L-R: Mary Kennedy, Don Dixon, Minnie Riley, Lesley Ashley and Barbara Stanley

Ngemba Wailwan Artist Initiative

The Ngemba Wailwan art group are a group of Indigenous artists who gather together weekly to make artworks. Hailing from Warren, the groups name comes from the Ngemba Wailwan tribe who inhabited the area between Gilgandra and Brewarrina but centred around Warren and the Macquarie Marshes. The Ngemba Wailwan tribe created artworks that were carved into trees and ground. The Wailwan artists produce works inspired by these carvings.

Their work is rich and vibrant, and contains no dots, unlike the more familiar works of the Central Australian Indigenous artists. Rather, it is a faithful rendition of each artists totemic clan symbol and the legendary Glyphs of their ancestors. Produced in quality oils on heavy linen canvas the work has the feel of rich leather.

The group’s conception began with the development of the Regional Indigenous Cultural Development Officer (RICDO) Scheme which runs in the five shire that Outback Arts services. Currently, the Warren RICDO is artist Mary Kennedy.

Within the group there are five artists. These are: Lesley Ashley, Donny Dixon, Mary Kennedy, Minnie Riley and Barbara Stanley. Each individual’s work is unique and reflective of their own styles and inspiration from their anscestors.

Artworks by artists for sale are below

[Show as slideshow]

Minnie Riley, Barbara Stanley, Mary Kennedy and Lesly Ashley in front of artwork produced for Moorambilla Festival 2011

About the artists:

Lesley Ashley: I love painting. They (the artworks) are something of myself that I am very proud of. I paint and carve in colourful and vibrant oils. I enjoy being able to carry on this tradition (of my people).

Donny Dixon: I like doing Aboriginal art because it is part of my culture which I am proud of doing. I work with oils and carve the paint.

Mary Kennedy: The use of oils allows us (the group) to recreate the ceremonial carvings of the ancient trees and bora grounds of our ancestors. I use rich and vibrant colours in my work and I feel free with my expression. I work as the Regional Indigenous Cultural Development Officer for Warren.

Minnie Riley: I love doing aboriginal art using the colours of the earth and I am inspired by the tree carvings and….(re-creating) them by painting with oils. The culture of our people is very important.

Barbara Stanley: I love using colours inspired from the earth, trees and the surrounding areas of where I live. I work on canvas and carve oil paints.

To contact the group regarding artwork sales and information email Mary Kennedy on littleiodine@bigpond.com