Following the huge demand for a space representing the descendents and extended family of Albert Namatjira, Ngurratjuta Many Hands will unveil a new watercolour exhibition for art lovers of all ages, thanks to the generous support of the Ngurratjuta-Pmara Ntjarra Aboriginal Corporation and the Alice Springs Desert Park.

Officially launched on Friday, 22 March 2013 at 5pm, by the Hermannsburg landscape artists, The Art Space will be responsive to the Ngurratjuta Many Hands’ extensive collection of watercolour landscapes from the last 9 years, making available a place for Arrernte Artists to come together to paint, share and learn new techniques and ideas.

Ngurratjuta Many Hands Coordinator, Iris Bendor says “The new gift shop and exhibition space are dynamic locations of cultural education and audience engagement.”

“The Art Space also signals the organisation’s commitment to developing its artists and audiences – now and into the future. It represents a bold step forward for the Hermannsburg landscape artists, into the community, to embrace art lead learning experiences and the Arrernte tradition. “

Ngurratjuta Many Hands Art Space will feature a unique exhibition of the famous “Twin Gums” painting of Albert Namatjira, executed by 3^rd generation watercolour artists. During the festive opening Scott Pullyblank – The Desert Park Life Sciences curator will talk about the rejuvenation of Central Australian gum trees.

The Hermannsburg choir will hold a concert during the event

The art space will also showcase work of featured talented watercolour artists including Mervyn Rubuntja, Ivy Pareroultja and Peter Taylor as well as beautiful painted pots by the Hermannsburg potters.

Ngurratjuta Many Hands Art Space will encourage visitors to engage with Albert Namatjira’s life and art. It will showcase rare collectibles such as photographs, books and letters. The exhibition will house the largest collection of contemporary watercolour paintings by Hermannsburg school artists in Australia. It will provide the opportunity to keep track of the artists’ developments, or compare their paintings with works by other watercolour artists from previous generations.

Ngurratjuta Many Hands Art Space will be officially launched by the Ngurrutjuta corporation, Desert Park and the Hermannsburg artists on Friday 22 march 2013 and will open to the public to coincide with the Alice Springs Desert Park experience. Launch details below:

What: Official launch of The Ngurratjuta Many Hands Art Space

When: Friday 22 March 2013 5pm

Where: Ngurratjuta Many Hands Art Space, Alice Springs Desert Park

Meet near the Park’s entry station, Main Doors entrance, near the Ngurratjuta Many Hands Art and Gifts shop.

Mervyn Rubuntja will be featuring @ Tali Gallery – Read more

Haunted Landscapes Symposium – Mervyn Rubuntja as special guest

MERVYN RUBUNTJA, HERMANNSBURG STYLE WATERCOLOUR ARTIST WILL BE PAINTING IN AN OPEN STUDIO SCENARIO AT TALI GALLERY IN ROZELLE

SATURDAY 23^RD FEBRUARY 2013, 10AM-5PM

STATE LIBRARY, SYDNEY – UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN SYDNEY EVENT

SUNDAY 24^TH FEBRUARY, 1-5PM

Mervyn Rubuntja will be participating in a seminar at the State Library of NSW in Sydney along with a group of experts , knowledgeable about Albert Namatjira’s life, his painting and the Hermannsburg ‘school’ of watercolourists. The seminar is being sponsored by the University of Western Sydney.

Download Tali Gallery’s Event schedule.

West MacDonnell Ranges, NT, Black Hair.

Peter Taylor who is continuing the legacy of Albert Namatjira has visited the site of the twin gums for the first time since they were destroyed by fire. Listen to an interview with him at the twin gum site (on ABC).

Bellow: Mervyn Rubuntja’s Twin Gums. For more information about this painting please contact Ngurratjuta Many Hands.

CHRISTMAS SALE

4 Indigenous Art Centres

Thu 13 & Fri 14 Dec

Mwerre Anthurre Artists – Bindi, 47 Elder Street. T. 8952 7277

Ngurratjuta Many Hands, Desert Park, Larapinta Drv. T. 8951 8748

Tangentyere Artists, 4 Elder Street. T. 8951 4242

Tjanpi Desert Weavers, 3 Wilkinson Street. T. 8958 2377

Proceeds from sales are returned directly to Indigenous artists, their art centres and creating a sustainable future. Thank you for supporting Alice Springs Indigenous owned Art Centres.

A project aiming to bring together Indigenous artists from round the world. Watch Watercolour landscape artists Mervyn Rubuntja from NT and Feodosia Ivanova from Russia.

https://youtu.be/B6UkGepazkc

Courtesy of Jeremy Nicholl, Nick Holdsworth, Helen Womack, Dave Richards and Barry Skipsey

Ngurratjuta Many Hands Alice Springs in conjunction with Tali Gallery is thrilled to present contemporary watercolour paintings on paper by a new generation of artists from the tradition of Albert Namatjira – The Hermannsburg School of Art.

The impact that Albert Namatjira had on Australian landscape painting made him the most well known Aboriginal Australian of his time leading to his special status as the “first Aboriginal citizen”. Since his death in 1959 the Hermannsburg School artists have remained vibrant and energetic.

The exhibition at Tali Gallery will feature painting by artists including Albert Namatjira Jnr, Hilary Wirri, Lenie Namatjira, Johannes Katakarinja, Ivy Pareroultja, Hubert Pareroultja, Elton Wirri, Kevin Wirri, Gloria Pannka, Peter Taylor, Kevin Namatjira and Douglas Abbott. The contemporary works of the Ngurratjuta Many Hands watercolourists carry on a great tradition that portrays the unique landscape of the West MacDonald Ranges in hues and tones that resonate with Australians in a very special way.

Ngurratjuta Many Hands is pleased to announce that we are moving to a new location at the stunning Desert Park, Larapinta Drive, Alice Springs, NT (only a 15 minute drive from the centre of town), phone number +61 8 89518748 November 12th, 2012.

This is a direct result of the significant opportunity we identified in operating alongside the park, which is of significant cultural importance to the local Arrernte people, and forms the starting point of the iconic West MacDonnell Ranges.

The new venue will represent Ngurratjuta Many Hands artists with a special focus on encouraging the “Hermannsburg School’ style watercolour art. Painting on site will resume in the cooler season of 2013.

For further reading: Alice Springs News

We hope to see you soon at the Ngurratjuta Many Hands / Desert Park venue!