside, 

Community performers and devisers: Landon Punch, Marietta Hubert, Deekan Woodley, JJ Walker, Aneisha Larry, Curtis Lockyer, Zarley Stephens, Norani Dann, Janine, Anton Woodley, Rosita, Theresa Coppin, Raven, Paige Williams, Laura Woodley, Joy Woodley, CC Williams, RJ Williams, CJ Lockyer, Gina, Jasper Hayes, Deanha Lockyer, Lily-Jo McKay, Dorothy Coppin, Rohannah Hayes, Jada Lockyer, Will Woodley, Kamas Hayes, Everard Woodley.

Invited Guest Performers: Wimiya Woodley with Michael Smith, Sheyan Gunnini Walker, Iya Ware, Ruby Williams, and Rubeun Yorkshire

Script Development: Lorraine Coppin, Michael Woodley, Wimiya Woodley, Peter Wilson

Dramaturgy: Ariana Paganetti

Production Design: Richard Jeziorny

Composition: Ash Gibson Greig with new and archival recordings of Yindjibarndi songs sung by Michael Woodley and other Yindjibarndi Elders. 

Lighting: Lucy Birkinshaw with Stewart Campbell

Projections: Sohan Ariel Hayes 

Choreography: Michael Smith

Puppet Doctor: Sandy McKendrick 

Puppet Construction: Sandy McKendrick, Giovanni (Sanjiva) Marggio, Leon Hendroff, Chloe Flockhard, Matthew McVeigh, Calvin Chee

Stage Management: Sue Fenty

Assistant Stage Management: Jenny Poh, with Sandy McKendrick 

Stage Management Assistance: Deanna Robertson, Jada Lockyer, Lilly-Jo McKay

Production Management: David Filshie

Producers: Mollie Hewitt and Rania Ghandour

Juluwarlu team: Tamara Burrell, Gabby Howlett, Vicki Webb, Helene George

With thanks to: Phil Davies, David Williams, Joan Maddison, Megan Kirwan-Ward, Dimitri Kapetas

Read the Media Release here. 

Participating in the 2022 Country to Couture event for the first time was beyond awesome for Juluwarlu Art Group! It marked our debut in this prestigious showcase in Darwin, where we proudly presented our Juluwarlu fabrics transformed into t-shirts, skirts, dresses, and bomber jackets.

The excitement didn’t end there; we felt immense pride and honor to be recognised in Vogue Australia and ABC News. Being featured in such prominent platforms was a deadly result to all our hard work.

At Juluwarlu Art Group, we prioritize the well-being and aspirations of our artists, community, and people. Every sale from our merchandise ensures artists receive royalties, and all proceeds are reinvested to support our collective journey of preserving and flourishing our heritage. Together, we continue to create a positive impact on the lives of our community, driven by the power of art and culture.

Thank you Indigenous Fashion Projects and DAAFF – we had so much fun! Browse a gallery of our line below.

Creative Team Creative Director: Shilo McNamee 
Head Stylist: Perina Drummond  
MK Darwin Makeup and Hair 
Stage Manager: Alira McKenzie 
Musical Director: James Mangohig 
Global Headquarters Motion Media Production  
 
📸 Photos Michael Jalaru Torres and Dylan Buckee. 

Watch our full collection and learn more about our story here. 
 
Country to Couture is brought to you by the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation (DAAFF) as part of Indigenous Fashion Projects, and supported by the Northern Territory Government and Country Road, with thanks to Darwin Festival and media partner Mamma Mia.

Tracks We Share: Contemporary Art of the Pilbara celebrates the Aboriginal artists and artwork of Western Australia’s Pilbara region in a landmark exhibition opening to the public on 11 March 2022 at The Art Gallery of Western Australia. 

The show is a collaboration between Western Australian non-profit arts and cultural organisation FORM; The Art Gallery of Western Australia; Pilbara Aboriginal art centres and independent artists; bringing together more than70 artists and over 200 artworks.  

This extraordinary body of work features the most exciting contemporary art coming out of the region while paying homage to the legacy that has informed it, offering a rare and broad-reaching insight into the region’s artistic output over the years. 

Juluwarlu proudly presented more than 60 djun-djun sticks (dancing sticks) and 12 masks, accompanied by a captivating film that depicts these items in use during a Ngunda (corroboree, traditional dance) on Country. Our showcase also included special yaranga marni boards and other remarkable works by artists Wendy Hubert and Alice Guiness, allowing audiences to truly immerse themselves in the depth and diversity of our artistic practices.  

Warjiwarlu to all the artists and team that made it happen! 

Tracks We Share is on display at The Art Gallery of Western Australia 11 March to 28 August 2022.

The 2023 Revealed Exhibition for new and emerging WA Aboriginal Artists, returns to Fremantle Art Centre to celebrate the creativity, ambition, and diversity of contemporary Aboriginal Art practice here in WA. The exhibition’s vibrancy and it’s colorful opening weekend program of talks, entertainment and the Art Market makes it a highly accessible and unique avenue for Perth arts lovers to meet artists from all over this vast state – a staple of the WA arts calendar. 

2023 Revealed for Juluwarlu is a bit of a family affair- we are proud to present works by three sisters Judith, Moonie, Aunty M, and their granddaughter Ava, exhibiting as our newest artist.  

About Juluwarlu’s Revealed 2023 Artists:

Ava Christopher 

Ava is a young 18 year old Yabuara/Yindjibarndi women who lives and works in Boorloo. Ava is the granddaughter of Juluwarlu artist Margaret Read and is a self-taught artist, who paints in between working on the ground in our Heathcote office. Artworks: Dreamtime Dancing, 2023 acrylic on board 

Judith Coppin 

In the past three years Aunty Judith has extended her art practice to her beautiful yarranga marni (carved boards). Judith’s artworks are intricately constructed, bold and deeply cultural, evolving from her passionate love of her Ngurra (Country) and creation stories from Ngurra Nyujunggamu (when the world was soft). Artwork: Yinjibarndi Munda, 2023 acrylic on canvas 

June (Moonie) Djiagween 

June expresses her love for Country and ancestral Dream stories through painting acrylic and ochres on canvas. She draws her strength and inspirations from all four ancestor tribes deep in her blood with historical stories. From earth, sky, rivers, trees, plants, oceans, islands, animals, spirits, seasons, creation time to connection to Country bound by Aboriginal sacred laws and culture. Artwork: Jellyfish Dreaming, 2022 acrylic on canvas 

Aunty M 

Aunty M was a Yindjibarndi Elder and cultural custodian and community worker who began painting in 2017. She said her Ngurra (Country) and culture are essential to Yindjibarndi wellbeing. “When I paint, I think of my Ngurra (Yindjibarndi Country) and how it is so deep in me. Everything that is important comes from the Ngurra Nyujunggamu – the creation times that we call the time when the world was soft. There are so many spiritual connections between all living things and the world of Yindjibarndi people. This is what I put in my paintings.” Artworks: Wild Flower series, 2022 acrylic on canvas; Native Wildflowers and Fruit, 2021, acrylic on canvas; Wild Flower series, 2022 acrylic on canvas.  

The opening night was a lovely evening and we would like to thank the FAC Gallery Team for helping us create a special tribute to help us celebrate our sister and our friend, someone we are missing dearly. Read more about all exhibiting artists and their works in the Exhibition Catalogue. 

“I sat down next to Wendy Hubert. Her first question to me was, ‘are there many flowers on your Country?’ This is the land of wildflowers, and it’s reflected through the canvas laid out around the room. We got chatting about flowers, trees and rivers and the way they inspire her work. 

‘Sometimes we lose a bit of ourselves, we need to go back out onto Country and lay under the tree. I just thank my family for taking me out on Country when I was a kid.’” Wendy Hubert with Jirra Lulla Harvey in The Design Files.  

Wendy Hubert is a respected Yindjibarndi Elder, Cultural Custodian, and linguist, who has been actively supporting her Roebourne and Yindjibarndi community for over four decades. She is deeply involved in community life, painting, and passionately sharing Stories, Law, and Culture through her whimsical and colorful artworks. In 2022, her generosity and hard work were acknowledged through various achievements, including a write-up in The Design Files, an exhibition of her work as part of SALON des Refusés, and her art finding a permanent home in the Artbank Collection.

The Design Files 

In June 2022, Wendy was featured in Australia’s most popular digital design publication, The Design Files (TDF). The article is a spotlight on Wendy’s work—an incredible honour, especially coming from our creative collaborator, Koorie woman Jirra Lulla Harvey of Kalinya Communications. TDF covers a diverse range of subjects, including real Australian homes, gardens, art, architecture, interior design, furniture, textiles, homewares, food, and more. Beyond the web, TDF hosts art exhibitions, events, talks, pop-ups, and has a regular column in Domain magazine (The Age/The Sydney Morning Herald). We’re thrilled to be showcased in this prestigious platform. 

‘There’s lots of forms and ways to help you do the art you want. With oil paint, I do a bit of a smudge. At camp, I’ve been doing that with the kids. They go and find a flower and we do it with the smudging. I teach them, if you don’t like it, put another colour on top.’ 

Read the full article here. 

SALON des Refusés

Every August, SALON Art Projects presents the SALON des Refusés, an exhibition of works submitted but not accepted into NATSIAA (National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards) at Charles Darwin University Art Gallery, Darwin.

Produced by Darwin gallerists Matt Ward and Paul Johnstone of Outstation Gallery and Paul Johnstone Gallery, the Salon demonstrates the superb standard of art being created by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, nationwide and it also provides valuable insight into where the movement has come from, and where it is heading. 

Wendy’s Storms on the Hammersley Rangers, Storms on the Tablelands (pictured) was selected to be apart of this fantastic exhibition and was acquired by Artbank.

Warjiwarlu Wendy, we can’t wait to see what comes next! Browse works by Wendy online here.

The Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (Telstra NATSIAA) exhibition is a remarkable showcase of contemporary art from all corners of Australia, featuring works by both emerging and established Aboriginal artists. As Australia’s most prestigious and richest art awards, this exhibition draws the attention of the entire nation, presenting an inspiring array of artistic talent from Indigenous communities across the country.

In a noteworthy achievement, Yindjibarndi Elder Alice Guiness, a Juluwarlu Artist, has been named a finalist for the second consecutive year in the prestigious Darwin-based awards. Her outstanding artwork “Burndud 2021,” crafted with synthetic polymer paint and drip stick on canvas, measures 150 x 119 cm and secured its place as a finalist in the Telstra General Painting Award category.

Born in Gooda Binya and currently residing in Ieramugadu/Roebourne, Alice Guiness holds a deep connection to her Yindjibarndi heritage. Her artistic journey flourishes in collaboration with the Juluwarlu Art Group, where she dedicates herself to painting daily. Alice’s art is imbued with the essence of the Burndud circle, a vital element in Yindjibarndi law and culture, symbolizing an essential song and dance. Her distinctive artistic style allows her to explore the Burndud circle’s symbolism through various creative expressions, creating a powerful narrative that reflects her ancestral Birdarra Law—a cherished and exclusive heritage of the Yindjibarndi people.

The 2022 judging panel comprised renowned experts in the art world. Dr. Joanna Barrkman, the Curator of Charles Darwin University Art Collection and Art Gallery, and Myles Russell-Cook, Senior Curator of Indigenous Art at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), brought their expertise to the selection process.

In the ever-evolving landscape of contemporary Indigenous art, Alice Guiness’ recognition as a finalist in the NATSIAA Telstra General Painting Category serves as a testament to the enduring power and cultural significance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices within the visual arts. Through her art, Alice continues to enrich and preserve the Yindjibarndi heritage while inspiring the broader artistic community with her creativity and dedication.

View the Virtual Gallery here. Congrats Alice!

It was great to receive such positive feedback about the Opening Night of the History & Heroes Exhibition at the end of October. Well over 300 people attended the event, met with artists and Elders and celebrated our strong Yindjibarndi culture.

This week, CEO Lorraine Coppin spoke to ABC North about what this exhibition meant to us, and we were pleased to see the Pilbara News shine light on the achievements of our community.

Congratulations to all involved. The exhibition runs at the @ganalili_centre until January 21.