Entertainment
11 June, 2023
First Nations art display
THE talent and storytelling of Far North Queensland’s young and emerging First Nations artists is currently on show at UMI Arts in its latest exhibition, Culture Through Our Eyes.
UMI Arts launched its second annual Culture Through Our Eyes exhibition on May 26 which, according to the organisation’s exhibition officer Robyne Pacey “was a buzzing event attended by many of the student feature artists enjoying their beautiful artworks being exhibited in a professional gallery space for the first time”.
“Traditional Owner Henry Fourmile performed a beautiful Welcome to Country while our UMI arts director Connie Rovina officially opened the event with Djarragun College principal Liz Thomas as guest speaker,” she said.
Ms Pacey said the 23 works by 15 talented young artists shone in the gallery with vibrant colours and lively characters, telling stories that came from far away.
Many of these students travel to Cairns to study from remote communities across Queensland and the Northern Territory.
Culture Through Our Eyes exhibiting artists are Solace Barnaby, Kaissia Dick, Holly Douglas, Joyce Douglas-Wallis, Chyler Kohler, Zamira Martin, Chloe McGilvary, Jahzara Michl, Mareja Pootchemunka, Olivia Pootchemunka, Kay Kay Sambo, Timesha Sandy, Mahalia Spratt, Gwen Thomas, and Tarek Turner. All artists are students of Djarragun College, Gordonvale, except for Jahzara Michl.
Ms Pacey said Culture Through Our Eyes was a youth arts initiative launched in 2022 to provide a user-friendly introduction to Queensland’s vibrant Indigenous arts industry.
“This program provides an inclusive and supportive platform for young, First Nations creators to use artistic expression to show their talent and share their culture,” she said.
“It is wonderful to see this collective response from our young people and more importantly, their fresh perspectives about society and culture,” said Ms Pacey.
The exhibition is at Umi Arts, Shop 4/1 Jensen St, Manoora
