Watch this Space X CDU Academy of the Arts

This interactive exhibition, curated by Doris Stuart, Dan Murphy and Lucy Stewart, features creative responses inspired by the long-running and much-loved Alice to Mparntwe sacred sites tours for artists and storytellers.

For over twenty years, Doris Stuart and her family have joined forces with local artists to share the significance of sacred sites across Mparntwe—now a heavily populated town many of us call home. Grounded in storytelling, cultural interpretation and long term respectful relationships, this exhibition highlights a unique and enduring collaboration.

Through their art, actions and conversations, these creative provocateurs aim to increase awareness, respect and protection of sacred sites in Mparntwe.

BIO

Dan Murphy

Dan arrived in Alice Springs in 1994, making Central Australia his home. He is renowned for his art made out of scrap metal from cars. A self taught artist, Dan has established a reputation within the NT and nationally as an innovative sculptor and highly regarded artist. Dan produces works of small-scale as well as major collector’s pieces and commissions. His works constructed from found metallic materials including fencing wire, roofing iron and old car panels have a distinctive Territory feel. His exhibitions have been highly successful. Over the years, Dan has participated in a number of community arts projects in remote communities and in Alice Springs. These include, facilitating small scale bush toys in Santa Teresa as part of the Fencing Shed Project, constructing a monumental 18 meter long metal caterpillar at the Alice Springs Cultural Precinct and as co-coordinator of the long running Alice to Mparntwe Sacred Sites Tours for artists.

Lucy Stewart

Lucy is an artist, arts administrator, and educator who first arrived in the NT in 1992 and has spent most of her time living and working on Arrernte Country. She has experience across a wide range of arts organisations including the Araluen Arts Centre, Arts NT, Tasmanian Regional Arts, Central Craft and Red Hot Arts. Her art practice spans media art, ceramics, and community cultural development; focusing on collaborative artmaking and response to place. For 20-plus years she has co-facilitated arts projects that support increased awareness of Mparntwe sacred sites. Most significantly the Yeperenye Sculpture at the Araluen Cultural Precinct and the Alice to Mparntwe Sacred Sites Tours for Artists that have been running since 2007. She is currently undertaking a creative PhD (through Charles Darwin University) focused on custodian storytelling as a tool for arts-based social action; her project seeks to extend the creative impact of the Alice to Mparntwe tours.

Doris Stuart Kngwarreye

Doris’s family have lived alongside the Todd River for countless generations. She is apmereke artweye, a senior custodian for Mparntwe (Alice Springs) and is recognised as a Native Title holder for this area by the high court of Australia. FCA 6712000 Justice Olney. Native title includes recognition of the Arrernte as traditional Indigenous owners who have rights to protect places of importance and to make decisions about the use of land. She is a prominent industry and community representative. In 2016 Doris won the annual Watch This Space ‘Lofty Award’ for her: “integrity, generosity, humour and spirit, for her connection to country, inspiration and enabling, and contribution to many artists, art works and projects, for deepening understanding, contributing to and extending the contemporary cultural conversation in Central Australia and beyond.” “The work about sites, its special to me because it’s a part of what I’m a part of. And with artists talking about sites that connection is there. What makes it more special to me is that these are non-Aboriginal artists and they can bring out what is there for everybody, it’s that sharing, and wanting to share and the need to share that’s important, and that’s my job to share. Doing the tours is like we’re all connected by sharing because with that goes the respect for each other.”

This is an Open Access event. Open Access events are independently produced and not managed by Desert Festival.

Accessibility: This venue is wheelchair accessible, guide dog friendly and in-person audio descriptions are available during the exhibition.