Colour and creativity is filling the small island of , located in the Gulf of Capentaria with local female artists working with designer and curator, Grace Lillian Lee at .
Grace Lillian Lee is one to watch
Deadly Indigenous people to watch in 2017
Exploring how art meets fashion, Lee has partnered with the arts organisation to help launch , handcrafted wearable art manufacturers.
Their fashion pieces are vibrant and colourful, rich with Indigenous designs that reflect the culture and country of Mornington Island and will be showcased at fashion shows around Australia including and the , part of the Virgin Melbourne Fashion Festival. They are also for sale through and the gift shop at the National Gallery of Victoria.
The working progress of artist Ethel, drawing inspiration from the shells she has collected over the years. She looks at the shape form and texture. (Supplied) Source: Supplied
27-year-old Torres Strait designer, Lee told NITV that the atmosphere in the studio has been friendly, lots of ‘yarning and giggling’.
“The artist love to listen to Allan Jackson and Elvis and even have boogie between paintings. Netta, one of the artists, particularly loves to get into dancing in the environment. The space is a nice cool place where the artist can tune into creating.
It has been an amazing experience, not only developing me as a person, but also my career. It has shown me the possibilities of how art can meet fashion and how empowering it is for the communities to use this platform.
“It has been an amazing experience, not only developing me as a person, but also my career. It has shown me the possibilities of how art can meet fashion and how empowering it is for the communities to use this platform. It’s also has shown me how art can help with engaging the youth back into art centres.”
Artist Netta Loogatha's her bags at a working progress level (Supplied) Source: Supplied
Lee said that the project has been a lot of fun, particularly since the artists decided that they were going to model their own pieces.
“We had rehearsals in the afternoon, learning a little about posture and presentation and how to just enjoy being in the spotlight and it was wonderful seeing how the artist themselves were naturals! I think they really enjoyed the experience of seeing their art become wearable.”
While the pieces themselves are beautifully eye-catching, it was the recent photoshoot, before MiArt hosted a fashion show, with the artists modelling their creations that drew significant attention to the project. Dressed in white, the ladies and Aunties from MiArt Designs posed in front of the pink wall at the Mirndiyan Gununa Mornington Island Cultural Centre in a unique and effective fashion campaign.
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Rhondell Williams wearing a collaboration piece by artists, Ethal and Dolly Source: Supplied
Dolly is modelling her very own design (Supplied) Source: Supplied
Netta modelling her hand painted bag (Supplied) Source: Supplied
Ethel holds her bag and says, 'I really really love it' (Supplied) Source: Supplied
Amy, excited to show off her design (Supplied) Source: Supplied
Amanda proudly shows off her bag (Supplied) Source: Supplied
Dorothy modelling her bag (Supplied) Source: Supplied
Source: Supplied
Celebrating their achievements (Supplied) Source: Supplied
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