Entertainment
22 November, 2024
Summer art now in focus
BRIGHT colours, beautiful landscapes and flora and fauna representative of the wet season will be on display at UMI Arts’ last exhibition of the year – The Summer Show – opening today.
The Summer Show will feature 41 artworks in an assortment of mediums like acrylic on canvas, ceramics, graphite, linocut and more by 12 of Far North Queensland’s prolific and up-and-coming Indigenous artists for a display of what summer in the tropics feels and its cultural significance.
The exhibition will open this afternoon at 6pm with a smoking ceremony and Welcome to Country and run until February 20, 2025.
“This year we have 12 – established and emerging – artists with 41 artworks including linocuts, paintings on acrylic canvases, stretched and unstretched, drawings, ceramics, jewellery with polymer clay and classic clay,” said exhibitions and gallery officer at UMI Arts Aleksandra Kostic D.
“The artists come from Cape York, the Cairns region and the Torres Strait and their works tell a story of this time of the year and for them it’s important to tell their stories, share their memories from family,” she said.
“I’d like to welcome all Cairns residents and tourists to this exhibition, prices of the artworks are affordable, and they could make for great Christmas presents. This year’s exhibition is rich in artwork, talent and mediums.”
Yarrabah ceramics artist and long-time UMI Arts collaborator Michelle Yeatman is presenting six ceramic pieces representing charcoal and seashells.
“I’m part of the Gunggandji tribe and my ceramics ‘Charcoal’ represent charcoal as a symbol of destruction and renewal,” she said.
“In my culture we use charcoal for cooking, we even used it to clean our teeth but it also burns and destroys.
“My other three pieces, I call them Jilgi, like on of the many beaches you can find in Yarrabah and they are inspired by seashells.
“I think a space like UMI is very important, you get to experience all of these Indigenous artists in one place.”
Renowned Indigenous artist and UMI Arts secretary Connie Rovina said it was the perfect time for Cairns residents to support Indigenous arts.
“You can really support us by coming in and buying directly from the artists, there are a lot of fake arts around and the best way is to buy from the artists or organisations like UMI and by doing that you really do us well,” she said.
“It’s also great Christmas gift, it’s very unique, it’s from the region and is quite different as well.”
To find out more, visit
