A printing workshop for the community is being organised for later this year by a group of First Nations artists.
The United Mobs in Art (UMIA), a collective of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists in Healesville, received a grant this year from Yarra Ranges Council’s Grants for Community.
The grant was awarded to participate in fine art printing workshops and share these skills with the community.
A group of UMIA artists participated in two workshops, with the first held at the Australian Print Workshop in Fitzroy and second at Candlebark Farm near Healesville.
Artists included Aunty Kim Wandin, Nikki Browne, Jillian Duff, Merilyn Duff, Jamielee Edwards, Megan Prout, Jo Voce, Kelvin Thomas and Jacqui Wandin.
Ms Browne is a UMIA member and Bidjara woman and said “the result for us as a collective was amazing.”
“The workshops allow people of all levels of experience to create incredible works of art,” she said.
“I’m looking forward to sharing the skills we learned with the community in the future, through workshops aimed at bringing people together in a safe, supported and nurturing environment for everyone.”
Hearth Galleries curator and manager, Chris Joy, said the prints from these first workshops had generated huge interest from community members wishing to purchase locally-made artworks.
She said that UMIA was now planning a textile printing course for the community later this year, based on the skills learned in the APW workshops.
Ms Joy said an exhibition of fine art prints and textile printing would also be organised for later in the year, with both events timing to be determined by State and Federal Government Covid-19 restrictions.
UMIA was formed with the goal of providing opportunities for intergenerational skill sharing and cultural capacity building.
