You & Me

UMI Arts has issued a community wide invitation to attend the free opening event from 6pm at UMI Arts Gallery in Manoora. The exhibitions runs until 5 May 2023. Featuring a curated selection of 26 works in various styles and mediums, You & Me represents 14 emerging and established Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists from Yarrabah to the Cape and Torres Strait. UMI Arts Exhibition Officer Robyne Pacey said this year’s exhibition presents an interesting and diverse collection from painting on canvas, prints on paper to ceramics, weaving, and two multimedia sculptures.

“You & Me is an exhibition that really demonstrates the distinct and diverse arts and culture of Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and in so doing, encapsulates the UMI Arts’ mission and philosophy which is about providing support and pathways to a platform for presentation, promotion and beyond.

“I am particularly proud of this year’s exhibition. The quality of work is outstanding, and I urge anyone interested in expanding their collection or investing in their very first piece of Indigenous art to come along.

“While many of our participating artists do not live locally, we will be hosting a small group at our launch event next month. When artists talk to their artwork and share culture and stories with visitors and guests, a much deeper meaning and appreciation is experience,” Ms Pacey said.

Noteworthy:

• Michelle Weare, an experienced and popular jewellery maker in Cairns has been experimenting with acrylic pour paintings.
• UMI Arts is pleased to be exhibiting several artists from the NPA Art Centre, some of which are older members returning and newcomers.
• Once again UMI Arts is representing artists from Yarrabah Art Centre whose work (painting, ceramic, printmaking, and weaving) is becoming extremely sophisticated.
• Rhys Miles from Cairns is back again with one of his distinctive multimedia pieces (‘Stingray’) made from recycled materials and LED lighting.
• Robert Tommy Pau has created the ‘Kole-Gate’ sculpture (a reflection on capitalism, and the commodification and exploitation of labour and resources) a departure from his usual work in print making and painting.

You & Me 2023 exhibiting artists are:

Edna Ambrym, Yarrabah Art Centre
Wayne Connolly, Yarrabah Art Centre
Valmai Pollard, Yarrabah Art Centre
Michelle Yeatman, Yarrabah Art Centre
Philomena Yeatman, Yarrabah Art Centre
Freddie Joe, Moa Art Centre
Michelle Weare
Rhys Miles
Robert Tommy Pau
Sandra Kaddy, NPA Art Centre
Normie Young, NPA Art Centre
Johnny Mark, NPA Art Centre
Joy Tapau, NPA Art Centre
Peter Kulla Kulla, NPA Art Centre


You & Me will be officially opened on Friday 10 March 2023 from 6pm. Contact exhibitions@umiarts.com.au or tel: 4041 6152 to RSVP attendance.

The exhibition is then open to the public until 5 May 2023 and can be viewed from Monday to Friday between 10am and 4pm at UMI Arts Shop 4, Jensen Plaza Gallery, 1 Jensen Street, Manoora.

Established since 2005, UMI Arts is the peak Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts and cultural organisation for Far North Queensland, an area that extends north of Cairns to include the Torres Strait Islands, south to Cardwell, west to Camooweal and includes the Gulf of Carpentaria and Mt Isa regions. UMI Arts is a not-for-profit company managed by an all-Indigenous Board of Directors. Its mission is to assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to participate in the maintenance, preservation, and protection of cultural identity.

For more, visit www.umiarts.com.au