Salute to Hermannsburg Artists

art. house. mum.

Lately I've been doing a couple of hours work each week back at my old job as a picture framer.  It's a brilliant job and I love it for a whole bunch of reasons.  But I really really love picture framing when I get the chance to get up close and personal with great art.

This week I had the absolute pleasure of contributing a tiny amount to the reframing of some really improtant Australian watercolours.  The artists were from the Hermannsburg mission station and would have been contemporaries and sons of the much acclaimed Albert Namatjira.

These works were terribly important in the development of contemporary Australian art and culture in that they were one of the first bodies of artwork completed by Indigenous Australians to be accepted by the popular culture of caucasian Australians and an international audience.

At a time when it was accepted in some circles to treat Indigenous Australians with little understanding or respect, this group of artists learnt to speak the language of European art in a way which cut through layers of racism and preconceptions.

So this weekend I was so excited to walk into the workroom and see these wonderful paintings waiting for me and as I worked on them I tried to take in what they meant on that deeper social level and how they achieved what they did.  The beauty of the paintings was deepened by knowing that these paintings had been a part of bringing about a change to the attitudes of our nation.  How nice to be confronted with the ability of art to impact a culture positively.

And boy did I itch to paint!

So I took the chance to do just that on Sunday.  Inspired by the Hermannsburg artists, I worked in watercolour on paper and painted a scene which is part of me.  The view from our deck and living area. 

Has anything gotten you excited right down to your bones this week?  I hope so, 'cos it felt pretty amazing to have my juices flowing again!

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