Selling Yarns

Australian Indigenous textiles and good business in the 21st century

 

Papers

Corporate partnerships with Indigenous artists

Session: Arts business 10:00 - 11:30 am, Monday, 14 August 2006

Kerrie Duff

Assistant Statistician, Australian Bureau of Statistics

Abstract

ABS House was completed in 2002. The focal point of the building was a central atrium which needed an artistic feature. We saw this as an excellent opportunity to commission an Indigenous artwork, over which we had copyright so that we could use the artwork for other purposes.

Under the direction of Wally Caruana we selected Warlukurlangu artists as having the collaborative techniques and style we desired. The principal artist - Andrea Nungarrayi Martin - visited ABS House and got a feel for the environment. Then the Australian Statistician, Wally and Kerrie traveled to Yuendumu to join the artists as they revisited and refreshed their connection with their traditional land.

They then produced a magnificent painting - Native Possum Dreaming at Mungapunju and Native Possum Dreaming at Mawurrji - which was installed in the atrium. A number of the artists joined us to sing and dance the painting in when it was unveiled.

We had an agreement with the artists that we could reproduce the painting (or parts of) with their permission in a variety of ways - so long as the article was not sold for the painting itself. We have used it on the ABS Year Book 2004, important indigenous publications such as The Health and Welfare of Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples 2005 and ABS Christmas cards.

When the need for some high quality gifts for international visits/visitors was identified, recreating the painting as quality silk ties and scarves was obvious and the artists gave their permission. The result is a beautiful gift and a wonderful advertisement for Indigenous art.

See also: Kerrie Duff's biography