Artitja Fine Art Gallery presents: DESERT STARS, opening October 27
Updated: 23 Oct 2023
Grace O'Meehan
Artitja Fine Art Gallery are pleased to announce the return of First Nations artist, Seline Teece Pwerl, for the opening of DESERT STARS on October 27.
Selina Teece Pwerl painting in the studio
Selina Teece Pwerl at the beach
In March 2010, First Nations artist Selina Teece Pwerl boarded a plane for the first time from her home in Antarrengeny; a remote community north of the Utopia region in central Australia, bound for South Fremantle. It was her first visit to a coastal city, and her first view of the ocean. Selina was in Perth as an emerging artist alongside her mother Lulu Teece in the _MOTHER AND DAUGHTER_ exhibition, hosted by South Fremantle’s Artitja Fine Art Gallery.
Now, thirteen years later, Selina Teece Pwerl has become an accomplished artist whose paintings fit comfortably into the national and international exhibiting arena - and the gallery is delighted to once again be hosting the artist’s return visit for the opening of _DESERT STARS_ at the Terrace Greenhouse Gallery, in South Fremantle.
Selina Teece Pwerl - My Country
An innovative painter, Selina’s work encompasses a range of styles that bring the canvas to life - through shapes such as spinifex, gum blossom flowers, and kurrajong seeds. Her _raison d’etre_ however is in her meticulous landscape representations of her Father’s Country – the landscape which she so loves, and which to the onlooker creates a feeling of hovering over the country, looking down. Selina’s love of country absolutely sparkles through her work.
The exhibition _DESERT STARS_ is made up of a small group of artists from Utopia, a region spanning many thousands of kilometres to the northeast of Alice Springs. Most however hail from the picturesque Harts Range region in the eastern central desert, and include Caroline Petrick Kngwarreye, Belinda and Janet Golder; Charmaine Pwerle, Colleen Wallace Nungarrayi and Ada Beasley Pula.
Janet Golder Kngwarreye - My Country
The artists in this exhibition are constantly inspired by their surroundings, and the influence of their forebearers and family. Artists including Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Polly Ngale, Minnie Pwerle, Barbara Weir and Gloria Petyarre, all internationally recognised and celebrated artists, now sadly deceased, have a legacy that lives on through the younger generations.
_“There are so many stars in this exhibition, we couldn’t think of a better title for it!”_ says Gallery Director,
Anna Kanaris.
As well as being present on the opening night, Selina will be in the Gallery on Saturday 28th October for a meet and greet.
Colleen Wallace Nungarrayi - Dreamtime Sisters
The DESERT STARS exhibition is free to the public.
Opens Saturday 28 October 2023, with the official opening being Friday 27 October 6-8pm.
Exhibition continues until Sunday 19 November 2023. Open Wednesday—Sunday, 10am—4pm.
Exhibiting at Terrace Greenhouse Gallery, 223 South Terrace (Cnr King William St), South Fremantle.
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