Latest Artwork
Elcho Island
Galiwin’ku is a Yolŋu community located on Elcho Island around 550km from Darwin NT. Approximately 2500 people live here and its is the main community of both the island and the greater Marthakal region. Many languages are spoken, Djambarrpuyŋu being the most prominent. Located at the southern point of the Wessell Islands, Galiwin’ku is remote and culturally rich with many regarded visual artists and musicians hailing from this small island.
Marthakal Group
The Marthakal Group is 100 per cent Indigenous owned and governed. The organisation is committed to providing ongoing local benefit to the homelands of the region through provision of a number of services, specifically targeted towards supporting people in living and returning to their homelands.
Our Artists
Elcho Island Arts supports and represents both emerging and existing artists of the Marthakal region. Assisting in collection and preparation of materials, the art centre works with artists in the creation of quality works, exhibitions, marketing and continuing of knowledge. Artists represent the various clans and family groups of the Yolŋu people, and share stories that have been passed on to them as well as create contemporary pieces.
Judy Manany
My name is Judy Manany Gurruwiwi. My clan is Galpu and my Moiety is Dhuwa. I learnt to make art from my father who I assisted from when I was 10 years old. I collected materials for him. We made hollow logs, yidaki, bark paintings and carvings. I learnt how to make my own art with my own ideas when my father passed away. Now I work a lot with wood, doing carvings and also painting bark.
Our Art Centre is vital to us as it “holds our traditions and cultural heritage for future generations” (Megan Yunupingu), and importantly “brings our culture back to Yolngu people” (Judy Manany Gurruwiwi).
School holidays means extra helpers! Letsssss gooo! #elchoislandarts
Non-stop now that the dry is here! Lots to come in the next few months, stay tuned !! 🫡🫡
Elcho Island Artists head out to collect bark after some of the first rains.
Näku (bark of the stringybark, known as Gaḏayka) is collected and dried with the help of some youngsters.
#elchoislandarts #yolnguart #barkpainting
Collecting pandanus with Wuthangi Burarrwaŋa!
Wuthangi uses the gaff to hook the leaves and draw them within arms reach, it’s then a deft yank and hopefully they spring free.
The pandanus then undergoes numerous processes before its ready to be used in woven works.
#elchoislandarts #yolnguart #fibreart #weaving
Last December, when the ground began to soften, we went up the island to collect colour from the roots of the Guninyi tree.
We use this colour to dye our pandanus for weaving and other fibre works.
#elchoislandarts #yolnguart #fibreart #weaving
‘My name is Judy Manany Gurruwiwi. My clan is Galpu and my Moiety is Dhuwa. I learnt to make art from my father who I assisted from when I was 10 years old. I collected materials for him. We made hollow logs, yidaki, bark paintings and carvings. I learnt how to make my own art with my own ideas when my father passed away.’
Judy has mastered the art of carving with her Worrwurr (owl) sculptures found Australia-wide and overseas.
This footage was taken last November when Judy and her granddaughter, Abby, went out to collect rretha’ (milkwood) for carving.
#elchoislandarts #yolnguart
Collecting Gapaṉ at Binitji with Margaret. This pigment is used for bark paintings, yidaki, and for painting up during ceremony times.
#elchoislandarts #yolnguart #ochre
Tommy Minburra is a Warramirri man, born and raised on Elcho Island.
Tommy paints stories of his clan which have been passed down by his family.
Here, we see him working with ochre on bark, all collected from the bush that surrounds his home.
📸 @alanaholmberg
#elchoislandarts #yolnguart #ochre
The ladies say 👋 and watch this space. New flash website coming soon, social media taking off - it’s all happening in on Elcho Island! Hit that follow button.
📸 @alanaholmberg
#elchoislandarts #yolnguart
