movie day: Sabbia Gallery Sydney presents Marissa Angapiya Thompson

by | Jun 29, 2022 | Uncategorized

Sabbia Gallery Sydney is pleased to present the first solo exhibition by APY artist Marissa Angapiya Thompson, titled ‘Panu Tatu ‘ Gum Trees’ from 27 May to 18 June 2022.

This sell out exhibition presents a beautiful body of new work in ceramics by the artist.

We are delighted to have the opportunity to hear from Marissa about her family, and her practice. She says:

My land is the desert plains. I used to do jewellery, I learned it from my grandmother (my father’s mother). She used to collect the tatgu (gum nut) and use hot wire to make it into jewellery. She was wearing it herself and sometimes it was for sale. I used to help her make it, she taught me and I learned it quick.

I learnt a lot of things from my Nana like wood carving, making little birds and lizards from punu (wood) that we collected from the creek. This is Anangu way. Now I use all that knowledge and I put it onto my ceramics.

My Aunty (father’s sister) was also a special lady. She taught me for bush medicine and we learn everything to do with bush fire and after the fire how to hunt for kuka (meat) like kangaroo. After bush fire there’s going to be new tjanpi (grass) and I do this in my artwork too.

I was lucky my Nana was still alive when I was growing up. She was a strong lady as she stayed out in the bush all the time. My father and my Aunty were ninty (clever) because they learn everything from her and then they teach it all to us kids too.

Marissa Angapiya Thompson, February 2022

Marissa was born in 1985 and grew up between her family’s homeland and Ernabella. She aended Kenmore Park Anangu School. Her father was an integral part of the APY Land Rights Movement, and her mother, Carlene Thompson is a former Ernabella Arts chairwoman and a senior Ernabella artist. Marissa has four sisters, three of whom are also practising artists at the art centre. She has two young children with her partner.

Marissa completed her first painting at Ernabella Arts in 2007 and her first ceramic work in 2009. She was an integral part of the first two workshops at Ernabella of the Indigenous Jewellery Project. Her jewellery work incorporates resin, traditional timber carvings and designs cast in silver. Her jewellery was exhibited at the Jam Factory as part of the Tarnanthi Festival in 2015.

Marissa’s artistic style in both ceramics and painting is incredibly precise. Her work often depicts tatgu (gumnuts), kurparu (magpies), tjanpi (grass) and sometimes branches out into minyma inma (womens ceremony), tadpoles, the rainbow serpent and maku (witchetty grubs). Marissa is also a skilled ceramic hand builder.

Marissa’s ceramics continue to be exhibited throughout Australia and overseas including Belgium and Macau in 2021.

http://sabbiagallery.com/

job posting: Executive Director of Haystack Mountain School of Crafts

by | Jun 11, 2022 | job posting

The ideal candidate for the Executive Director of Haystack
Mountain School of Crafts will demonstrate a passionate
commitment to the organization’s mission, vision, and
values, and to advancing the field of craft, art, and design.
This person will be a forward-looking leader who will sustain and cultivate Haystack’s
position at the vanguard of contemporary craft. Building on the strength of the
Strategic Plan, the Executive Director will engage and inspire a broad and diverse
network to build philanthropic support so that Haystack can meet the changing needs
of the 21st century, some of which include:
• increasing accessibility physically to the campus, economically through
scholarships and other support, and virtually through digital programming and
other offerings;
• advancing a more comprehensive and inclusive conception of contemporary
craft and making that holds true to Haystack’s commitment to excellence; and
• continuing to pursue goals of equity in relation to staff, board, and participants
throughout the organization.
The Executive Director builds and stewards relationships with broadly diverse
constituencies, partners, and communities, locally, nationally, and globally; the
successful candidate will have genuine compassion for and curiosity about people
and will enthusiastically embrace the role of bridge-builder and “the face of
Haystack,” whether locally in the Deer Isle community or among international leaders
in the field of contemporary craft. This individual will bring experience and skill in
working collaboratively with an active and engaged board, particularly around
supporting the board in educating new members in best practices and expectations.
The next Executive Director will be transparent, collaborative, and inclusive, and
will use empathy and high emotional intelligence to partner with, support, and
motivate a committed staff. A strong systems thinker, the Executive Director will further
the professionalization of processes and procedures in place while maintaining
Haystack’s hands-on and experimental character. Given the significance and
uniqueness of the physical campus and its needs, the next Executive Director should
be comfortable with capital projects and have an understanding of facility needs, in
order to establish strong, trust-based reporting relationships with facilities staff and the
building and grounds committee.
The successful candidate will have a positive, “can-do” mindset, good humor, and
confident self-possession. Resilience and the ability to “grow and thrive where one
is planted” will be essential in sustaining balance through the program-intensive activities of the summer as well as the quieter but no less productive planning stages,
including the development of annual collateral materials during the winter months.
This individual will live in close proximity to Haystack year-round while also traveling
frequently to promote the work of the organization.

More info here: https://koyapartners.com/search/ed-haystack-crafts/