Yarltiri Walya opened on Wednesday 10 September, and was met with an overwhelmingly positive response. As one of Desert Mob’s Satellite Events, the exhibition attracted eager art enthusiasts, keen to purchase unique ceramic pieces made by the Purple House patient artists!
The
Purple Shed and Bush Balm Shop were transformed into gallery spaces, showcasing works by patient artists Selina, Magda, Julie, Elizabeth, Kathy, Judy, Ms Shannon, Gwendoline, Lavina, Karina, and Maureen. Highlights of the installations included a floor piece in the Shed of various black and white ceramic works and a Holden bonnet decorated with painted magnets. Some of the patients and staff were also interviewed by the ABC who live streamed the event.
Listen to the live recording here and read the article titled: Exhibition of ceramic work by Purple House dialysis patients opens in Alice Springs by Meredith Lake and Elsie Lange here.
There were speeches from artists Selina, Magda, and Elizabeth, who reflected on their experiences creating ceramics together on Wednesdays and expressed their appreciation for the group and the friendships formed. The artists also shared their gratitude for Mel Robson, their ceramic mentor, as this marked her final exhibition with the group. They thanked Mel for her guidance and support over the past five or so years and presented her with a special ceramic bowl that each artist had contributed to.
It was a particularly special moment when Ms Shannon’s daughter and granddaughter spoke. They thanked Purple House and the ceramics group for their positive impact on Ms Shannon, sharing that this was her first time working with clay and that she had expressed her love of the ceramics group to them before she passed. They also acknowledged her passing and how her family back in Amata were appreciative of her recognition and how meaningful it was to see her work included in the exhibition.
Thank you to everyone involved who made this exhibition possible!
