ARTIST PROFILES
Irene Bambi, Charlotte Burns, Helen Gordon, Joyce Jacko, Evelyn McGreen,
Roy McIvor, Conrad Michael
Irene Bambi
Born: 1964, Cooktown
Clan Group: Thupi Warra
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Themes:
I live at HopeVale in North Queensland. I was born in Cooktown in 1964 to Hermann and Myrtle Bambi, who were pioneers of HopeVale after returning from Woorabinda, after the forced removal of aboriginal people during the war.
When I was young I loved sketching, I used to draw cartoons, animal and people. When I was fifteen I started to paint, John Allums, Tulo Gordon and Walter Jack were great traditional artists from our community, they guided me and showed me how to paint in the old way.
Now I paint in traditional style, with acrylic paints and coloured sand. I like to use traditional, earthy, ochre colours.
Charlotte Burns
Born: 1925, China Camp
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My name is Charlotte Burns. My parents are Lesley Walker & Milly Walker. I was born in China Camp outside of Wujal Wujal in 1925. My hobbies are collecting shells and grass ( bayjun) to make traditional baskets. In my young days I was living at China Camp but then my parents moved to Yarrabah. That’s where I learnt how to make baskets, necklaces and bracelets with shells and bayjun grass. I got married in Yarrabah. Then I moved to HopeVale with my husband and children. These days I like going down to the creek, fishing for fresh water turtle, jewfish and eel. I also go down to the beach to fish and collect my shells to make necklaces and earrings.
Chantelle Cooktown
Born: 1984, Cairns
Clan Group: Yidinji
Language: Guugu Yalangi
Themes:
My name is Chantelle Cooktown. My parents are Bettina Grogan & Anthony Cooktown. I was born and raised in Cairns, Qld. My ancestry comes from Hopevale, Palm Island and Gordonvale. My language name is Boodoogidja which is from the Yidinji tribe.
My love for painting comes from watching my grandmother paint when I was a child.
Helen Gordon
Born: 1960 HopeVale
Clan Group: Nugal Warra
Language: Guugu Yimithirr
Themes: Stories of my country
Helen, is from the Nugal-Warra tribe, whose traditional lands are to the north of the Endeavour River, stretching across to HopeVale Community.
She is a well-known local artist and is the daughter of the famous artist and story-teller Tulo Gordon, who taught her how to paint.
Helen has been painting for more than twenty years now, and loves painting and passing on traditional stories and wisdom to both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children.
Helen not only learnt from her father but did art work with NAIDOC, and taught painting and cultural activities at the Cooktown School and at local festivals. She is very active in community welfare programs. She believes it is very important to pass on understanding and respect for the traditions and customs of her people.
Helen and her husband Conrad 'Connie' Michael held an exhibition at Nature’s PowerHouse in Cooktown in May 2007 it was very well received and ¾ of their paintings sold.
Helen’s painting ‘Respect’, received the HopeVale Cultural centre Indigenous Art Award and the coveted Elizabeth Guzeley Award for over all best Art work at the Cooktown Art Society annual competition.
Joyce Jacko
Born: 1951, HopeVale
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My name is Joyce Jacko. My parents are Billy Muundu and Vera Jacko. I was born in HopeVale in 1951. I like doing art, basket weaving and painting. I never learnt weaving from my mother, though I used to sit with her, watching her making dilly bags. My father used to make spears and woomeras and boomerangs. When he made a spear from a palm-grass tree, he would go out the next day collecting stingray and fish bones for barbs. He would stick these onto the spear with tar and tie them up with string. These and other artefacts were painted by my father and sold in the HopeVale curio shop for tourists.
One day my friend Maureen asked me if I would like to join her weaving baskets at home. So I sat down with her and tried making one, a mixture of bayjun grass and pandanus. So my friend Maureen said to me that we might be able to teach our grandchildren and great grandchildren. Now I am really proud of my work, both painting and weaving.
Evelyn McGreen
Born: 1942, Woorabinda
Clan Group: Thupi Warra
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I am the daughter of Roy and May Dick. I was born in Woorabinda in 1942, and moved to HopeVale in the early 1950’s, where my parents were originally from.
My father was a pioneer of this place, and helped build the church here. In my early years I loved to helping my dad with his carpentry. I was a bit of a tomboy. I loved working with tools. I spent my school years here and married Benny McGreen in 1962. We had five children.
I started painting in about 2002. My early paintings were of sea animals, fish and flowers. When I started, I was a bit lost, but now I know what I’m doing and what I want to achieve. I’m using different shapes and backgrounds.
I am also a basket-weaver, I weave with sisal hemp, pandanus, Beach hibiscus and bajin, [lomandra longifolia], and use bush dyes to colour the fibre.
Roy McIvor
Born: 1934, HopeVale.
Clan Group: Binthi
Language: Guugu Yimithirr
Themes: Stories of my country
Roy currently lives at HopeVale, 50kms north of Cooktown. His mother was Rachel McIvor from Stonehenge, near Longreach. His father was Paddy McIvor from Binthi Country, near McIvor River, north of HopeVale.
Roy was born at Cape Bedford Mission in 1934 and later moved to Spring Hill. Both were Lutheran sites north of Cooktown in Far North Queensland.
In 1942, Roy his family and the Cape Bedford Community were forcibly removed from the mission by the military to Woorabinda, near Rockhampton.
Roy spent the final years of his formal schooling in Woorabinda. He recalls being inspired by the wife of a teacher, Mrs Jarrett. She was always complimenting him and supportive of his artistic ability and was, “a jolly good artist herself,” said Roy.
Mrs Jarrett said, “I hope you keep doing art,” and these words were the springboard into a life time interest and working in art for Roy. His curiosity and explorative nature have been expressed in the development of his artwork. Roy has experimented with many techniques and concepts for over 40 years, leaving him with a truly unique Indigenous style.
Roy is the Chairman of HopeVale Arts and Cultural Centre and a stalwart figure in the promotion of Indigenous art and culture at HopeVale
His work is currently in the following collections: Queensland Art Gallery and the Fireworks Gallery, Brisbane.
Conrad Michael
Born: 1958, Cooktown
Clan Group: Balngarr
Language: Guugu Yimithirr
Themes: Stories of my country
Conrad is a local artist from Cooktown. In his younger days he used to be a stockman. While on his holidays he gave his wife, Helen Gordon, a hand with her painting. He realised that he had talent and from then on has continued to paint.
Conrad’s meticulous paintings and artifacts are inspired by the stories of his country. Conrad and his wife Helen Gordon held an exhibition at Nature’s PowerHouse in Cooktown in May 2007 it was very well received and most of their paintings sold.