Desart members from Aboriginal owned art centres from the Northern Territory, South Australia and Western Australia, in association with the Department of Tourism, Sport and Culture come together again for the annual ‘Desert Mob’ event at the Araluen Cultural Precinct in Alice Springs from 5 September to 20 October.
‘Desert Mob’ celebrates the cultural, linguistic and geographical diversity of the desert regions and communities of Central Australia and is one of the nation’s most anticipated Aboriginal arts and cultural events, taking form across three main events; Exhibition, Symposium and MarketPlace.
Dulcie Sharpe and Marlene Rubuntja, of Yarrenyty Arltere Artists, at the Desert Mob 2018 Artist’s Preview. Photograph: Rhett Hammerton. Courtesy the artists and the Northern Territory, Department of Tourism, Sport and Culture
The Araluen precinct will become an energetic hub of creativity with the presentation of the ‘Desert Mob Exhibition’ from 5 September to 20 October showcasing close to 260 artworks across three gallery spaces. Works created by contemporary emerging and established Aboriginal artists from 32 art centres from across the APY Lands of South Australia, the Great Victoria Desert, the Gibson Desert, the southern Kimberley region of Western Australia, the central and southern areas of Northern Territory and from several Mparntwe (Alice Springs) based art centres will be on display.
On Saturday 7 September from 10am, the Desert Mob MarketPlace is an art market, which will give visitors a chance to meet the artists and buy their artworks. All proceeds raised go back to the artists, their art centres and their communities.
And the all-day Symposium scheduled for 6 September in the Araluen Theatre at Araluen Arts Centre will raise discussion about significant issues surrounding Aboriginal culture today with Desart member art centres and special guests in attendance.
‘Desert Mob is recognised nationally and internationally as a significant arts event, showcasing emerging practices and innovations in Aboriginal art from the desert – which is one of the most dynamic contemporary art movements in the world, ’ says Senior Director of the Department of Tourism, Sport and Culture’s Araluen Cultural Precinct, Felicity Green.
Audiences will be enthralled by this vibrant display of new and innovative artworks sharing the many important and valuable stories of one the oldest and richest, living cultures.
