Published Tuesday, 17 July, 2007 at 05:45 PM
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
QUEENSLAND INDIGENOUS ARTISTS SET TO TAKE ON ITALY: PREMIER
Premier and Minister for Trade Peter Beattie today announced acclaimed Indigenous artists from Queensland will be taking centre stage at a major international arts festival in Europe later this year.
“I am delighted to again be promoting the Lockhart River Art Gang, this time showing their new and vivid paintings to art lovers and dealers from around the world,” Mr Beattie said.
“It is another milestone for the Art Gang community on Cape York Peninsula who have already been shown in France, England, USA, South Korea and Australia,” he said.
“This time they will be at the Art from Australia (Arte dall’Australia) exhibition at the Civic Gallery of Modern Art in Spoleto, and I know Queenslanders will share with me in wishing these artists every success.”
More than 25 new paintings will be exhibited in Italy, including works by Rosella Namok, Samantha Hobson, Fiona Omeenyo, Silas Hobson and Adrian King.
“Congratulations to Rosella, Samantha and Fiona who are all success stories in their own right. They each joined the Lockhart River Aboriginal Community Arts and Cultural Centre in their teens, and are now experiencing widespread recognition.
“Rosella, for example, is self-employed through her art and is experiencing incredible levels of success, exhibiting nationally and internationally with sell-out shows.”
Mr Beattie said the centre, which began in the mid-1990s, had become something of a phenomenon in the Indigenous art world and plays an important role in nurturing local emerging artists.
“Art is helping to pave the way towards economic independence for Indigenous communities and it is a window into a unique culture,” he said.
“My Government is committed to growing markets for their artworks and providing assistance through the Queensland Indigenous Arts Marketing and Export Agency.”
The State Government has provided $50,000 in funding for the agency’s Spoleto initiative to enable two Lockhart River artists to attend the festival and take part in speaking engagements, as well as promote the Queensland artists taking part in the exhibition and the publication of a special promotional catalogue.
Mr Beattie said the catalogue would be distributed internationally on Queensland Government trade missions, targeting major art dealers and art fairs that specialise in Indigenous art, including those in Italy.
The Art from Australia exhibition is part of the prestigious Spoleto International Arts Festival and will be held in the Italian province of Umbria, some 125 kilometres north of Rome, between September and October 2007.
Media contact: Premier’s Office – 3224 4500
“I am delighted to again be promoting the Lockhart River Art Gang, this time showing their new and vivid paintings to art lovers and dealers from around the world,” Mr Beattie said.
“It is another milestone for the Art Gang community on Cape York Peninsula who have already been shown in France, England, USA, South Korea and Australia,” he said.
“This time they will be at the Art from Australia (Arte dall’Australia) exhibition at the Civic Gallery of Modern Art in Spoleto, and I know Queenslanders will share with me in wishing these artists every success.”
More than 25 new paintings will be exhibited in Italy, including works by Rosella Namok, Samantha Hobson, Fiona Omeenyo, Silas Hobson and Adrian King.
“Congratulations to Rosella, Samantha and Fiona who are all success stories in their own right. They each joined the Lockhart River Aboriginal Community Arts and Cultural Centre in their teens, and are now experiencing widespread recognition.
“Rosella, for example, is self-employed through her art and is experiencing incredible levels of success, exhibiting nationally and internationally with sell-out shows.”
Mr Beattie said the centre, which began in the mid-1990s, had become something of a phenomenon in the Indigenous art world and plays an important role in nurturing local emerging artists.
“Art is helping to pave the way towards economic independence for Indigenous communities and it is a window into a unique culture,” he said.
“My Government is committed to growing markets for their artworks and providing assistance through the Queensland Indigenous Arts Marketing and Export Agency.”
The State Government has provided $50,000 in funding for the agency’s Spoleto initiative to enable two Lockhart River artists to attend the festival and take part in speaking engagements, as well as promote the Queensland artists taking part in the exhibition and the publication of a special promotional catalogue.
Mr Beattie said the catalogue would be distributed internationally on Queensland Government trade missions, targeting major art dealers and art fairs that specialise in Indigenous art, including those in Italy.
The Art from Australia exhibition is part of the prestigious Spoleto International Arts Festival and will be held in the Italian province of Umbria, some 125 kilometres north of Rome, between September and October 2007.
Media contact: Premier’s Office – 3224 4500