Kaiela Arts, an Aboriginal art centre located on Yorta Yorta country in Shepparton Victoria, has proudly announced the launch of Kaiela Arts Editions, with a landmark collaboration between internationally acclaimed artist Maree Clarke (Mutti Mutti, Yorta Yorta, Boonwurrung, Wamba Wamba) and Melbourne-based studio Spacecraft.
The creative works will be unveiled in November at two special events at Kaiela Arts, Shepparton and Spacecraft, Melbourne.
Kaiela Arts Editions is a new initiative expanding creative and commercial opportunities for First Nations artists. The inaugural release features an exclusive limited edition of 40 hand-printed works on archival paper and 10 glass silkscreen prints created by Clarke, a pivotal figure in the reclamation of southeast Australian Aboriginal art practices.
Curator at Kaiela Arts, Chloe Jones said Kaiela Arts Editions marks "a new direction" for the centre.
"By inviting leading artists like Clarke to collaborate, the program expands creative and commercial opportunities for First Nations artists, supports a new screen-printing program in Shepparton, and offers collectors the rare opportunity to acquire exclusive works that directly sustain cultural practice and community-led futures," she said.
The inaugural release draws inspiration from Clarke's revitalisation of traditional river reed necklaces, focusing on the reed through a microscopic lens. Rooted in her time on Yorta Yorta Country and her ongoing dialogue with community, artists and Elders, the editions embody the deep cultural memory, materiality, and connection to place that continue to define Clarke's practice.
"It's so important to pass on cultural knowledge. It's who you are, where you're from. Every new work is about recreating culture in a positive, respectful way - reviving practices not seen for generations and passing that knowledge on," Clarke said.
Printed by Spacecraft, the works use ochres and charcoal collected from Barmah and Cummeragunja, embedding deep cultural and material connections to Country.
Commenting on the collaboration Stewart Russell, founder of Spacecraft Melbourne, said working with Kaiela Arts and Maree has been a deeply rewarding process.
"Working together with Kaiela Arts and Maree has been a deeply rewarding process. At Spacecraft we're committed to enabling artists' visions through printmaking, and this project has allowed us to honour both traditional knowledge and contemporary practice," he said.
The release of Clarke's editions will be celebrated with two special launch events on the 20th of November at Kaiela Arts in Shepparton and on the 21st of November at Spacecraft in Melbourne.
Works will be available exclusively through Kaiela Arts' gallery and online with all funds raised supporting a new screen-printing program in Shepparton.
Supported by Indigenous Visual Arts Industry Support (IVAIS), Creative Victoria and Greater Shepparton City Council, Kaiela Arts Editions strengthens truth-telling, intergenerational practice, and the revitalisation of southeast Australian Aboriginal art.
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