Darnley Island Arts Centre
Erub Erwer Meta (Darnley Island Arts Centre) works to revitalise traditional Erubam le and share it with the world. Erub, also known as Darnley Island, is one of the most remote communities in Australia, located 160km north east of Queensland's Cape York Peninsula. This beautiful volcanic island situated in deep turquoise waters, on the edge of the Great Barrier Reef is home to approximately 400 Erubam people.
The Centre specialises in hand-built, wood fired ceramics, printmaking, works on paper as well as creating jewellery, textiles, weaving and handcrafted dance ornaments. Erub Erwer Meta is a unique art centre bringing community arts such as broadcasting, music, performance and IT technology together in the one facility.
From its beginnings 20 years ago as a craft group Ekkilau, to building a centre, Erub Erwer Meta is dedicated to all art forms. Erub artists have worked hard to develop their own artistic identity. Purchasing directly from the art centre ensures authenticity of the artwork.
Erub Erwer Meta artists design and produce handcrafted pieces on Erub and as an owner of this artwork you can be proud that you are supporting contemporary and traditional Australian Indigenous Art by Torres Strait Islanders.
CONTACT US
Art Centre Manager: Diann Lui
Ph +61 7 4090 0827
Mob 0488 409 935
Email: manager@erubarts.com.au
Erub Erwer Meta
PO Box 96, Darnley Island
Via Thursday Island Qld 4875
Australia
DOCUMENTS
2011 catalogue (pdf)
May 2011 newsletter (pdf)
ARTISTS
A small but expanding group of artists from four tribal groups. They draw their artistic inspiration from their identity, connection to their totems through traditional and contemporary stories about their land, sea and family connections.
Frank Mye
Ellarose Savage
Jimmy Thaiday
Sedey Stephen
Jenny Mye
Aaron Armitage
Racy Oui-Pitt
Florence Gutchen
Kapua Gutchen
Sarah Ven Hooran
Sweeney Thaiday
Emma Gela
Maryanne Bourne
THE TORRES STRAIT
This body of water flows between Papua New Guinea to the north and the tip of Cape York, Australia in the south linking the Coral Sea with the Arafura Sea. With its collection of more than 200 islands it is home to one of Australia's two indigenous peoples, Torres Strait Islanders.
There are 22 inhabited islands with Thursday Island being the administrative hub.
Travel to Erub is usually made from Cairns, via Horn Island where you board a light aircraft for one of the most scenic ocean view flights dotted with opalised reefs, tropical coral cays and islands.
HIGHLIGHTS
Ceramic works portraying significant stories are now held in the Ian Potter Gallery at NGV, Gab Titui Cultural Centre, Thursday Island. State Library of Queensland and private collections.
Limited edition prints in lino have been purchased by the National Museum of Australia, British Museum, galleries and private collectors.
Artist Jenny Mye has exhibited Nationally with her woven baskets.
Artist Ellarose Savage is the first Torres Strait Islander woman living in the Torres Strait to have sculptural ceramic work selected for Telstra National Indigenous Awards Darwin 2010.
A partnership with Education Queensland has enabled Erub Erwer Meta to establish an intergenerational learning model situated adjacent to the school.
Dari, Eastern Island headdress
by Aaron Armitage
Meg Agoragor ailan pos
- collaboration
Kebi Le – Little People
by Emma Gela
Hand coloured digital print by Kapua Gutchen Snr.
Strapping woven basket by Jenny Mye
Kebi Le – Little People
by Jimmy Thaiday
Our Kidnapped Women by Franklin Mye
Hand dyed screen printed fabric
All images shown remain property of the Photographer or Erub Erwer Meta and cannot be reproduced without the permission of the Art Centre and the Artist. Photography credits - Dari - Cory Austin, All other Photographs Lynnette Griffiths or Erub Erwer Meta.
For more information, prices and images of works available for purchase, Erub Erwer Meta
artists Invite you to visit Erub, download the current catalogue or email the centre manager.
Screen print Waraz - collaboration