| Call Number |
PWC/283 |
| Physical description |
16 paintings : acrylic on cotton rag paper ; 39 x 58 cm or smaller + 5 sheets (colour test panels) |
| Medium |
600 gsm cotton rag paper acrylic |
| Notes |
Title devised by cataloguer. |
|
Artist's signature at lower right-hand corner. |
| Access advisory |
Originals may be viewed by appointment, please contact the State Library of Western Australia. |
| Rights advisory |
Copyright or other restrictions may apply. For public use, contact the State Library of Western Australia. |
| Acquisition source |
Purchase; Gapuwiyak Culture and Arts; 20200312. |
| Biography/history |
Johnny Warrkatja Malibirr, an acclaimed Yolŋu artist was born in Darwin on the 22nd of May 1970. As a young boy, he spent some time living in Dhupuwamirri. He watched song man and Wanapuyngu elder Roy Ashleigh and Guyula elder Raymond Marpin paint on bark. Johnny is a Ganalbingu man whose homeland is Ngaliyindi, near the Arafura swamp. He is known for his paintings of Ganalbingu song lines, as well as his mother’s Wagilak clan stories. He was the eldest of the family and carry the songs and knowledge for the Malibirr clan as well as for the Wanapuyngu clan. He belongs to the Gapuwiyak community. He is Chair of the Gapuwiyak Culture and Arts Aboriginal Corporation. In 2017, Johnny was the inaugural recipient of the Kestin Indigenous Illustrator Award winning the opportunity to illustrate Little Bird’s Day, written by Sally Morgan, published by Magabala Books in 2019. [Source: Gapuwiyak Culture and Arts', Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair and Books Illustrated websites viewed on 12/03/2020 and 5/11/2020] |
| Publications |
The little bird's day. Broome, W.A. : Magabala Books, 2019. |
| Exhibitions |
PWC/283/1,6,9,11,12,14,16: "Little Bird's Day illustrations", 11 June – 29 August 2021, The Story Place Gallery, State Library of Western Australia. |
|
PWC/283/4: "Nocturnal", 27 January - 26 March 2023, The Story Place Gallery, State Library of Western Australia. |
| CONTENTS |
PWC/283/1: Endpapers and Page 28 (excluding the moon) (39 x 58 cm) -- PWC/283/2: Page 1 and draft of page 4 (top) (39 x 58 cm) -- PWC/283/3: Here comes Sun, rising and shining, Page 2 draft, includes bird on tree singing on left, not featured in book. On right, a draft of a bird on a branch singing, Page 1 (42 x 57 cm) -- PWC/283/4: I warble with Sun, Page 3 and Page 4 (top) (38 x 58 cm) -- PWC/283/5: To wake the lazy sleepers, Page 4 and Rain, featured on Page 15-16 (39 x 58 cm) -- PWC/283/6: Here comes Wind, blowing and gusting, Pages 7 and 8, centrespread (39 x 58 cm) -- PWC/283/7: I circle with Wind to reach the crimson blossoms, Pages 9 and 10, Front and Back cover (39 x 58 cm) -- PWC/283/8: Here comes Cloud, huffing and puffing, Pages 11 and 12 (39 x 58 cm) -- PWC/283/9: I travel with Cloud to chase my feathery friends, Pages 13-14 (38 x 58 cm) -- PWC/283/10: Here comes Rain, Pages 15-16 (right) (draft excluding standing buffalo but including palm tree). I flutter with Rain to wash my fuzzy feathers, Page 17 (left) (35 x 56 cm) -- PWC/283/11: Here comes Dusk, Pages 19-20, centrespread (39 x 58 cm) -- PWC/283/12: I journey with Dusk, Pages 21-22, centrespread (draft featured pond without bird and water lily) (39 x 58 cm) -- PWC/283/13: Draft of pond with a little bird and water lily, left, featured on Page 22 and the flying bird, left, featured on Page 23 (39 x 58 cm) -- PWC/283/14: Here comes Moon, Pages 25-26, centrespread, also featured on title page (transposed) (38 x 58 cm) -- PWC/283/15: I nestle on Moon, Page 27, draft featured moon only (right) and character study of bird (left) (38 x 54 cm) -- PWC/283/16: [Birds resting on tree], Pages 29-30, centrespread. Cropped tree top, also featured on Page 23-24 (38 x 58 cm) |
|
PWC/283/17/1: Colour test panel/sheet, red ochre -- PWC/283/17/2: Colour test panel/sheet, dark green -- PWC/283/17/3: Colour test panel/sheet, dark gray -- PWC/283/17/4: Colour test panel/sheet, black -- PWC/283/17/5: Colour test panel/sheet, white |
| Summary |
This collection of artwork was the first time Johnny Malbirr has illustrated for a book. Johnny won the Kestin Indigenous Illustrator Award in 2017 for this collection. |
| Subjects |
Malibirr, Johnny Warrkatja. Little bird's day -- Illustrations.
|
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Children's stories -- Illustrations.
|
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Birds -- Illustrations.
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Art -- Northern Territory.
|
| Genre/Form |
Book illustrations.
|
| Subjects |
Children's literature, Australian -- Illustrations.
|
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Illustrations of books -- Northern Territory.
|
| Genre/Form |
Works of art -- Northern Territory.
|
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Book illustrations
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Drawings.
|
| Related names |
Illustrations for (work): Morgan, Sally, 1951 January 18-
Little bird's day
|
| Related item |
Johnny Warrkatja: Kestin Indigenous Illustration Award
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