Kimberley Tour 2015

This will be an adventurous few days with the opportunity to experience what very few Australians can, by visiting small, very remote Aboriginal communities in Western Australia. There is the chance to meet some amazing people, see fascinating landscapes from the air and to immerse yourself in wonderful contemporary works of art along the way. It will truly be an unforgettable experience.

Itinerary (6th – 11th June 2015)

Day 1

Arrival into Broome and transfer to your accommodation this evening. Further transfer details will be advised once we have your flight information from you.

For those who arrive early enough, there will be a visit to the Short Street Gallery this afternoon. Short St Gallery is the agent for the Yulparija Artists from Bidyadanga, including Daniel Walbidi, Jan Billycan, and Lydia Balbal. They also represent the following art centres in the Kimberly, Waringarri, Warmun, Warlayirti (Balgo), Mangkaja (Fitzroy Crossing), in the Pilbara Martumili. While in the APY and NG lands and Western Desert they represent Tjungu Palya, Spinifex Art Project, Ninuku Arts, Warakurna Arts, Tjanpi Desert Weavers, Ernabella Arts, Mimili Maku, Tjala Arts, Kayili Artists, Papulankutja Artists and Papunya Tula. In Arhemland they represent Buku-Larringay Mulka (Yirrkala) and Maningrida Arts, while in Tiwi Islands, they represent Jilamara, Tiwi Design and Ngaruwanajirri.

The group will meet this evening for welcome drinks and dinner. Tonight will be the first night of the tour, a time to get to know each other over dinner and to learn more about the places, art works and artists we will experience over the next week.

Overnight Accomodation: Cable Beach Hotel

Day 2

Breakfast is included. We’ll check out and settle any incidentals. Transfer to the airport and meet our charter aircraft pilot for the next five days.

8:00 Fly to Kalumburu – spend day in the gallery, museum and the community.

10:20 Arrive Kalumburu

This tiny art centre is now run by Waringarri. It has some fabulous artists, including Mary Punchi Clement, whose work is to be included in the Indigenous Triennial at the National Gallery in Canberra in 2016. There are some lovely old buildings, part of the old mission and a museum to visit. This was a highlight of our visit last year.

Leave Kalumburu, Arrive Emma Gorge with enough time to walk to the spectacular water hole for a swim. Dinner and overnight.

Overnight Accomodation: Emma Gorge

Day 3

Fly to Kununura Drive to Waringarri Arts, 16 Speargrass Rd, Kununurra.

Waringarri Aboriginal Arts is a wholly Aboriginal owned art centre specialising in contemporary collectable indigenous art of the East Kimberley region. The art centre and was established in the early 1980’s by senior artists of the region and is located in the heart of Miriwoong Country at Kununurra in the east Kimberley. Waringarri ochre paintings present a powerful contemporary aesthetic interpreting the grandeur of the Kimberley region and the importance of each individual artist’s country and traditional knowledge. Artists relate images of country, traditional stories and stories of station life and contemporary events. Painting only with ochre pigments Waringarri artists comment on the importance of maintaining traditional links to land and culture while exploring a celebration of colour, composition and individualism.

Return the hire cars to the airport and depart.

12:00 Fly to Warmun. (Turkey Creek)

12:40 Arrive at Turkey Creek.

Warmun artists are renowned for their use of natural ochre and pigments on canvas, which is integral to the contemporary expression of land and culture as identity for Gija people. The work of Warmun artists’ is an inseparable and celebratory part of Gija culture and country, and draws on traditional Ngarrangkarni (Dreaming) stories and contemporary life. Warmun art has a national and international reputation thanks to the leadership of highly successful Warmun artists like Rover Thomas and Queenie McKenzie, George Mung Mung and Paddy Jaminji.

17:00 Leave Turkey Creek and fly to Fitzroy Crossing. Dinner and overnight at Fitzroy Crossing Lodge.

Overnight Accomodation: Fitzroy Crossing Lodge

Day 4

10:00 Mangkaja Arts

Mangkaja Arts began its operation in Fitzroy Crossing WA in the mid 1980s in a modest concrete and tin structure with no windows. It took on the name Mangkaja, a Walmajarri word for the wet weather shelters, which the artists built in the desert. It is now situated in a purpose built space. This art centre, unlike the others in the Kimberley, specialise in acrylic paint on paper and canvas. They also produce beautiful limited edition prints and a selection of handcrafted artefacts.

1530 Leave Mangkaja and fly to Kunawarriitji

1720 Arrive at Kunawarritji (Well 33) Dinner and accommodation here

Overnight Accomodation: Kunawarritji Community

Day 5

Spend the morning watching the artists paint and absorbing remote community life. Fly to Newman.

Accomodation Overnight Newman Hotel

Day 6

We will spend the morning at the Martumili Art Centre in Newman. This art centre services five outstations and has an amazing amount of stock. Artists such as Nora Wompi, Bughai Wyoltha, Nora Nugabar, Mabel Wakarta and Minyawe Miller paint for Martumili.

Tour ends lunch time 12 June.

There are two travel options, back on our charter plane to Broome or a commercial flight from Newman to Perth. The trip back to Broome is included in the tour cost, the flight to Perth is not part of the tour and should be booked by each person at their own cost.

Expressions of Interest & Pricing

The cost is likely to be around $7,500. This includes the charter of a plane with a pilot for 5 days and all accommodation and meals from the time we meet in Broome until the end of the trip. It does not include alcohol which can be purchased at all the venues except at Kunawarritji, which is a dry community.

I am looking for between six and eight guests.

It is possible that we may stay at Parnngurr or Punmu in the Pilbara instead of Kunawarritji.

Please contact Julienne directly with expressions of interest, via email or mobile 0413 161 636.