In 2019, Jilamara Arts & Crafts Association will be 30 years old.
In the early days it was an Adult Education Centre. In 1989, Jilamara found its name and became an art centre.
Over the years Jilamara has seen many managers, many children and camp dogs on the lawn. Many days of top up, many loved artists and friends pass away.
The strength of culture and vision for Jilamara lives on, unwavering, as the older generation passes culture on to the next.
Jilamara artists have always painted with natural ochre, on ironwood, stringy bark and paper. They have also turned their hand to many new and different artforms over the years.
KITTY KANTILLA & FREDA WARLAPINI
The first old Ladies of Jilamara
Kitty & Freda were instrumental in bringing Jilamara Arts to life in the 1980’s. Their style, passion and influence live on through Jilamara artists.
They were special to their community, special to Jilamara, and special to the art world.
Kitty was lovingly known as ‘Dot Dot’ & Freda as ‘Chicken Mesh’ in reference to their iconic jilamara styles of painting.
Kitty is known internationally as one of Australia’s finest Indigenous artists.
JILAMARA HISTORY : A TIMELINE (click to expand)
1988 · · · Muluwurri Museum established as part of the Milikapiti Cultural Complex including Jilamara workshop and Adult Education Centre
1988 · · · Jilamara Arts and Crafts Association established
1988 · · · Carved Wooden Sculptures by Tiwi Women from Paru held at Aboriginal and Pacific Art Gallery in Sydney, curated by Gabriella Roy
1989 · · · Painting on paper introduced by Beverley Knight
1991 · · · First Jilamara Group Exhibition at Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne
1991 · · · National Gallery of Victoria commissions Tiwi bark paintings from Jilamara, resulting in 55 works by 18 artists
1992 · · · Ngingingawula Jilamara Kapi Purunguparri: Our Designs on Bark exhibition held at the NGV, featuring bark paintings, pukamani poles, canvas, fabric and carvings
1993 · · · Pukamani Yoyi installation of fifteen tutini from Jilamara is exhibited (and subsequently acquired) at the Fifth Australian Sculpture Triennial at the NGV
1993 – 1994 · · · Feature exhibitions at Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne, and Aboriginal & South Pacific Gallery, Sydney – all mixed media group shows
1994 · · · Ngawa Mantawi disability program established
1994 · · · First solo exhibition for Kitty Kantilla at Aboriginal and South Pacific Gallery, Sydney
2000 · · · Group exhibition held in Germany
2001 · · · Pedro Wonaemirri’s first solo exhibition at Alcaston Gallery
2002 · · · Pupuni Jilamara – major group exhibition held at the Art Gallery of NSW, featuring works by Kantilla and Jilamara artists
2002 · · · Timothy Cook’s first solo exhibition held at the Aboriginal and Pacific Art Gallery, Sydney (formally known as Aboriginal and South Pacific Art Gallery)
2002 · · · Kitty Kantilla wins Telstra NATSIAA works on paper section
2003 – 2004 · · · Passing away of Kitty Kantilla (c. 1928 – 2003) and Freda Warlapinni (c. 1928 – 2003)
2004 · · · Raelene Kerinauia’s first solo exhibition at RAFT Artspace, Darwin
2005 · · · Group exhibition in Hamburg, Germany
2007 · · · Kitty Kantilla major retrospective curated by Judith Ryan, accompanied by an extensive monograph held at the NGV and the National Gallery of NSW
2009 · · · New gallery designed by Troppo Architects
2009 · · · Jilamara employs three permanent part time staff
2011 · · · Artists complete modules of Certificate II of Visual Arts and Contemporary Craft through Charles Darwin University
2011 · · · Raelene Kerinauia wins Bark section of Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (NATSIAA)
2012 · · · Construction and renovation of art centre buildings completed. Opened by Pedro Wonaeamirri and covered by SBS TV and The Australian newspaper.
2012 · · · Timothy Cook wins overall Telstra NATSIAA Award
2012 · · · Jilamara group show with Munupi, Idaho, USA
2012 · · · NMA hands back several small items to the Muluwurri Museum collected over 100 years ago
2017 · · · Timothy Cook and Glen Framer travel to Paris for Timothy Cook solo exhibition
2018 · · · Pedro Wonaemirri travels to Rome as part of launch of the Holy See Indigenous Art Collection publication
2019 · · · Paralika Tutini Jilamara – 26 Tutini Poles exhibited at Art Gallery South Australia for Tarnanthi with Munupi Arts and Ngaruwanajirri
2020 · · · TIWI Exhibition and publication at National Gallery of Victoria Australia
2020 · · · Pedro Wonaeamirri and Patrick Freddy Puruntatameri exhibit 20 tutini poles in NIRIN: 22nd Biennale of Sydney
2020 · · · Michelle Woody Minnapinni wins the King Wood and Malleson Contemporary Indigenous Art Award
2021 · · · Record 5 Jilamara Artists selected as finalists in the Telstra NATSIA Awards
2021 · · · Pedro Wonaeamirri wins Telstra NATSIA Multi-media Award
2021 · · · Dino Wilson Award of Excellence at the National Emerging Art Prize
2021 · · · Timothy Cook solo exhibition in Berlin with Michael Reid Gallery
2021 · · · Timothy Cook Awarded the Australia Council’s Established Artist with a Disability Award for his life service to the Arts
2022 · · · Johnathon World Peace Bush debuted at Melbourne Art Fair
2022 · · · Dino Wilson debut international solo exhibition at Michael Reid Berlin