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Cooktown Local News
Art Buzz Column
Wednesday 3rd February 2009

In May 2009 the new Hopevale Arts and Cultural Centre Nganthanun Bamawi Bayan Gallery opened.  The same year three Hope Vale artists, Evelyn McGreen, Joyce Jacko and Phylomena Naylor, graduated from Tropical North Qld TAFE having completing a Cert 4 in Arts.     Evelyn is working towards a Diploma in Visual Arts.

Evelyn McGreen is a Guguu Yimithirr woman of the Thupi Warra clan. She is the daughter of Roy and May Dick, who were moved away from Hope Vale mission by American forces as a precaution during World War II. Born in Woorabinda, Queensland n 1942, her family moved back to Hope Vale in the early 1950s. Evelyn is an accomplished basket weaver and has practiced and taught traditional arts and crafts her whole life.

Recently her art caught the national attention of collectors and curators resulting in an exhibition titled Wawu Bajin - Spirit Baskets at Fireworks Gallery in Newstead Brisbane 4 March to 10 April 2010.

The hand coloured lino cut prints produced in collaboration with Theo Tremblay and Paloma Ramos at Canopy Art-space Cairns and the Hopevale Arts and Cultural Centre show eight woven basket designs.

Manager of Hopevale Arts and Cultural Centre, Troy Dennis, says that these art works were first launched at the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair in August 2009.

The print folio was purchased by Parliment House Canberra for their permanent collection and by Queensland Premier Anna Bligh and Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin and can be viewed and purchased at the Hope Vale Arts and Cultural Centre

Evelyn is now working at Canopy Arts-space with master printer Theo Tremblay on a suite of etchings to go into the 2010 Cairns Indigenous Art Fair.

Any arty news?
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