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The Morning Star Painter: A family of artists
Title:
The Morning Star Painter: A family of artists
NFSA ID
56884
Year
1980
Warnings
WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that the following program may contain images and/or audio of deceased persons
This short film narrated by David Gulpilil documents the production of a bark painting by the highly acclaimed artist Djiwul (Jack) Wunuwun in his homeland community of Gamedi near Maningrida in Arnhem Land. Using ochres, clay and charcoal as his paints, Jack Wunuwun sits and paints. His wife Margaret leaves the baby with Jack as she and the other women go off to collect pandanus leaves for weaving into baskets. The women also collect roots to create colour dyes. Summary by Liz McNiven.
The clip explains the use of colour and shows Jack Wunuwun painting on the bark. It also shows his wife Margaret and other women collecting the raw materials for basket weaving. The finished artworks and craft products are sold both nationally and internationally by the Outstation Resource Association in nearby Maningrida.
The Morning Star Painter synopsis
This short film narrated by David Gulpilil documents the production of a bark painting by the highly acclaimed artist Djiwul (Jack) Wunuwun in his homeland community of Gamedi near Maningrida in Arnhem Land.
The Morning Star Painter curator's notes
This short film by Curtis Levy records the creation of an artistic masterpiece, the Banubirr (Morning Star) series of paintings by the legendary painter, Jack Wunuwun.
It highlights the importance of the arts industry to the social, cultural and economic lives of Arnhem Land artists, craftspeople and their families. Making and selling art also supports the continuity of the peoples’ cultural traditions and lifestyle.
The film presents the process of making a bark painting and the significance of the story painted on the bark, within the religious life of the artist and his peoples. It shows Wunuwun harvesting and treating the bark in preparation for painting; preparing clay, charcoal and ochre paints; and, most importantly, performing the appropriate songs and dances to accompany the creation of a visual representation of the Morning Star story.
Wunuwun is a nationally and internationally collected artist. Morning Star Painter screened at the 1980 Melbourne International Film Festival.
Notes by Liz McNiven.
Production company
Curtis Levy Productions
Director
Curtis Levy
Writer
Curtis Levy
Music
Dick Bandilil, David Gulpilil
Acknowledegments
Produced with the assistance of the Australia Council for the Arts.
The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia acknowledges Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work and live and gives respect to their Elders both past and present.