The Department of Tourism and Culture’s Araluen Arts Centre presents emergence – recent acquisitions, a new exhibition comprised of works from the significant Araluen Art Collection that demonstrates the vitality of art created in response to Central Australia.

The Araluen Art Collection comprises almost 1,200 artworks and emergence provides the opportunity to reflect on the way in which the Collection has grown and been re-visioned across the past three years during the tenure of Dr Mark Crees as Director in collaboration with Curator Stephen Williamson.

“It is an immense privilege to acquire artwork for the community and in so doing to both build and reposition the Araluen Art Collection in relation to response to place so that the Collection ensures a coherent narrative and is itself an incredibly significant body of work that delights the local community and draws art-loving cultural tourists from across the nation and the world,” Senior Director of the Department of Tourism and Culture’s Araluen Cultural Precinct, Dr Mark Crees said.

“In the past three years in my time as Director, we have acquired 55 artworks with this theme in mind through a variety of mechanisms, such as direct purchase, donation (directly or via the Cultural Gift Fund), or long-term loan.  We are incredibly grateful to be able to acquire work that comes through our galleries as well work that appears in auction houses, national competitions, and even on the walls of incredibly generous donors who desire to see the work made available for the public.”

The artworks in emergence showcase the very best Australian and Aboriginal art that responds to this region and include works by significant artists, including Sidney Nolan, Judy Cassab, Kenneth Jack and Albert Namatjira.

“The Araluen Arts Centre is incredibly thankful to a local donor, who assisted in the acquisition of Sidney Nolan’s ‘Central Australia 1968’ last year, the first work by the artist to be included in the Araluen Art Collection,” Dr Crees said.

“The work was held in Sir Nolan’s own private collection until his passing then held in Lady Nolan’s private collection until her passing and we have included a resting bench in the gallery for patrons to sit and drink in the majesty of the Central Australian landscape as presented by Nolan.”

Emergence includes the landscape work of two-time Archibald Prize winning artist Judy Cassab, AO CBE, and a beautiful watercolour by prominent Australian artist Kenneth Jack, AM MBE RWS.

“Mr Jack’s work is included in collections across the world including those of Her Majesty The Queen, and we are incredibly grateful to the former NT Administrator, the Hon. Tom Pauling, AO QC, for his generous donation of this work to be included in the Araluen Art Collection,” Dr Crees said.

“Mr Jack’s work speaks to the core vision of the Araluen Art Collection in its response to place, in this case Mt Gillen, which is the underlying motif for the Araluen Arts Centre logo.”

Emergence will also present the innovation, power, variety and strength of Central Australian Aboriginal art with works by renowned watercolourist Albert Namatjira, his great grandson Vincent Namatjira and a number of shields and Papunya boards.

“The Araluen Arts Centre came into being in 1984 in order to display art for the community and presented the first retrospective exhibition in the nation of the work of Albert Namatjira.  We are thrilled to hold in trust so many incredible works by one of Australia’s greatest artists and welcome into the collection significant work thanks to generous donations by Alice Springs enterprises that have supported Purple House and donors who desire to see artwork return ‘back on country’ here in Mparntwe and displayed for the benefit of all Australians.”

Emergence will also show Pine Gap (A photograph of the Centre of Australia) by Kristian Laemmle-Ruff, which shows the iconic structure of the Joint Defence Facility on the outskirts of Alice Springs, currently seen in the new ABC TV series Pine Gap that was partly filmed in Alice Springs earlier this year.

Emergence – recent acquisitions will open in the Araluen Galleries on Wednesday 31 October.  The Araluen Galleries are open daily from 10am until 4pm and Northern Territory residents receive free entry.

Media interview
Araluen Cultural Precinct Director, Dr Mark Crees 08 8951 1126