A Pilbara Storybook

15 September 2009

Bright canvases filled the foyer of the Central Park building in Perth for the fourth annual Rio Tinto Colours of our Country Aboriginal art exhibition.

From August 31 to September 12, Perth art enthusiasts experienced a rare collection of works from the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

A total of 207 pieces of work from 41 artists, valued at over $230,000 were on show, and at exhibitions end, 169 pieces of work had been sold. 

Sales of over $185,000 were returned to artists and their art groups in the region, along with a priceless buzz about the talent and standard of work from the Pilbara.

“It was through our partnerships across the Pilbara  that we first initiated this exhibition and through the eyes of these wonderful artists we continue to see the Pilbara region come to life”, Sam Walsh, Chief executive of Rio Tinto Iron Ore said. “This event is a favourite of our employees and we are very proud of its success”

The exhibition was officially opened by Hon Minister John Day MLA, Minister for Planning, Culture and the Arts on September 3 in front of a crowd of 100 guests, including eight artists who had travelled from the Pilbara.

Artist Pansy Sambo, a 2009 Cossack Art Award winner, on entering the exhibition for the first time claimed “I now understand what Colours of our Country is all about! When we are painting I had no idea how many people would be seeing our work. It is fantastic.”

The diversity of the work encompassed small boxed paintings, expansive canvases, traditional wooden artefacts, silk scarves and for the first time silk baskets.

A piece by Yindjibarndi elder Clifton Mack was selected for inclusion in the Art Gallery of Western Australia collection for the third time – the piece was “Millstream Tableands”. Two silk baskets constructed by Aileen Sandy from the Yinjaa Barni Art Group were also added to state collection.

Artists in Roebourne, Wickham and Karratha painted for the exhibition from March through to July. The next showcase of the artists’ works will be at the Hedland Art Awards in late September.