About Djumbunji Press
Since its inception in March 2009, Djumbunji Press has collaborated with hundreds of Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists from Far North Queensland and elsewhere, generating new work of a consistently high standard. Some of this work has entered collections around the world, and set new benchmarks in the development of Australian Indigenous art.
Djumbjunji Press activities have included: workshops from beginners to master classes in the studio and in remote communities; an open access studio for artists to print their own work; custom printing for artists who do not want to print their own work; and an Artist In Residence program.
KickArts Contemporary Arts commissions and publishes new fine art prints and professionally distributes these to commercial galleries, collectors, public institutions and online. KickArts also curates printmaking exhibitions for touring nationally and internationally.
A New Direction
This year a major shift in the availability of funding for the arts across Queensland has added to already existing financial pressures for many – especially regional – small arts companies.
From 1 November 2012 Djumbunji Press will become a press-for-hire, and will open its door to self-funding projects, individuals or groups who will be expected to meet full operating costs for the time they are using the studio.
A program will be built around activities such as:
· intensive editioning for third-party exhibitions and KickArts exhibitions and sales, especially for the annual Cairns Indigenous Art Fair
· professional development sessions with invited, funded printmakers
· delivery of workshops funded either by participant fees or external funding.
To read the the full details of the new direction for Djumbunji Press, click here.
To discuss your hiring needs, please contact Kacey Johnson at (07) 4050 9494 or via email at studiocoordinator@kickarts.org.au.
Studio facilities
The extensive printmaking facilities include: an MES HD etching press; an NW small etching press; a Manuka small etching press; a Takach-Garfield Lithography Press (manual); 2 drying racks; an exhaust vent clean-up solvent room; a process room with vapour hood for nitric acid; and 10 large work tables. The studio has ground-level access and off-road parking.
Support
Djumbunji Press has been made possible with foundation funding from the Queensland Government through its Backing Indigenous Arts program and James Cook University, which generously provides the studio building.
The Djumbunji name
Djumbunji is a Yidinji word and translates as 'belongs to the scorpion place'. This is the area known as Mount Whitfield, or Bunda Djumbunji (Scorpion Mountain). The story of Kuiam the warrior is a prominent legend that links the Yidinji people of Cairns and the people of the Torres Strait.
Scorpion Story
Kuiamguyuru (the Cyclone) was a young Yidinji warrior whose home was at Girriwandi Waree (Woree), the mouth of Trinity Inlet, Cairns. On his journey to become a man his father Kwiol showed him how to use the woomera and spear at a site named Giraba. His first right of passage was to fight the Djumbun (Scorpion) who lived north of Gimuy (Cairns). This fight lasted for many days, from which Kuiamguyuru bore the scars inflicted by the scorpion on his chest and shoulder. He killed the scorpion where it lays today at Bunda Djumbunji and continued his journey north where he travelled to the tip of Cape York. It was here that Kuiamguyuru made stilts from wood and travelled across the water to the Islands of the Torres Strait.
Told by Seith Fourmile, Yidinji, Cairns
The Legend of Kuiam
Kuiamguyuru, after arriving in the Torres Strait, took a wife, Kuinam and they had a child whom they named Kuiam. Kuiam lived with his blind mother Kuinam and his Uncle Tomagan at Gumu. As Kuiam grew into manhood his thoughts turned to fighting. Being of both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lineage, he learnt to throw spears with his father's woomera from a young age until he was expert in their use, but he also fashioned two emblems, Giribu and Kutibu (that he wore on his chest and back), which he endowed with special powers. Kuiam spent his life as a fearless warrior guided by the Giribu and Kutibu, instilling both great terror and awe in people throughout the Torres Strait Islands and across to the mainland of Papua New Guinea. Upon his final fight, when he was struck down and killed, several men rushed in with their bamboo knives to behead Kuiam but they were stopped by their leaders who said 'Don't cut off his head for he is a great man with a wise head, a head teeming with ideas, a clever head; let him lie where he stood for he mastered all of his surroundings (the islands).' So instead of insulting the great warrior, they honoured him, piling over his dead body their bows and arrows, spears and stone clubs, saying as they went about this that now that Kuiam was dead all the fighting was over.
Told by Brian Robinson, Cairns
Click here to download a copy of the Djumbunji Press 2009 Annual Report.
Click here to download a copy of the Djumbunji Press 2010 Annual Report.
Click here to download a copy of the KickArts Contemporary Arts/Djumbunji Press 2011 Annual Report.