Across Generations: Kaltjiti Arts
60 Years of art making
Tarnanthi 2021
October 9 - November 28, 2021
Group exhibition curated by Arts Centre Manager Gilli Steel. This year Kaltjiti Arts celebrates 60 years of a continually run art centre in the remote, isolated community of Kaltjiti/Fregon.
Across the Generations is about storytelling and creating the connections between the families with paintings by artists and the family ties that still exist in the Art Centre with artists continuing their practice today. The stories have been passed on through the generations and this exhibition celebrates works by Artists: Taylor Cooper, Witjiti George, Matjangka (Nyukana) Norris, Angela Kani George, Beverley Cameron, Celina Tunkin, Delma Forbes, Fiona Pompey, Gladys Roberts, Imitjala Curley, Kathy Maringka, Meredith Treacle, Pollyanne Smith, Joanne Roberts, Joyce Robin, Manyitjanu Lennon, Jeannie Robin, Jamaica Robin, Anne Marie Smith, Kathy Dodd, Rachel Stevens, Rene Kulitja, Loretta Peters, Noreen Bronson, Rita Rolley, Tinpulya Mervin. And artists of yesteryear, Tali Tali Pompey, Robin Kankakapatja, , Antjala Robin.
HISTORY
Many of the Kaltjiti Artists were first trained in the 1950’s and ‘60’s in Ernabella Arts.
In 1961 several of those craft workers left Ernabella and moved, some 140km west to Amata, and others went to Fregon (Kaltjiti) 60kms south on Officer Creek.
Fregon was established by the Presbyterian Board of Missions as an outstation of Ernabella. The intent was to develop a viable cattle station on the Shirley Well block, a section of the Reserve over which the mission had grazing rights.
Fregon attracted Anangu of independent spirit – men and women who wanted to be actively involved in the management of their own community and cattle station.
Initially the mission sisters at Fregon assisted the craftwork, receiving raw materials and dispatching finished articles to Ernabella. Older women spun wool and the mothers with babies hooked wool cushions, painted hessian wall hangings and cards. In 1963 sewing of Kangaroo skin moccasins decorated with hand-painted designs was introduced.
In 1973 the Ernabella and Fregon communities were separately incorporated. The art centres however remained together and were registered as Ernabella and Fregon Arts Incorporated in 1973.
Although the two art centres continued to work closely together they were financially separated in 1975.
In those days it was known as Aparawatatja Arts and Crafts, a community enterprise. This name later changed to Kaltjiti Arts and Crafts when the community changed its name to Kaltjiti Community Inc. in 1986.
It took many years of gradual development for the art centre at Fregon to progress from being a small community enterprise to an independent Aboriginal incorporation registered as Kaltjiti Arts and Crafts Inc. in 1997.
Today, the Art Centre is the thriving heart of this small community. On Average, between 15-25 artists paint at the Art Centre each day. A place of storytelling, laughter, creation. It is where anyone visits community comes to seek out someone they are looking for!
http://www.kaltjitiarts.com.au/
Robin Kankankapatja Walalkara Ngura, 2009, Acrylic on belgium linen
Jeannie Robin, Walalkara Ngyuku Ngura - My Country, 2021, Acrylic on belgium canvas
