Deck the halls with art variety

The festive season in Karratha has been given a traditional twist after four Aboriginal art groups from Roebourne joined together for an art sale in a first for the area.

The Roebourne Art Christmas Sale took place at The Quarter on Saturday, with Cheeditha Art Group, Juluwarlu Art, Wangaba Roebourne Art Group and Yinjaa-Barni Art joining forces for the first time.

The sale included hundreds of high-quality, regionally made works including art on canvases, textiles, jewellery, apparel, and glassware.

Pilbara Development Commission chief executive Terry Hill said more than 100 artists based in Roebourne contributed works to the sale. “It was a great opportunity to buy something that is unique to this region,” he said.

“Plus, you know that in buying each piece, you are supporting a sector that preserves and promotes ethical trading in Aboriginal art and provides self-employment opportunities for Roebourne based artists.”

Yinjaa-Barni artist Melissa Sandy said the sale was significant for all the groups.

“Hopefully, it’ll mean we can do more of them in the future,” she said.

“It’s something we’d really been looking forward to because it had never happened before and it was great to see the other art groups’ work as well.”

Sandy is hopeful the sale will have earned them all more recognition from the community.

Karratha business Dunnart Picture Framers is offering a 10 per cent discount to the first 200 customers to frame canvases bought at the art sale on provision of proof of purchase at the sale.