Countdown is on to Desert Mob 2019

This September the Department of Tourism, Sport and Culture’s Araluen Cultural Precinct, in association with Desart presents Desert Mob 2019, one of the nation’s most anticipated Aboriginal art and cultural events.

This unique and keenly anticipated annual event takes over the Precinct from early September through to mid-October and features a major exhibition, an affordable art market, and an all-day symposium raising the important issues surrounding Aboriginal culture today.

“The Araluen Cultural Precinct is proud to welcome back Desert Mob in partnership with Desart. It’s a partnership that goes back close to two decades, and continues to grow year on year. It’s in the DNA of Araluen’s programming, and one of the major spring events that the whole of Alice Springs looks forward to. Desart members from Aboriginal owned art centres across the Northern Territory, South Australia and Western Australia will once again be in attendance, presenting new arts projects and artworks by emerging and established Aboriginal artists.” Senior Director of the Department of Tourism, Sport and Culture’s Araluen Cultural Precinct, Felicity Green said.

“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.”

Desert Mob 2019 continues its tradition of acknowledging and celebrating the vast cultural, linguistic and geographical diversity of Aboriginal artists, which includes the APY Lands of South Australia; as far south as the Great Victoria Desert; west to the Gibson Desert; north to the southern Kimberley region of Western Australia; and across the central and southern Northern Territory, including several Mparntwe (Alice Springs) based art centres.

“Desert Mob is the desert art epicentre, bringing Aboriginal artists to the beating heart of the country, Mparntwe, to reinforce and celebrate their culture together for the thousands of visitors who flood into the Precinct over this very special weekend.” says Felicity.

The highlight of the first weekend is the official opening of the Desert Mob 2019 Exhibition - spanning three galleries and presenting close to 260 new artworks selected by 32 art centres. All artworks are available for purchase, with monies raised going back to the artists, their art centres and their communities.

“The Desert Mob exhibition is unique among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander exhibitions in that the artists and their art centres select the works to be exhibited themselves, without having to go through an art institution or curator’s pre-selection process,” Felicity pointed out.

Now in its 29th year, the Desert Mob exhibition continues to document the rising force of desert art from Aboriginal communities.

The opening weekend will also feature an all-day symposium that celebrates the artistic and cultural achievements of the artists from Desart-member Aboriginal art centres. Coby Edgar, Assistant Curator of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art at the Art Gallery of NSW, is this year’s Master of Ceremonies.

The Desert Mob Symposium program for 2019 is rich with insightful presentations by Aboriginal artists, their art centres, and features special guests, exploring contemporary concerns through art grounded in deep cultural knowledge.

“I’m personally looking forward to the keynote address by Balang John Marwundjul OAM, whose current touring retrospective, I Am the Old and the New, stunned audiences at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney and at the Art Gallery of South Australia. Balang’s address will reflect on almost half a century of his arts practice. It’s fair to say it’s a ‘must see’ opportunity”, Felicity said.

The opening weekend concludes with the glorious chaos that is the Desert Mob MarketPlace, a larger than life explosion of colour, where art lovers purchase art directly from the Aboriginal owned art centres, with all proceeds going back to artists, their art centres and communities.

“The MarketPlace is a great opportunity to meet and engage with artists and workers from art centres across the Northern Territory, South Australia and Western Australia. What’s more, it’s an opportunity to buy high quality art at very affordable prices, while helping sustain local and remote communities,” Felicity added.

The Desert Mob 2019 Exhibition will be officially opened on Thursday 5 September at 5.30pm and will continue until Sunday 20 October.

The Desert Mob 2019 Symposium will be held in the Araluen Theatre on Friday 6 September from 10.00am. Entry is free and catered lunch is available at a cost of $25-$30 by prior registration here.

The Desert Mob 2019 MarketPlace will be held on Saturday 7 September from 10.00am with great food and coffee available.

For more information, please visit www.desertmob.nt.gov.au

Image: (top) Dulcie Sharpe and Marlene Rubuntja, of Yarrenyty Arltere Artists, at the Desert Mob 2018 Artist’s Preview. Image by Rhett Hammerton. (bottom)Desert Mob 2018 exhibition opening. Photo by Rhett Hammerton.