DON'T MISS OUT ON SEEING THIS GREAT EXHIBITION...ONLY A FEW MORE WEEKS TO GO!
What began as a series of doll making workshops in the Wheatbelt is set to culminate in a major exhibition at Western Australian Museum.
More than seventy exquisite handmade dolls, which tell the traditional dreamtime and contemporary stories for the women who made them, will take pride of place at the Yarns of the Heart exhibition from the 16th September 2011 - 31 January 2012.
CAN WA and WA Museum are proud to present the exhibition which also marks the return of the creative spirit of doll making to the Museum after a sixteen year hiatus.
In the early 1990’s renowned fibre artist Nalda Searles and leading Aboriginal artist Pantjiti Mary McLean worked
with Noongar women from the Southern Wheatbelt town of Narrogin to create the first series of dolls reflecting
Noongar culture and community.
The dolls were such a success; they were exhibited around Australia and even travelled as far as China before
being purchased for major collections, including the National Gallery of Australia.
CAN WA revived the doll making workshops in 2010, taking original artist Nalda Searles and Cecile Williams back
to the Wheatbelt towns of Narrogin and Pingelly to teach a new generation of Noongar women the fine art of doll
making. Connecting with some of the original doll makers, the weekly classes have resulted in an inspiring and unique collection of dolls, that encapsulate the identities, stories and lives of the doll makers, preserving the art of storytelling and doll making for generations to come.
A behind the scenes documentary, filmed as part of ScreenWest’s Indigenous Community Stories program, will also be screened during the exhibition.
For further information on the project: what we do - aboriginal programs - southern wheatbelt
or visit: museum.wa.gov.au
