Come and see our NAIDOC 2024 exhibition Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud – on until August 20
On Tuesday 9 July we celebrated 2024 NAIDOC Week with the opening our Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud exhibition. Visitors were welcomed by our President Bobby Nicholls, cleansed with a Smoking Ceremony, kept warm around the open fire in our front garden, enjoyed performances by Lillie Walker and Dylan Charles and a delicious spread by Yurri Catering – The Connection.
The exhibition features over 50 new works created by Aboriginal artists and Elders spanning three generations, alongside a special display of artworks created by local Aboriginal Year 5 and 6 students who have recently participated in our Galnyatj Schools Program.
Come in and check it out if you haven’t already. We have still have some beautiful artworks available for sale and on display until August 20.
I’m gearing up for something special—my first trip to DAAF! It marks a time of growth, resilience, and fresh starts in both my personal and professional life.
Kaiela Arts has always been a go-to place, where creativity and community blend seamlessly. Getting the chance to represent us again at such a well-known event is exciting and a bit nerve-wracking. I can’t wait to share our art and culture with a wider audience.
I’ll be bringing my latest painting, “Garraba – Body” to DAAF. This piece is close to my heart, inspired by the connection between us and Country. We are made and un-made time and time again. Our form ever-changing. Bringing this painting to DAAF feels like sharing a piece of my soul with the world.
Even though it’s my first time at DAAF, I’m pumped to dive into the vibrant atmosphere, meet other Indigenous artists, and soak up inspiration from the incredible art on display.’
The Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair, affectionately known as DAAF, is the only national event of its kind and has secured a reputation as one of the country’s most significant internationally recognised arts events. Showcasing the contemporary fine art and design of more than 70 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Centres from across Australia, DAAF is held annually each August in Darwin, on Larrakia Country.
We’ll be taking seven of our artists and staff to present a range of contemporary artworks and designs that reflect Yorta Yorta Country including paintings, weaving, ceramics and a brand new screen-printed merchandise collection.
Stay tuned for updates! Make sure you’re following us on social media @kaielaarts
Latest Updates
Last chance to book your tickets for Murrabit Gunyah Woka – Cultural Immersion with Dylan Charles on Saturday 3 August.
Saturday 3 August, 2pm – 4.30pm at Kaiela Arts and surrounds
$100 + booking fee
We still have some places left for this special cultural immersion and walking tour with one of our artist members Dylan Charles taking place on Saturday 3 August 2pm – 4.30pm at Kaiela Arts and surrounds.
Dylan is a proud Yorta Yorta/ Boonwurrung / Wurundjeri/ Pangerang man, an emerging ‘painter keeper’ and ‘passer of sacred knowledge’ a ‘storyteller’ and ‘historian of the traditional life’. He has a dillybag of important sacred knowledge and is providing an opportunity for the broader community to learn about traditional ways of life of his Yorta Yorta ancestors.
Participants will also be introduced to Kaiela Arts gallery and studio to experience and learn about art in the Southern Eastern regions of Australia.
A few weeks ago we spent some time by the Dungala with Kwat Kwat artist Norm Stewart. Norm’s creativity spans many mediums and he is a highly skilled carver creating traditional artefacts such as clap sticks, message sticks, digging sticks, shields and coolamons, as well as beautiful 3D wood carvings or birds.
Norm’s passion now is passing on culture and knowledge of traditional artefact making and ten of our artists and staff had an amazing time creating their first ever clap sticks and digging sticks.
Norm is available for bookings to deliver workshops like this to groups of most ages and all backgrounds. Get in touch if you’d like to find out more!
Aboriginal Artist Members Only Development Workshops
Ceramics Workshops for our Aboriginal Artist Members
Date: August 22 – September 12
Time: Thursdays 1pm – 4pm
Venue: Kaiela Arts Studio
Kaiela Arts Aboriginal artist members are invited to join local ceramicist, Kaye Poulton from 1pm – 4pm every Thursday for four weeks, for these ceramics workshops in our studio.
This is a great opportunity to develop new skills and experiment with different techniques for applying colour and design to ceramic vessels. By the end of the four weeks artists will have created several beautiful pieces to take home and to sell in our shop.
Join Kaiela Arts today and become part of a vibrant community of First Nations creatives and cultural practitioners.
Membership is open to all First Nation artists and community members with Yorta Yorta family connections, as well as other mobs living in the Kaiela Dungala region.
As a member, you’ll enjoy access to studio facilities and art materials, 10% of any artwork or merchandise purchases in our shop, invitations to events and exhibitions, free artist skills workshops, and promotion through our website and social media channels.
Full Artist Memberships are $50 per year (Concession $40), while Junior Artist Memberships are $30 per year.
To join, applicants must be Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and have Yorta Yorta family connections or reside in the Kaiela Dungala region. Applications are reviewed and approved by our Board.
To find out more or request a membership application form click the button below.
