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PROUD BIRPAI WOMAN AND ARTIST ANGELA MARR-GROGAN CHATS TO FOCUS ABOUT HER CONNECTION TO THE LAND AND HOW SHE REPRESENTS THIS THROUGH HER INTRICATELY BEAUTIFUL AND TRADITIONAL PAINTINGS …
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hat is your connection to the Greater Port Macquarie region? I am a Birpai woman born and raised in Port Macquarie, and now live west of Wauchope in the hinterland area of Huntingdon. I love the Greater Port Macquarie region; her saltwater beaches, fresh rivers and beautiful hinterlands are all places that I have a strong connection to. Share with us some of the stories behind your works … The majority of my paintings tell stories of my connection to country, the land, rivers and the ocean, as well as the natural elements like the air, the stars and the moon. All of my paintings and works of art are a celebration of my culture, and Astral Dreaming is one of my favourites. I’ve always had a fascination with the night sky and have spent many hours sky watching, so depicting how I see stars on a star filled night was always going to be a piece that I would paint. It’s a bright and contemporary piece and also tells the story of how Aboriginal Australians are considered the world’s first astronomers, and that the night sky was studied to tell time, provide direction and to identify the seasons. Describe the techniques you use and how you have have developed these as an artist … I’m self taught and come from a family of talented artists. My style is evolving, however, 50 greater port macquarie focus.
tends to be bold, contemporary, symmetrical and features elaborate dot work, lines, circles and concentric rings. I use the load and dab technique with a stick for my paintings, and my work is predominantly acrylic on canvas. I like challenging myself though, by developing new ideas and creating new pieces, so I enjoy working with different mediums like wood and glass, and more recently drawing with more traditional means such as charcoal on handmade lokta paper. Paintings, however, are my preferred form of art, and some pieces can take up to 60 hours to complete. I refer to them as my “cultural creations”, as each one of them is special and a little piece of me goes into every artwork. Where is your creative “space”, and what do you feel when you enter your studio? My creative space these days is at Jacaranda House Creative Hub in Wauchope, an historic and stunning building owned by Lyn and Squeak McWhirter. Prior to setting up a studio/ art space at Jacaranda House, I worked from home on my property, where I connect with country and draw inspiration from it, as well as my family. My creative space is more a spiritual space as opposed to a physical location, which is important to me as an artist, especially because I love to paint outdoors. What have been some of your greatest achievements? I have four of them: my children Tori, Tarran, Gideon and Harper. They are my greatest creations and have always been my inspiration
for everything I do, including painting. In terms stunning range of silk accessories and sterling of my artwork, an exciting achievement was silver jewellery featuring my cultural creations being selected as a finalist in the Max National and designs. Indigenous Art Competition last month. My Vana and I are both very passionate about piece titled Ngurrabaa, meaning Meeting Place developing cultural connections though art, in Gathang language, was chosen along with and we will be incorporating my designs 19 other artists’ works to be exhibited at NSW with ancient block printing techniques from Parliament House for NAIDOC Jaipur in Rajasthan India, batik from Week. Imogiri in Indonesia and stunning Tell us about your jewellery from Celuk in Bali. collaboration with We are also very passionate e ac sp e the brands Recycled about giving back to tiv ea cr y M al Mats and Global community, and we is more a spiritu d to a Kidz Oz … are working towards a space as oppose which n, My collaboration scholarship and funding physical locatio as me with Recycled Mats programme to assist is important to ally an artist, especi and Global Kidz Oz local disadvantaged and paint because I love to has been an exciting Aboriginal students with outdoors .” one. I joined the design creative potential. team last year after I was I also really enjoy painting approached by the owner, commissioned works of art for JJ Stranan, about releasing a individuals and creating custom new deluxe range of round recycled imagery and designs for Aboriginal mats. JJ loved my style and wanted to programmes and organisations, so I hope feature my designs on her mats, so I to find the time to continue to offer these was very excited, as I loved her ethos of services as well. “for the love of culture, for the love of the Where can our readers go to view your environment”. My Campfire and Reconciliation work? designed mats have been her most popular I have a small studio space at Jacaranda range yet and are celebrated designs Australia House Creative Hub in Wauchope, and my wide. works are also available to view online at What goals have you set for the next www.marrangart.com.au, on Facebook twelve months? at www.facebook.com/MarrangArt or I’m currently planning on working towards #marrangart on instagram. my first solo exhibition, as well as working with Marrumbu (thank you) Vana Ford from Vasnas Designs to launch a Thanks Angela.
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