Artitja: The Gift Collection

“Christmas gifts don’t have to be mass produced items to be affordable”, Director Anna Kanaris says “We often have established collectors buying art for their children, nieces or nephews and even grandchildren which is a perfect way to buy something original and appealing, at the same time cultivating a consciousness of Indigenous culture through art”.

“Art is about an aesthetic and something that makes a difference in people’s lives – particularly original works that are individual interpretations of the artists’ life”.

Most of what is on show is from desert artists spread across the many remote regions of Australia, but closer to home Artitja are delighted to be featuring the beautiful baskets and bush sculptures of Nyoongah fibre artist Janine McAullay Bott, whose work is currently on show in the Menagerie exhibition at the WA Museum in Perth, and was recently featured in the Beyond Garment exhibition at the Maritime Museum in Fremantle.

“Since winning the 3D category of the National Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Awards in 2009 Janine’s feet haven’t touched the ground, with her first solo show in May a great success and an almost sell out effort at the prestigious Melbourne Art Fair in August. We are lucky to have new works that Janine has created specially for this exhibition,” says Kanaris.

An exciting jewellery range featuring artwork by Australia’s foremost Indigenous female artist Emily Kngwarreye as well as Gloria Petyarre and Barbara Weir has the added benefit of royalties going back to the artists and their communities. Other items include Art books, textiles and the beautifully presented 2011 McCulloch & McCulloch Aboriginal and Australian Art Diaries.

“Small is beautiful”, says Anna Kanaris “but what’s more in the current climate of needing to take care of the finances – small is affordable”.