Parrtjima – Festival in Light 2018, Alice Springs
Ended — at Alice Springs Desert Park
Parrtjima is a free 10-night festival held anually in Alice Springs.
Ikuntji Artists are excited to be part of the Parrtjima Festival of Light 2018 – Alice Springs, featuring works by artists Kelly Dixon, Keturah Zimran and Suzie Lane.
Meet the artists event
30 September | 7:00pm (45Mins)
Join the featured artists of Parrtjima 2018 as they gather to speak about the stories behind their work, discuss their involvement in the festival, and answer all of your questions
ARTIST BIOS
Kelly Dixon – Ikuntji Artists
Kelly is the daughter of acclaimed artist Alice Nampitjinpa Dixon and granddaughter of Papunya Tula Artists founding member Uta Uta Tjangala. She works with acrylic on canvas and makes jewelry.
Susie Lane – Ikuntji Artists
Susie lives at Haasts Bluff in Central Australia, and her husband Roy Larry passed away in 2010. Together they had three children, and they had seven grandchildren. Susie’s father is a Walpiri man and it is from him that she gets her Waterlilly Dreaming style. In the last year Susie has been experimenting in different styles of painting seeds blowing in the wind, which are integrally beautiful works, done in both pastel and bright colours. Susie works at the aged care centre, and after she has attended to the needs of the older artists she finds time to work on her own canvas.
About the festival:
It’s different every year. You’re invited to join us in its third year. Come for one or more nights from Friday September 28 to Sunday October 7, 2018.
Parrtjima is the only authentic Aboriginal light festival of its kind. The annual festival takes over Alice Springs with ten nights of light installations from a number aboriginal artists set against the majestic MacDonnell Ranges.
Alongside the artworks you can enjoy a program packed full of live talks, events and music by local and national musicians.
Come for the festival fun, but stay for the rich history, incredible sightseeing and an authentic, memorable experience.
Parrtjima is held on Mparntwe, which always was and always will be part of the Arrernte people. Mparntwe is connected to the estates of Antulye and Irlpme, as well as a network of custodians who hold rights and responsibilities for these areas. A group of these choose to guide and advise Parrtjima, and want you to feel welcome as they host this event.
Parrtjima has evolved to become much more than a spectacular light show on a loved and ancient canvas. It also aims to show that ‘Indigenous Art’ comes from more than one people group, and is more that just dots.
As well as Arrernte art, the festival features amazing artwork from across the Central Desert region and associated other parts of the Northern Territory. At the festival, the inherent power of these artworks is illuminated through large-scale installations of light, sound and art. And you are allowed access to interaction with artists and local custodians throughout ten 10 nights of music, film and public discussion.
The festival is curated by the world-renowned Rhoda Roberts AO.
The meaning of ‘Parrtjima’
(Pronounced ‘par-chee-ma’)
Local, senior Arrernte people discussed this name and chose its spelling.
The name comes from the Arrernte group of languages. This group of languages has many dialects and ways of spelling words.
In Central and Eastern Arrernte, apateme means ‘to have trouble understanding something’ and pwarrtyeme means ‘to shine’.
The group chose ‘Parrtjima’ suggesting that it means shedding both light and understanding on a subject.
(Photo: artwork by Eunice Napanangka’s in Parrtima Festival 2017)
Gordon Butcher’s artwork in Parrtijma 2017.
Participating Artists
More information
Visit event website.
Date & Time
Start:
End:
Location
Alice Springs Desert Park
Alice Springs Desert Park
Larapinta Drive
Alice Springs NT 0871