The wind blowing from Maningrida to Paris

Five artists from Maningrida in West Arnhem Land are finally departing for their Paris exhibition at the Australian Embassy.

It’s taken over a year to organise the trip for key artists Deborah Wurrkidj, Jennifer Wurrkidj, Elizabeth Kala Kala, Janet Marawarr and Jacinta Lamilami that enables them to see their textile designs in the exhibition, alongside the work of 12 other artists from the Bábbarra Women’s Centre.

Earlier this year, Bábbarra’s crowdfunding campaign raised $35,000 to supplement funding from the Australia Council and Arts NT. The centre also negotiated the lengthy process of getting passports for the artists – figuring out, for example, how to provide valid addresses when the town does not have street names, and when a visit to the passport office means an eight-hour drive to Darwin.

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Jane O'Sullivan
About the Author
Jane O’Sullivan is an independent art writer based in Sydney. Her work has appeared in Vault, Art Guide, Ocula, Flash Art, Running Dog and the Australian Financial Review. She is also a former editor of Art Collector and Art Edit magazines.