Putuparri & The Rainmakers : New works from Mangkaja Arts
Opening of an exhibition of new Aboriginal art from around Australia featuring works by award winning and emerging artists of the pioneering Kimberley colourist artists of Mangkaja Arts, Fitzroy Crossing.
Plus outdoor screening of the award winning, highly acclaimed documentary,Putuparri and the Rainmakers- an epic story of Aboriginal life, law and cultural survival in the Great Sandy Desert. With in conversation with film director Nicole Ma, Mangkaja artists and Susan McCulloch OAM
About Putuparri & the Rainmakers
Spanning 20 transformative years in young Kimberley man Tom (Putuparri) Lawford's life the film relates his re-engagement with his grandfather who is a ceremonial rainmaker - undertaking a series of epic journeys to their family's stunning and remote Great Sandy Desert country as he navigates the deep chasm between his largely Western upbringing and his traditional culture. Set against the backdrop of the long fight to reclaim their traditional lands, Putuparri and the Rainmakers has been hailed as a story of love, hope and the survival of Aboriginal law and culture against all odds.
About Mangkaja Arts. Located in the centre of Fitzroy Crossing, WA Mangkaja Arts Resource Agency grew out of the Karrayili Adult Education Centre, established in 1981 for local people who wanted to learn the English language.The initiative, led by the local men, provided a place where people could study and paint their personal stories.
Taking its name Mangkaja, meaning wet weather spinifex shelter, the current space has evolved to provide a studio working space and gallery.
Work from Mangkaja artists often exhibit a broad, loose description of country, in contemporary forms that has lead to a vibrant and distinctive style shown in acclaimed exhibitions around Australia and internationally and seen in the work of award winning artists Dolly Snell (Telstra National & Torres Strait Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award winner 2015), Sonia Kurarra (Best Indigenous work, WA Art Awards Art, 2010)
Exhibition includes works by Dolly Snell Jukuja, Sonia Kurarra, Tommy May, Nada Rawlins and many others and includes brilliant new works on Perspex.
About Nicole Ma
Award-winning director Nicole Ma spent 10 years making the feature documentary Putuparri & the Rainmakers - undertaking many epic journeys through the Great Sandy Desert led by the senior law man and rainmaker Nyilpirr Spider Snell.
Nicole began her filmmaking career in New York producing music videos for Whitney Houston, Sonic Youth and long form concert films for Annie Lennox, Michael Bolton and Newport Jazz Festival. Her New York based independent film company produced feature films Combination Platter (Sundance screenwriting award) and My Father is Coming. She worked as location manager on Malcom X (Spike Lee) and production manager on Haitian Corner (Raoul Peck). While based in New York Nicole wrote and directed the experimental short Living Rooms funded by the New York State Council of the Arts. She is the director/producer of new media for Yiwarra Kuju: Canning Stock Route Project for the National Museum of Australia; documentaries Dances of Ecstasy, Kurtal Snake Spirit and Be Happy, Be Strong.
