Pilbara art curators celebrated in Perth exhibition

Art curators from Port Hedland, Roebourne and Newman are set to feature this month in non-profit organisation FORM’s latest exhibition, Emergent. The exhibition is a result of FORM’s emerging curators program which has been a part of the Tracks We Share project that features the work of more than 70 Aboriginal artists from the Pilbara. The program has engaged arts workers to co-create an exhibition that celebrates the “diverse, complex and innovative” creative practice of artists working across the Pilbara. Curators from Spinifex Hill Studio, Martumili Artists, Juluwarlu Art Group, Yinjaa-Barni Art and Cheeditha Art Group have joined curatorial mentor Tui Raven to put together the “eclectic” show. Ms Raven said the program aimed to develop the curatorial skills of art centre workers and artists through the development and presentation of the Emergent exhibition. “This process has resulted in an exhibition that will leave a lasting impression on both audiences and the participating curators,” she said. Many of the curators are also artists and their involvement in Emergent has helped develop their artistic practice. The 17-year-old creator of the Captain Hedland comic-book series and Spinifex Hill Studio assistant Layne Dhu-Dickie said her “curiosity was sparked” by the program. “I thought it’d be really interesting,” she said. “To see how the curators set up everything and how they design it all, it’s pretty intriguing and exciting.” Emergent is on display at The Goods Shed in Perth from February 11 to April 10 and is part of the Tracks We Share: Contemporary Art of the Pilbara exhibition, which launches at The Art Gallery of WA next month.