Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair | DAAF 2011

The fifth annual Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair, held in August at the Darwin Convention Centre, has defied art market trends and reported continued growth in 2011 with record visitor numbers and an overall increase in sales generated by the event. Investment in Aboriginal art has taken a sharp dive since the global financial crisis and [...]

DAAF 2011 has wrapped and participating art centres have made their long journeys home to the far-flung regions from whence they came. Visitor numbers again topped 5,000 and we await the final statistics on this year’s sales, which will be released when the evaluation report is completed. All that great art has been packed away [...]

It’s a wrap! DAAF 2011 is officially closed and the take down is about to get started. Thank you to everyone who attended this year and a tremendous congratulations to all the art centres, artists and staff who attended this year’s fair. Check back for more photos and videos in the next 24 hours.

Guests here on Saturday afternoon were treated to a special performance by the women from Lajamanu. Here’s a shot of their dancing!

Ben Ward is the Chairman of the Board of Waringarri Arts. In his work, he helps provide the strategic direction for the art centre. As an elder of the community, his wisdom is extremely valuable. It’s also readily apparent in this interview about the art centre’s positive effects on his community.

Meet Sasha Lindsay. She’s an aboriginal arts worker with Beswick-based Djilpin Arts.

Meet Rachel Morris. She’s with the Karungkarni Art and Culture Centre, located at the entrance to the northern Tanami Desert community of Kalkarindji/Daguragu, traditional home of the Gurindji people.

Meet Marilyn Nakamarra. Marilyn was born in March, 1958, but is unsure as to whether she was delivered in Alice Springs hospital, or on her community, Yuendumu.

This year’s Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair features a new opportunity to interact with Aboriginal art. Here’s a preview from Friday’s weaving workshop, held on the greens of the Darwin Waterfront.

Meet Thelma Dixon. Thelma is an elder from the Borrolloola Community, and first started painting in 2001. She used to spend time with her cousin sister Clara Robert’s. Thelma started paintings from memories of what she was doing in her young days. She used to be in charge of looking after the goats and working [...]