COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT: WARMUN

Warmun community also known as Turkey Creek sits about 200 kms south of Kununurra in the Kimberley. Perhaps one of the most well know of the regional art centres the community came to great prominence in the 1980's with the cultural and artistic force that was Rover Thomas and Queenie McKenzie. Infamous artists from the Jirrawun branch also drove Gija art into the stratosphere with the likes of Paddy Bedford, Rusty Peters and Rammey Ramsey. The artwork from the region has a distinct style that centres on strong Ngarranggarni (dreaming) stories and a minimalist approach to paint and mark making. The resulting art works are incredibly visually striking, capturing the audience who are then further engaged by the paintings innate sense of integrity and clout. Warmun art can be found at the across the world, from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, to the Musee du Quai Branly in Paris and back to the National Art Gallery of Australia. 

The community has always recognised the power of art and has used art to foster strong cultural engagement, employment and drive language and cultural programs within the community and local school. Artist's such as Rusty Peters recognise the importance of art and symbols in the telling of stories and the continuum of Warmun culture and lore. At an exhibition opening in 2005 he said, ' A very long time ago the first people made these things. That is why we copy the things they put here. When they made paintings in all the caves and when we looked at what they had put there in our place, we knew how to do things by copying the things they made long ago in the Dreaming.'

Short St Gallery has an enduring relationship with Warmun art centre and has represented the artists since our inception 22 years ago. We are proud to continue the relationship and our support of Warmun Arts. We have put together a special selection of artworks  for your viewing pleasure from artists such as; Mabel Juli, Rusty Peters, Patrick Mung Mung, Jack Britten, Hector Jandany, Betty Carrington, Shirley Purdie, Rammey Ramsey, Kathy Ramsey, Tracey Ramsey, Nancy Nodea, Teapot Carrol, Tommy May, Gordon Barney, Phyllis Thomas, Churchill Cann, Charlene Carrington and Beryline Mung. If you fall in love with more than one work by these artists, we are offering a 10% discount on multiple purchases from Warmun until the end of July. 

In our efforts to continue to support and promote the industry we love and the artists we work with during the pandemic, Short St Gallery are doing Artist Profiles and Community Spotlights regularly, often with a special promotion, so keep your eyes on our emails for that little bit of something special. Our current promotions include free shipping on all Mangkaja works until the end of July
You can access our fun new View on a Wall option by clicking on an image and then selecting View on a Wall. You can contact us via email or phone for all enquiries, to arrange a live chat or have additional images sent to you. We will also be posting videos and still footage of the featured artworks on our social media accounts to bring a little bit of the joy of art to your lounge rooms.