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FEATURED AUSTRALIA ART REVIEW REPORT: Emily Has Gone But The Beautiful Legacy Lingers On To London Tate in June 2025

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AceNewsDesk – This summer the National Gallery of Australia is surveying the significant career of the artist, Emily Kam Kngwarray. Emily to most people.

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Ace Press News From Cutting Room Floor: Published: Dec.09: 2023: Emily Kam Kngwarray, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, until April 28, 2024; nga.gov.au Louise Martin-Chew travelled to Canberra courtesy of The National Gallery of Australia: TELEGRAM Ace Daily News Link https://t.me/+PuI36tlDsM7GpOJe

Emily Kam Kngwarray, Anmatyerr people, Yam awely, 1995, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, gift of the Delmore Collection, Donald and Janet Holt 1995 © Emily Kam Kngwarray/Copyright Agency

She is one of only a few Australian women artists known by one name. The exhibition Emily Kam Kngwarray is the first act, as it will be followed by a Tamarind Tree Pictures documentary. The third act will be at London’s Tate Modern in June 2025.

Emily Kam Kngwarray’s life story is full of intriguing contrasts. Born about 1914 on her Alhalker Country, she was part of the first contact (with white people) generation, yet the batik and paintings she made in the last 19 years of her life shifted understandings of what Aboriginal art was and could be.

Soon after her death in 1996 her work was shown at the 1997 Venice Biennale as Fluent (with Judy Watson, Waanyi and Yvonne Koolmatrie, Ngarrindjeri). This recognition placed her at the pinnacle of international contemporary art.

Yet the meaning and cultural power of her art, for Kngwarray and her family, remains at odds with its understanding and reception in the marketplace and in the context of art and its histories.

Kngwarray spent her life in the Sandover region of the central desert, north of Alice Springs (Mparntwe). She began making batik in 1977 but during the following decade switched to canvas. This was a less onerous medium and also placed her work firmly within the fine art market.

Many audiences will read her work in the context of abstraction and modernism, yet for Kngwarray and her family these are cultural portraits of Country.

In the book accompanying the exhibition, Stephen Gilchrist writes: “Kngwarray’s paintings of place are better understood as threshold objects that create openings onto Anmatyerr lands, life ways, life cycles and life forces … Her wish to paint her Country in all its contours was a devotional exercise that energised the places she was connected to and would ultimately return to.”

She was prolific, producing about 3000 canvases during her painting years. She was also the first of a generation of Aboriginal women who began making art late in their lives. Those following, with short and brilliant careers, include Mirdidingkingathi Juwarnda Sally Gabori (1924-2015) and Mavis Ngallametta (1944-2019).

The thirst for their work is related to their status as the first and the last. The last of a first-contact generation who were among the first to convey their understanding of country and culture visually in aesthetically pleasing, culturally significant and historically important ways.

An “Emily” is both powerful within her own Alhakerre context, and a trophy (visible in the loans to the exhibition, which includes works from national, international and private collections, notably Perth-based Janet Holmes a Court; and Steve Martin and Anne Stringfield, in  New York).

So, what does the new NGA show tell us about Emily that we didn’t know from two previous institutional surveys – one at the Queensland Art Gallery in 1998, another at the National Museum of Australia in 2008?

While it explores Emily’s development, contextualised with the paintings on batik that began her creative career, the involvement of family in the exhibition also shares what we may not have previously understood about her legacy.

In a short film, women’s “paint up” (awely) is explored, making sense of Kngwarray’s stylistic shift to thickly painted stripes and expressing the power of this ceremony. It offers insights into what her descendants see so powerfully in her work.

Jedda Kngwarray Purvis and Josie Petyarr Kngwarray suggest: “If you close your eyes and imagine the paintings in your mind’s eye, you will see them transform. They are real — what Kngwarray painted is alive and true. The paintings are dynamic and keep on changing, and you can see how realistic they are … The Country transforms itself, and those paintings do as well. That’s why the old woman is famous.”

Batik works float, moving gently in the air in the first three rooms, a presence and context. In these depths of patterning and layers her country, the emu (ankerr) markings, pencil yam (anwerlarr) and fan flower (intekw) are detailed with a view from above and within that is a hallmark of desert painting. You can spend a long time looking into these works, which take you somewhere else altogether.

Kngwarray’s work had marked shifts in subject and expression, with the detailed layers of the first room segueing to painted stripes (awely) and larger dots. The final three rooms see her motifs simplify, brushstrokes grow thicker and larger, stripes and dots adding variety to the lacey marks from before.

And their momentum builds, in both scale and motif. The monumental Yam awely, 1995, builds with line, colour and layers in a mesmerising manner, her sense of spatial composition instinctive and unerring.

There is much to celebrate here, the expansive canvases, the colourful and masterful evocation of country and the presence and acknowledgement, at the highest and international level, of her talent and its contradictions.

The exhibition’s London season was announced by Tate Britain’s director Maria Balshaw during the Betty Churcher Memorial lecture in Canberra recently when she explained that it would be displayed in the famous Turbine Hall of Tate Modern.

The attraction to European audiences is likely to build on intense interest in Australia’s First Nations peoples and their art, and fits within the context of Balshaw’s ambitions for the Tate’s many galleries and programs.

As the NGA’s summer exhibition, the show encourages a 2023 trend (seen in QAGOMA’s showcase of exhibitions by Michael Zavros and eX De Medici) that suggests artists from Australia are worthy of blockbuster status and an admission price.

Emily Kam Kngwarray also sits within the NGA’s Gender Equity Action Plan (addressing the imbalance in both collections and exhibitions) and its ongoing Know My Name program.

Emily’s ability to reinvent Aboriginal painting has transcended time, space and culture. Curators Hetti Perkins and Kelli Cole suggest that Kngwarray’s descendants have the final word on her legacy. “They simply describe her art as arraty ilem — telling the truth.”

No matter on what level we understand them, these paintings have power. After this exhibition and its three acts, even more people will know her name.

Editor says …Sterling Publishing & Media Service Agency is not responsible for the content of external site or from any reports, posts or links and thanks for following as always appreciate every like, reblog or retweet and comment thank you

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BREAKING AUSTRALIA REPORT: Invasive Argentinian scarab beetles being mistaken for Christmas beetles

a close up photo of a beetle on wood
An Argentinian lawn scarab reported in Nowra using iNaturalist.(Supplied: iNaturalist/bethford)none

AceBreakingNews – Sydney residents are reporting a surge in Christmas beetles in their backyards, suggesting the seasonal insect has made a comeback following years of decline.

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Ace Press News From Cutting Room Floor: Published: Dec.09: 2023: ABC Sydney News: TELEGRAM Ace Daily News Link https://t.me/+PuI36tlDsM7GpOJe

a close up photo of a beetle on wood
An Argentinian lawn scarab reported in Nowra using iNaturalist.(Supplied: iNaturalist/bethford)none

Allan in Hornsby told ABC Radio Sydney “hordes” of beetles flew into his home on Tuesday night, and declared they were “back with a vengeance”.

“We had the mass kamikaze attack last night,” Allan said.

Helen in Ermington also thought they had gone forever, but then had a few land on her back screen door that evening.

An entomologist running a Christmas beetle tracking project said people were increasingly mistaking the native insect for a similar-looking invasive pest.

Tanya Latty said the Argentinian lawn scarab was small, brownish, and looked a lot like a Christmas beetle at first glance.

A close up of yellow and gold Christmas beetle
Christmas beetles have distinctly larger back legs than most other beetles.(Supplied: iNaturalist)

But the key differences were the Argentinian lawn scarabs were generally smaller and had thinner back legs.

“Christmas beetles tend to have quite thick back legs, like they’ve never missed leg day [at the gym],” Dr Latty said.

“The Argentinian lawn scarabs are out in force this year; we’ve seen heaps more of them than I recall seeing last year.”

Dr Latty said Argentinian lawn scarabs were considered a pest because their larvae caused damage to lawns.

“The larvae feed on turf grass roots so they can cause problems on lawns, in particular,” she said.

A small brown scarab beetle
The Argentinian lawn scarab looks like a Christmas beetle at first glance, Dr Latty says.(Supplied: Tanya Latty)

Hold fire on pesticides

Dr Latty cautioned against using pesticides to treat the Argentinian scarab beetle because they might also kill Christmas beetles, which the Australian Museum said was in decline in Greater Sydney.

“Any of the things we use to treat Argentinian scarabs will also affect Christmas beetles and other native scarab beetles,” she said.

Instead, Dr Latty encouraged people to consider planting native flowers and plants to produce habitat for native insects.

“Our lawns don’t really support that much native biodiversity,” she said.

“Minimising the amount of turf grass we have is important.”

More citizen beetle reports needed

The Christmas beetle count run by Invertebrates Australia and the University of Sydney is trying to solve the mystery of the disappearing insects, which typically come out at this time of year.

There have been 1,200 sightings reported to the project by citizens around Australia since October 1 this year.

Bronze and brown Christmas beetle.
The Anoplognathus family has a range of coloured beetles including the bronze Anoplognathus viriditarsis.(Supplied: Queensland Museum)

While some anecdotal reports were heralding a Christmas beetle comeback, Dr Latty said it was too early to tell if beetle numbers were on the rise……….She called for more people to send in reports on the iNaturalist websiteand app.

“We don’t have the people power to be crossing the country visiting all of the lovely places Christmas beetles are found,” Dr Latty said.

Dr Latty also wanted reports even if suspected Christmas beetles might be the Argentinian scarab beetles.

She said the app could help citizen scientists distinguish between the two.

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BREAKING AUSTRALIA POLICE REPORT: Arrested & Fined 72 Extinction Rebellion Climate Protestors In Melbourne

Climate protest 2
Police arresting a climate protester outside Flinders Street Station.(ABC News: Patrick Rocca)none

AceBreakingNews – It was the fourth consecutive day of action by Extinction Rebellion demonstrators, culminating in a rally outside Flinders Street Station at the intersection of Flinders and Swanston streets.

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Ace Press News From Cutting Room Floor: Published: Dec.09: 2023: ABC Police News: TELEGRAM Ace Daily News Link https://t.me/+PuI36tlDsM7GpOJe

Climate protest 2
Police arresting a climate protester outside Flinders Street Station.(ABC News: Patrick Rocca)none

The protesters are calling on the federal government to reduce carbon emissions.

Many who attended the rally came prepared to be arrested, saying their actions were a last resort.

woman in black top on busy, rainy Melbourne street
Environmental activist Violet Coco said protesters resorted to stopping a busy intersection because they are not being heard.(ABC News: Patrick Rocca)

Environmental defender Violet Coco said disruptive action was necessary.

“We’ve asked nicely, we’ve tried all the petitions, we’ve tried all the one-day marches and so now we’re here engaging in civil resistance.

“This action is the culmination of four days of massive action where we’ve had disruption of the streets morning and night.”

Ms Coco said being arrested was a sacrifice protesters were willing to make because they cared so deeply about the planet.

Climate protest 4
Climate activists blocked the intersection in front of Flinders Street Station, with waiting police acting swiftly to remove them. (ABC News: Patrick Rocca)

We’ve tried so many different things to get a livable planet secure for our children and yet our government is approving more coal and gas mines — eight new ones since their term started,” she said.

She said the group would organise more protests in March next year.

“We’re really sorry to be causing inconvenience we understand that it can be stressful but the climate breakdown is going to cause so much inconvenience that this will seem like a pleasant party compared to what we’re heading for,” Ms Coco said.

Two smaller protests were held in the Melbourne CBD earlier in the day, finishing with the rally outside Flinders Street Station late in the afternoon.

Police said the 72 people arrested were given an infringement notice for failing to obey traffic direction from a police officer, which carries a $385 fine.

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BREAKING AUSTRALIA NSW POLICE REPORT: Four men have been charged following a pursuit on the state’s north coast.

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AceBreakingNews – Four people charged with firearm, weapons and drugs offences following pursuit – Coffs Harbour

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Ace Press News From Cutting Room Floor: Published: Dec.09: 2023: Thursday, 07 December 2023 05:46:08 PM: NSW Police News: TELEGRAM Ace Daily News Link https://t.me/+PuI36tlDsM7GpOJe

Policing at Vivid
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Around 8am on Tuesday (5 December 2023), officers from the Mid North Coast Highway Patrol were patrolling in the Pacific Highway at Kundabung, when they observed a silver BMW X3 travelling at alleged speed of 146km/h in a 110km/h zone.

A pursuit was initiated after the vehicle failed to stop; however, was terminated due to safety issues.

Four men were later allegedly seen abandoning the BMW in Frederickton before they all left in a Toyota Hilux.

Around 12pm that same day, a Toyota Hilux was sighted on the Pacific Highway, Coffs Harbor, where police engaged in a pursuit and successfully deployed road spikes.

The vehicle came to a stop at Moonee Beach with police arresting three men, aged 28, 38 and 40, and a 28-year-old woman.

During a search of the Hilux, the men and the woman, police seized a firearm, ammunition, knuckle dusters, flick knife, cocaine, methylamphetamine, a sum of cash, allegedly stolen fishing gear, and the registration plates from the BMW X3.

The men and woman were taken to Coffs Harbour Police Station.

They were all charged with:

– Possess unauthorised pistol

– Possess unregistered unauthorised pistol in public place

– Possess loaded firearm public place

– Use, supply stolen firearm or firearm part

– Receive property stolen outside NSW greater than $15,000

– Deal with property proceeds of crime less than $100,000

– Not keep firearm safely – pistol

– Possess ammunition without holding licence/permit/authority

– Deal with property proceeds of crime equal to or greater than $100,000

The 40-year-old and 38-year-old men both received two additional charges of possess prohibited drug, and the 28-year-old man received an additional two counts of possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit.

They were all refused bail and appeared before Coffs Harbour Local Court yesterday (Wednesday 6 December 2023), where they were all formally refused bail.

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BREAKING AUSTRALIA CYCLONE JASPER BOM UPDATE REPORT: ‘Unusually Slow’ CAT4 Storm Drops To CAT3 This Evening Could Weaken Further

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AceWeatherDesk – UPDATE – Tropical Cyclone Jasper remains a category four system but is expected to drop to a category three this evening and further weaken to category two by late Sunday or Monday.

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Ace Press News From Cutting Room Floor: Published: Dec.09: 2023: BOM & ABC Live Moment News: TELEGRAM Ace Daily News Link https://t.me/+PuI36tlDsM7GpOJe

A map shows the path of a cyclone approaching the north Queensland coast
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Its crossing is now expected on Wednesday or Thursday, anywhere from Cape Melville to Townsville.

“It’s unusually slow movement so far. It’s generally been moving around about the 5-6 kilometres an hour rate at this stage,” BOM meteorologist Shane Kennedy said. 

“But tropical cyclones can even stall in place for hours or days at a time.

“Certainly it’s giving us a lot of notice to prepare.”Cyclone Jasper is tipped to make landfall early next week.(Supplied: BoM)

BOM is confident Jasper will begin to move west towards the Queensland coast over the coming days, he said. 

“It’s likely to weaken over the next 24 or 48 hours,” he said. 

“There is the potential it could re-intensify back into a severe cyclone, which is category three or higher, before it crosses the coast. That could happen early on Wednesday next week.”

Severe weather conditions statewide

BOM meteorologist Dave Grant said Jasper would bring heavy rainfall totals, increasing flood risks in some areas of Queensland, while cooling other regions.

“Heavy showers should develop along the central and northern Queensland coast from Monday,” he said. 

“As a result of that, we will closely monitor the need for a flood watch for coastal catchments in the area around north Queensland.

“We also do have severe heatwave conditions that continue across areas of Far North Queensland and also through areas of western and southern Queensland over the next few days.

“Those conditions will probably start to abate as we move into next week.”

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Mr Grant said the Queensland summer outlook remains predominantly dry, but other rain and storm events remain a possibility.

“Despite the fact we do have an El Niño, and generally a warm and dry outlook, we can still get high-impact rainfall events, so the potential repeat of rainfall incidences like that can definitely not be discounted.”

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