Making Yuendumu Beautiful /
Ngurrju Mani-njaku Ngurra
Ngurrju Mani-njaku Ngurra Making Yuendumu Beautiful Public Murals Project was an exciting community-led street art project that was funded by the Yuendumu Granites Mine Affected Area Aboriginal Corporation (GMAAAC) Committee beginning October 2022, and delivered in Yuendumu, NT in April of 2024. It brought community together to share stories and culture, celebrating the community's exceptional resilience, strength and vibrant creativity.
The resulting four murals are a reflection of the local community and its surroundings, creating a vibrant connection to Warlpiri cultural identity.
Police Station Mural
Artists
Cherylyn Grannites (Lead Warlpiri Artist)
Kaff-eine (Lead Visiting Artist)
PAW Mural
Artists
Jason Woods (Lead Warlpiri Artist)
JESWRI (Lead Visiting Artist)
Safe House Mural
Artists
Selina Hunter (Lead Warlpiri Artist)
Bronte Naylor (Lead Visiting Artist)
Mahalia Hargraves (Warlpiri Artist)
Community Jam Wall
Artists
Robin Brown (Lead Warlpiri Artist)
Kaff-eine (Lead Visiting Artist)
Jason Woods (Warlpiri Artist)
In addition to these locations, muralled panels were created at the WANTA mural workshop with Kaff-eine and local youth in the week before project delivery to build engagement and increase participation in the Community Jam Wall. WANTA have installed the panels on the Yuendumu Swimming Pool entrance.
The project pathway was designed in consultation with the PSC, to create opportunities for artists, stakeholders and all parties involved, to connect with each other and share knowledge, skills and culture, in the hope of creating lasting connections and working relationships. The pathway included a year of in-depth community consultations, artist design trip, feedback meetings and cultural activities.
Red Hot Arts brought Brontë Naylor, JESWRI and Kaff-eine to Yuendumu to collaborate with Warlpiri artists, Cherylyn Napangardi Granites, Selina Nakamarra Hunter, Mahalia Nampijinpa Hargraves, Jason Japaljarri Woods and Robin Quinsten Jampijinpa Brown. Artists were involved from the mural’s concept designs through to execution. The project was delivered over a fortnight in April. We're excited to see where these newly created connections go next!
COMMUNITY CELEBRATION & MURAL LAUNCH
The Community Celebration & Murals Launch took place on Friday 26th April, with the final touches added to the murals just hours before. The event took place in front of the freshly muralled Community Jam Wall (Big Shop - Mai Wiru), on the old concrete stage Red Hot Arts restored as part of the project. It featured live music by local musicians, a skateboarding workshop with Spinifex Skateboards, face painting, free community BBQ and more. Our friends at PAW Media and Communications engaged local bands to perform for the crowd of around 350. Visiting attendees included Red Hot Arts and Central Lands Council Managers, NT Deputy Police Commissioner Dole, ICTV and Incite Arts.
A true collaborative community celebration, CDRC teamed up with Yuendumu School to manage and run the community BBQ. CDRC also supported with waste disposal and huge clean-up of the Rec Hall, so that it could be used for the Spinifex Skateboard workshops. WANTA partnered with Red Hot Arts to bring Spinifex Skateboards in to run youth skateboarding workshops. Other supporters of the event include Yuendumu Social Club, Yarrumpi Child & Family Centre, the Southern Tanami Kurdiji Indigenous Corporation (STKIC), Central Lands Council, Yuendumu Women’s Centre, Police NT, Mai Wiru Big Shop and the Yuendumu Baptist Church.
With thanks
This project was developed, designed and produced by Red Hot Arts in consultation with the Project Steering Committee made up of members from the Marlpa Jungu Jintangka – Early Childhood Reference Group (MJJ) at the Yurrampi Child and Family Centre and others in Yuendumu Community.
Thanks to Central Lands Council, Central Desert Regional Council, WANTA, Yurrampi Child & Family Centre, The Women’s Centre, The Yuendumu Social Club, NT Police Force & Mai Wiru for supporting.