For the upcoming month of September, FireWorks Gallery will be the host of two dynamic exhibitions. ‘Storylines’ will adorn the mezzanine gallery with artworks by Charmaine Pwerle, from Utopia, Northern Territory. Charmaine’s unique acrylic on linen paintings are an embodiment of her contemporary style and the cultural and artistic legacy of her family. Meanwhile, on the gallery’s ground floor ‘Tjukurpa Putitja/Bush Stories’ is a collection of paintings and sculptures created by Indigenous artists from Maruku Arts (south-west of Alice Springs) and Sunshine Coast-based artist Miles Allen.

Charmaine’s recent artworks are a colourful display of movement and complexity. Navigating the intersection of two cultures due to an upbringing between the remote Utopia community and urban Adelaide, the artists lyrical brushwork is reminiscent of the distinctive styles of her grandmother, Minnie Pwerle. Through Charmaine’s exploration of Awelye (traditional body paint worn during women's ceremonies), the visual connection serves as both a conduit for cultural transmission and a reflection of her deep ties to her heritage. 

Miles new sculptural works are evocative of the time he has spent travelling, working, and collaborating with Anangu artists in the Mutijulu community. Through his witty sculptural representations of ‘Uluru’ and ‘Kata Tjuta’, we can see Miles transform materials that may be considered ‘waste’ or ‘abandoned’ materials by many… into carefully considered installations. Miles describes his inspiration as “seeing beauty in ordinary things, crossing cultures, and promoting conversations, joy and humour”.

The works by Maruku Artists are stories of the land and ancestral spirits or ‘Tjukurpa’ channelled onto canvas and wood. Included are paintings by Reggie Uluru who narrates the story of ‘Wati Ngintaka’ (Perentie Lizard Man). Sandy Willie paints ancestral country and of sacred men’s law around Kaltukatjara. With raw material from Country and pyrography, Billy and Lulu Cooley showcase a series of ‘Punu’ (woodcarvings) and ‘Kali’ (boomerangs). Veronica Reid is an experienced artist who depicts her country and her father’s Tjukurpa using bright and vibrant colours. Veronica and Miles have collaborated for the work titled ‘Desert Stories’.

These exhibitions bring together remote Australian artists working across a range of mediums and experiences. FireWorks Gallery Director, Michael Eather remarks, “This is Charmaine Pwerle’s first solo exhibition, and we are proud to showcase her distinctive and energetic artworks. For Miles Allen, we welcome him back, fresh from another residency working alongside Maruku artists around Uluru!”.