October 22 | KYOGLE

The region’s favourite blak arts market, Art on Bundjalung visited Kyogle on Saturday the 22nd of October. The free event took over Stratheden St to celebrate the creative cultural heritage of the Bundjalung region. The market engaged over 80 First Nations stallholders, performers, staff, and community partners, and generated over $34,000 for stallholders and artists. Check out 2022’s impressive line up of artists below!

 The event also featured a full cultural program including a Welcome To Country from Uncle Wayne Walker; weaving circle hosted by Casino Wake Up Time; live music from Blakboi, Kaycee Skinner, and Shelley Nagas; cultural dance performances from Nini Nahri Gali and Junbung Dancers; spoken word performances by Mitch King, Michael Weir and Dakota Feirer; and a fashion parade by First Nations fashion and textile designer, Kylie Caldwell. There was also delicious food stalls including Space Bar Gelato, BBQ by Gugin Gudduba Local Aboriginal Land Council, and Kyogle Together youth coffee shop; plus face painting and jarjums activities.

Photography – Kate Holmes

Artists

  • Bungaree Art

    Mark Cora is a proud Minjungbal man who is based in the Tweed Shire. He is an independent artist that seeks to develop his art pieces that represent his country which takes in the mountains, rainforests, the beach, and its shoreline. He is inspired by natural materials, their shapes and energy, igniting his imagination and that of the onlookers.

  • Casino Wake Up Time

    Casino Wake Up Time Group has been meeting for over a decade out of a need to support each other during difficult times through creative arts. They are renowned for supporting cultural renewal of traditional weaving and their artistic native plant dyeing of silk. The women have transformed their passion for weaving into a gorgeous collection of garments and jewellery. Traditional methods and natural materials are extremely important to the group who are trying to preserve and reintegrate their culture. The pieces created are produced using traditional weaving techniques for handbags, bracelets and hats and coil stitch for the mats and jewellery. At Art on Bundjalung the group will sell a range of woven works, textiles, and ceramics.

  • Dreaming of Country

    Tim and Jasmin Stanford make up 'Dreaming of Country' – Tim Stanford is a Yuwaalaraay Gamilaraay storyteller and Jasmin is a Githabul Bundjalung artist, based out of Kyogle. Jasmin works across print-making, painting, ceramics, and sculpture. Tim's practice involves painting with acrylic and ochre, and sculptural forms using wood shaping and carving, metal work and more recently, ceramics.

  • Tracey Paints

    Tracey Piccoli (nee Olive) is a contemporary Indigenous artist who aspires to create work that connects us to one another and to her Country - Bundjalung. Her emergent practice combines pattern, colour and immense detail to reflect her own personal stories. Using acrylic, ochre, watercolour, paperbark, linen and canvas, Tracey’s work is inspired by the everyday joys, nature and surroundings and of her unique journey as an Indigenous woman.

  • Biddigaa Cultural Corporation

    Mark Trewhalla is a Nhunggabarra, Gummu Man from North West NSW and Southern Queensland. Mark has been working with and making cultural artwork for over 20 years. He ethically collects and recycles timber from his son's country, Bundjlaung Country, to make into artefacts including dishes and boomerangs. Mark's creates to share his culture and experiences.

  • Val Smith Art

    Val Smith is a Widjubal woman living on and deeply connected to Bundjalung Country. She is an artist and educator whose storytelling explores painting, photography and songwriting. Combining bright colours and songline motifs, Val’s work reflects on her childhood, motherhood and her connection to self and community.

  • Jugan Dandii

    Jugan Dandii (Embrace the Land) embodies their business name by respecting and retracing their ancestors' way of living on Country. Gathering natural fibres and connecting with the environment around them, Jugan Dandii creates a variety of woven pieces.

  • Sarah Jane Art

    Sarah Tunsted is a proud Bundjalung woman of the Morrang Moobar clan of Murwillumbah. She is a contemporary Aboriginal artist and primary school teacher who has lived on Bundjalung Country in the Northern Rivers of NSW all her life. Sarah’s artworks are representations of her family history, interpretations of Country and her overwhelming connectedness to culture. She paints intuitively to express her spiritual relationship and deep passion for her heritage. Sarah’s artworks are painted in her own unique style, often with vibrant colours and earthy hues, using a combination of Aboriginal language symbols and her own original designs.

  • Choo Choo Designs

    Choo-Choo Designs are a small business dedicated to creating quality, handcrafted products by Dunghatti designer, Kira Turner. Choo Choo Designs are based on Widjabl Wiabal land of Bundjalung Country. Kira aspires to make the work of First Nation artists accessible and practical by incorporating their beautiful work into everyday objects. Inspired by her heritage, Kira creates accessories such as handbags, coin pouches, tote bags, earrings and hair accessories featuring First Nation prints and contemporary Indigenous designs from artists around Australia. Many of the artworks used in Kira's products come from the incredible works of the Warlukurlangu Artists, as well as local artists, Aunty Val Smith and Tywana Caldwell.

  • Kylie Caldwell

    First Nations artist and Bundjalung Woman, Kylie Caldwell is a renowned multidisciplinary artist, most notably for her weaving, fibre art and painting. Caldwell’s works explore contemporary and traditional Bundjalung culture and themes. She is dedicated to sustaining and promoting First Nations arts and culture through her artistic innovation.

  • Jai Walker

    Jai Walker is a Wahlubal and Galibal man retaining, sharing and preserving Indigenous culture. His practice spans painting, drawing and cultural artefacts, moving between a range of materials including acrylic, ochre, clay, wood and weaving. He captures stories, knowledge and what has been passed on to bring awareness to how in depth Indigenous culture always has been and always will be.

  • Bakarindi Bushfoods

    100% Aboriginal owned and run company Bakarindi proudly shares age old nourishment of bush foods and strives to grow employment opportunities and reclaims and strengthens their cultural custodianship in the bush food industry.

  • Tracey Estreich

    Tracey Estreich is a Bunjalung woman inspired by places, lived experiences and people. Based in Lismore, NSW, her art practice is evolving, with a strong focus on saltwater & freshwater themes. She uses a range of different mediums including painting, sculpture, ceramics, public art and printmaking as a way to share knowledge and culture. Tracey is passionate about restoring cultural practices and traditional ways of being and living on Country.

  • Yarning Tea Tribe

    Michelle Troutman is from Mungindi NSW. Michelle has recently started a small business specialising in native bush tucka tea and tea blends.

  • Arminel Nagas

    Arminel Nagas is an emerging artist whose work is an extension of her ancestry and cultural experiences. A contemporary Aboriginal artist from Bundjalung: Wahlubal and Gullabul, with heritage tied to South Sea Islanders, Arminel uses art to tell stories, celebrate culture and Country, and to continue the legacy of her parents and grandparents. She works across painting and wearable art such as jewellery and screen-printed clothing. Arminel’s practice shows the next generation of mob how to be creative with your own vision and to share knowledge of Country with community and beyond.

  • Nan and Nay

    Shanaya is a proud Yaegl and Bundjalung young woman who is learning artistic skills from her Nan, Vickki King. Together with their family they create unique pieces that can be used in everyday life.

  • Firefly Arts and Designs

    Founded in 2020, Firefly Arts and Designs is a collective of artists showcasing art and design from creatives based on Bundjalung country.

  • Noelle King

    Noelle King is a proud Bundjalung woman, raised on Darug country in Western Sydney. Noelle's practice involves experimentation with resin and hand painting of kitchen utensils and crockery.

  • Yaama Jingiwalla

    Sam Phillips creates Aboriginal clothing and arts and crafts.

  • Panangka for the Plants

    Jenny Fraser is a digital native working within a fluid screen-based practice. Her old people hail from Migunberri Yugambeh Country in the Scenic Rim, the Northern Bundjalung, on the border district between South East Queensland and the NSW Northern Rivers region. Her current focus is healing work with Bush Foods, Plant Medicine, Flower Essences and other Body Work, using the raw energy of plants, helping people to help themselves and revitalising ancient practices.

  • Dreamtime Artistry

    Dreamtime Artistry is an Indigenous-owned and run business, supplying unique Indigenous Australian products and supporting local Aboriginal artists.

This event was developed and delivered by Arts Northern Rivers in partnership with Kyogle Council, and made possible by the Australian Government through the National Emergency Management Agency and the Indigenous Visual Arts Industry Support Program, and the NSW Government through Create NSW.