THE ART SCENE

Masterpieces of colour and composition

FROM JULALIKARI COUNCIL'S
'PINK PALACE'
Alison Alder reports

Peggy Napangardi Jones has been painting for only two years but in that short time has gained a lot of attention for the quality of her artwork. Peggy was selected to be in the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards last year. Although she didn't win, her painting 'Soakage' was bought by the judge, James Mollison, the former Director of the Australian National Gallery and the National Gallery of Victoria.
Peggy works as though she has forty odd years of imagery and knowledge to put onto the canvas, working very quickly and with wonderful confidence. Her works are usually based on her country - soakages, wells, bush tucker, animals and birds.
The work is very highly coloured and seemingly loose in it's composition but there is a strong format and balance of colours that belies the works informality. Peggy rarely plans her canvas, moving straight onto the work with the brush, laying down colours and shapes. Late last year she completed a series of eight paintings of birds and animals that immediately struck a chord with most people who saw the work (they have nearly all sold).
The paintings have a central image of an animal or a bird, surrounded by flat planes of colour. At first glance they look incredibly simple, but the balance of colours and strength of the central image make them very strong and appealing works. Peggy's work is often described as fresh and vibrant, there is a joie de vivre that is absent in a lot contemporary art.
Peggy is proficient in several media including silk painting, ceramics and lino block printing. Her silk paintings have been exhibited in Tennant Creek, Canberra and Alice Springs to high acclaim. One of her paintings is reproduced on the cover of a book being published by the Australian Museum and several of her works are reproduced in the 1998 Jukurrpa Diary published by IAD Press.
Peggy Jones has been invited to participate in a touring exhibition curated by Barkly Regional Arts, which will be seen in Tennant Creek later in the year. Look out for her work if you go to see the exhibition, I am sure it will grab your attention.

Masterpieces of colour and composition FROM JULALIKARI COUNCIL'S 'PINK PALACE' Alison Alder reports Peggy Napangardi Jones has been painting for only two years but in that short time has gained a lot of attention for the quality of her artwork. Peggy was selected to be in the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards last year. Although she didn't win, her painting 'Soakage' was bought by the judge, James Mollison, the former Director of the Australian National Gallery and the National Gallery of Victoria. Peggy works as though she has forty odd years of imagery and knowledge to put onto the canvas, working very quickly and with wonderful confidence. Her works are usually based on her country - soakages, wells, bush tucker, animals and birds. The work is very highly coloured and seemingly loose in it's composition but there is a strong format and balance of colours that belies the works informality. Peggy rarely plans her canvas, moving straight onto the work with the brush, laying down colours and shapes. Late last year she completed a series of eight paintings of birds and animals that immediately struck a chord with most people who saw the work (they have nearly all sold). The paintings have a central image of an animal or a bird, surrounded by flat planes of colour. At first glance they look incredibly simple, but the balance of colours and strength of the central image make them very strong and appealing works. Peggy's work is often described as fresh and vibrant, there is a joie de vivre that is absent in a lot contemporary art. Peggy is proficient in several media including silk painting, ceramics and lino block printing. Her silk paintings have been exhibited in Tennant Creek, Canberra and Alice Springs to high acclaim. One of her paintings is reproduced on the cover of a book being published by the Australian Museum and several of her works are reproduced in the 1998 Jukurrpa Diary published by IAD Press. Peggy Jones has been invited to participate in a touring exhibition curated by Barkly Regional Arts, which will be seen in Tennant Creek later in the year. Look out for her work if you go to see the exhibition, I am sure it will grab your attention.		Peggy Napangardi Jones with her as yet untitled Paintings.