The Freshwater Saltwater show is back with an inspirational display of culture and country

Rhiannon Clarke Published June 27, 2023 at 2.21pm (AWST)

arts

Giethalay (Mud Crab) by Anzak Newman (Image: Supplied).

The annual Freshwater Saltwater festival, now in its 10th season, will showcase the rich diversity and artistic talent of Far North Queensland's First Nations artists.

Featuring 20 works on canvas and paper, fabrics and ceramics by 11 of the region's best-known artists.

Freshwater Saltwater is UMI Arts' premium exhibition with a track record for attracting the attention of art lovers and collectors from home and away. The exhibition officially opens on Friday 7 July.

The exhibition is so named to reflect a metaphorical ideology of Far North Queensland's two very distinct and diverse cultures from an artistic perspective in which mainland Aboriginal custodians are mostly connected to 'freshwater' while Torres Strait Islanders find a closer association to 'saltwater'.

UMI Arts' Exhibitions and Gallery Officer, Robyne Pacey, said Freshwater Saltwater is a curated group exhibition featuring a distinct and diverse lineup of artists spanning many cultural groups.

"This year's beautiful and thought-provoking collection of artworks is a collective and artistic response to culture and Country that represents the flowing together of our First Nations people's cultures and stories, from rainforest to desert to island," she said.

Ms Pacey expressed there are many notable works comprising this year's Freshwater Saltwater exhibition.

"Freshwater Saltwater is a real celebration for our artists who have independently achieved a major milestone in their career with artwork that is a high level of quality, collectible, and exhibition ready," she said.

"While we do focus many of our programs and exhibitions on developing emerging artists.

"Freshwater Saltwater is about enhancing the profiles and careers of our more established members who by osmosis, provide an inspiration to newcomers – demonstrating just how far art practice and cultural expression can take you."

This year's Freshwater Saltwater exhibiting artists are.

Shirley 'Yumala' COLLINS (Mt Isa)

Wayne CONNOLLY (Yarrabah)

Natasha DAVUI (Cairns)

Kevin EDMONSTONE (Cairns)

David HUDSON (Cairns)

Anzak NEWMAN (Bamaga)

Susan REYS (Cairns)

Connie ROVINA, Kassandra SAVAGE (Mossman)

Rosie WARE (Moa Island, Torres Strait)

Peter KULLA KULLA (from NPA).

UMI Arts' Freshwater Saltwater Exhibition officially opens at 6 pm on Friday 7 July at UMI Arts' Jensen Plaza Gallery in Manoora. The exhibition is free to view between Monday and Friday and runs until 31 August.