Celebrating Djilba - Artitja Fine Art presents SPRING SALON exhibition, York 2022

Scoop acknowledges and is honoured to operate on Whadjuk Noongar Land, and pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging. For the fifth year running, SPRING SALON | YORK returns with a showcase of paintings, sculptural objects and weaves by First Nations artists from remote communities. As part of the York Festival, SPRING SALON will be on display at Gallery 152 on the main street of York from Sat 3 to Mon 26 September. Gallery 152 was established as a commercial gallery space to enhance York’s reputation as a hub for artists, festivals and other cultural events. Five years later and SPRING SALON, which has been warmly welcomed by the local community, has become a regular event in the York Festival calendar timed to celebrate the Noongar season of Djilba and the arrival of spring. SPRING SALON began its annual presence in the town in 2017 when South Fremantle based Artitja Fine Art gallery accepted an invitation from Jenny Garroun to exhibit in her newly opened, restored heritage gallery space. A display of bright, bold collection of paintings, stories of country and powerful sculptures feature in the exhibition, along with ceramics and weaves from Arnhem Land.

Jeannie Mills Pwerlen 117x97cm Bush Yam

Over the past two decades, Artitja has built relationships of trust with over twenty remote Aboriginal community art centres. These centres are the lifeline of the community. In many cases they are the only source of income providing vital resources for the artists and their families. So how does a gallery from South Fremantle exhibit in a gallery in York, 125kms away? Director Anna Kanaris explains  “Artitja Fine Art is a gallery without a bricks and mortar building... We have just turned 18 and our survival has largely been due to our versatile mode of operation. We operate by appointment from our home studio all year around, and hold quarterly exhibitions open to the public, including this one in York. This allows us the freedom to exhibit in different spaces and take the beauty of Australian Indigenous art to different places. “We are not just about exhibiting the art; we are equally committed to informing and increasing awareness of the cultural richness of Australia’s First Nation’s people by enhancing people’s knowledge of the art and the stories behind it. Our premise has always been in making cultural connections and over the past two decades we have held firmly to that way of operating.”

Selina Teece Pwerl 120x120cm Antarrengeny - My Country

The exhibition will have something for everyone. Together with the fine artworks there will be a range of approved, licenced merchandise gift lines, with royalties from sales going directly back to the artists. Artitja Fine Art Gallery is a member of the Indigenous Art Code, a system in place to preserve and promote ethical trading in Indigenous art.

See more Indigenous and First Nations art here.