The Paradisical World of Janet Dreamer : In partnership with Yarliyil Arts
My country stays in my dreams. I dream about my home, and I don't forget about my countryJanet Dreamer, 2020
Launch exhibition of paintings by East Kimberley painter Janet Dreamer (1959-2021). Known affectionately as "Dreamer", Janet Dreamer's unique works bring to life the flora, wildlife and water life of her birthplace - Old Flora Valley Station; the lush oasis of nearby Palm Springs and the abundant wildlife, plants and cultural significance of the places she observed on the many journeys she called 'walkabout'.
Although Dreamer started painting at the age of 16 under her father's tutelage, it was only much later, after she joined Yarliyil Arts at Halls Creek in 2013, that she started painting in earnest and with her own vision. And what a vision it was. Her vibrantly coloured canvases with their free imagery and sizzling hues depict extraordinary vistas of the vast reaches of Jaru Country - from the north western coastal Derby region to the inland town of Halls Creek.
At Yarliyil Arts, Dreamer was an artistic dynamo she painted ceaselessly for hours on end. Art centre staff had never experienced anything like either her artistic style - a seamless blend of naive figuration and abstraction, her unerring confidence with colour, or her prodigious output. First, she would set down her main subject (typically fauna, birds, flora or water life), then semi obscure them with sweeps of luminous colours and patterns. The results are joyous works of boundless, raw energy characterised by brilliant colouration and unique figuration. In their depictions of often now rare wildlife, and ceremonial iconography, her work is also of profound cultural significance.
A finalist (in posthumous tribute) in Perth's John Stringer Prize 2022, Dreamer's work is also in the collection of the Art Gallery of Western Australia.
This exhibition launches a national exhibition programme of Dreamer's works by Everywhen Art.
Opening event Saturday February 8 | 2 pm
To be opened by long term Kimberley art manager Kevin Kelly - former art centre manager Waringarri Arts and Yarliyil Arts, co-owner of Red Rock Art and currently advisor to Yarliyil Arts. In conversation with gallery co-director Susan McCulloch OAM.
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Janet DreamerWalkabout ( Brolga looking for a mate at Palm Springs), 2018acrylic on canvas70 x 30 cm
27 1/2 x 11 3/4 in$ 1,400.00 -
Janet DreamerSawfish, 2019acrylic on canvas30 x 70 cm
11 3/4 x 27 1/2 in$ 1,400.00 -
Janet DreamerMungil Plain, 2018acrylic on canvas70 x 30 cm
27 1/2 x 11 3/4 in$ 1,400.00 -
Janet DreamerWalkabout (A young Janet Dreamer looking for mungari (bush tucker) , 2019acrylic on canvas70 x 45 cm
27 1/2 x 17 3/4 in$ 1,900.00 -
Janet DreamerWalkabout (Fishing and swimming at Palm Springs and ceremonial man), 2019acrylic on canvas70 x 45 cm
27 1/2 x 17 3/4 in$ 1,900.00 -
Janet DreamerWalkabout (Old Flora Valley)45 x 70 cm
17 3/4 x 27 1/2 in$ 1,900.00 -
Janet DreamerWalkabout (Cave painting at Flora Valley), 2019acrylic on canvas70 x 45 cm
27 1/2 x 17 3/4 in$ 1,900.00 -
Janet DreamerWalkabout (Kangaroos, birds and trees at Fox River), 2018acrylic on canvas70 x 45 cmSold
27 1/2 x 17 3/4 in -
Janet DreamerTwo Brolgas at Old Flora Valley, 2019acrylic on canvas70 x 45 cm
27 1/2 x 17 3/4 in$ 1,900.00 -
Janet DreamerBird (looking for food), 2018acrylic on canvas70 x 45 cm
27 1/2 x 17 3/4 in$ 1,900.00 -
Janet DreamerWalkabout ( Bird and Snake at 18 Mile, Flora Valley) , 2018acrylic on canvas70 x 45 cm
27 1/2 x 17 3/4 in$ 1,900.00 -
Janet DreamerWalkabout at Old Flora Valley - catfish and brolgas , 2019acrylic on canvas75 x 45 cm
29 1/2 x 17 3/4 in$ 2,200.00 -
Janet DreamerSawfish at Dilgin (Flora Valley), 2019acrylic on canvas75 x 45 cm
29 1/2 x 17 3/4 in$ 2,200.00 -
Janet DreamerWalkabout (Girl dancing for food, Kangaroo, Peacock, Flora Valley), 2018acrylic on canvas90 x 60 cm
35 3/8 x 23 5/8 in$ 2,800.00 -
Janet DreamerFlora Valley (two bush turkeys) , 2018acrylic on canvas90 x 60 cm
35 3/8 x 23 5/8 in$ 2,800.00 -
Janet DreamerSpring Water at Tabletop, 2019acrylic on canvas90 x 60 cm
35 3/8 x 23 5/8 in$ 2,800.00 -
Janet DreamerBlanket Lizard (Frilled neck Lizard), 2018acrylic on canvas90 x 60 cm
35 3/8 x 23 5/8 in$ 2,800.00 -
Janet DreamerWalkabout (waterhole, flowers and wildlife at Fox River) , 2019acrylic on canvas90 x 60 cm
35 3/8 x 23 5/8 in$ 2,800.00 -
Janet DreamerWalkabout (one fish, water goanna, turtles, black plums, bush potato and birds at Palm Springs), 2018acrylic on canvas90 x 60 cm
35 3/8 x 23 5/8 in$ 2,800.00 -
Janet DreamerWalkabout (two women singing and dancing for country with bush food implements), 2018acrylic on canvas90 x 60 cm
35 3/8 x 23 5/8 in$ 2,800.00 -
Janet DreamerWalkabout (white gums and little birds at Fox River), 2018acrylic on canvas90 x 60 cm
35 3/8 x 23 5/8 in$ 2,800.00 -
Janet DreamerWalkabout - Table Top Country at Fox River , 2019acrylic on canvas60 x 90 cmSold
23 5/8 x 35 3/8 in -
Janet DreamerWalkabout (crocodile, birds, kangaroos, echidna and ancestral figure) , 2019acrylic on canvas90 x 60 cmSold
35 3/8 x 23 5/8 in -
Janet DreamerPalm Springs (wildife, mungari (bush tucker) and waterfall ), 2019acrylic on canvas90 x 60 cm
35 3/8 x 23 5/8 in$ 2,800.00 -
Janet DreamerCrocodile Dreaming (ancestral woman singing for crocodile) , 2019acrylic on canvas120 x 60 cm
47 1/4 x 35 3/8 in$ 3,500.00 -
Janet DreamerWalkabout (hunting and fishing with the old people) , 2019acrylic on canvas120 x 90 cmSold
47 1/4 x 35 3/8 in -
Janet DreamerWalkabout (Mongel Plain and Fox River, desert flowers, bush turkeys and dangerous crocodiles) , 2018acrylic on canvas100 x 160 cmSold
39 3/8 x 63 in -
Janet DreamerWalkabout (bird warning of crocodile), 2019acrylic on canvas120 x 90 cm
47 1/4 x 35 3/8 in$ 5,400.00 -
Janet DreamerFox River (landscape, emu and baby with goanna) , 2018acrylic on canvas120 x 90 cmSold
47 1/4 x 35 3/8 in -
Janet DreamerWalkabout - Fox River (birds, witchetty grubs, crocodiles, bush turkey ), 2019acrylic on canvas120 x 90 cm
47 1/4 x 35 3/8 in$ 5,400.00