Good Strong Powerful

4 February 2012 - 9 March 2012

Artback NT: Arts Development and Touring Presents Good Strong Powerful an exhibition of paintings that celebrate the individuality, diversity and vision of ten Indigenous artists from three innovative Northern Territory art studios at Arts Project Australia, from Saturday 4 February, until Friday 9 March 2012.

It showcases the extraordinary work of these established and emerging Indigenous artists whose work offers audiences a unique, quirky and highly original view of their surroundings. 41 works will be on show and the artists include:  Lorna Kantilla, Alfonso Puantjimi and Estelle Munkanome, Billy Benn Perrurle, Kukula McDonald, Billy Kenda, Lance James and Adrian Robertson, Dion Beasley and Peggy Jones Napangardi

The Good Strong Powerful artists are creative pioneers of their art form who are mostly self-taught and make art for the love of doing so. In each case they have both considerable artistic abilities coupled with either a physical or intellectual disability.  The exhibition offers a unique insight into the lives of these artists and the world in which they live. It also challenges Western notions of disability and acknowledges the major contribution these artists make to the artistic and cultural life of their people and the broader community.

Each of the artists work at art centre based in towns and communities throughout the Northern Territory and this is the first time each of the studios have come together to present an exhibition representing their artists. 

Ngaruwanajirri has been operating on Bathurst Island since 1994 and in that time has achieved a reputation for excellence. Up to sixteen local Tiwi artists work at the centre, many now recognised nationally and internationally. 

Mwerre Anthurre is a professional art studio program based at Bindi Inc. in Alice Springs. Established in 2000, Mwerre Anthurre artists have received national recognition through a series of high profile exhibitions and can be found in collections nation wide including the NGA, AGNSW, NGV and MAGNT.  Billy Benn Perrurle was the winner of the 34^th Alice Prize in 2006.

Julalikari Arts in Tennant Creek was established in 1994. In 2007 - 2008 along with Arts Access Darwin and Artback NT, Julalikari Arts held printmaking workshops for emerging Canteen Creek artist Dion Beasley. These workshops introduced Dion to an innovative way of making art and fresh audiences and helped establish his reputation as a leading emerging artist. Along with Dion, one of the most prominent artists to emerge from Julalikari Arts is Peggy Jones Napangardi whose bold, expressive colourful paintings will also be featured in the exhibition.

The Good Strong Powerful artists are people with disability, who are integrated within their communities through kinship, cultural activities and social participation and are valued in the community for particular qualities, leadership and talents. Good Strong Powerful refers to the qualities displayed by the artists through their work, and the strength they bring to cultural life as role models.

To be opened by Judith Ryan, Senior Curator, Indigenous Art, National Gallery of Victoria

Touring exhibition from Artback NT:  Arts Development and Touring in conjunction with the Australia Council for the Arts and Northern Territory Government Department of Natural Resources, Environment, the Arts and Sport