Cambridge College returns 250-year-old Aboriginal spears to traditional owners

Spears removed from Kamay camp (Botany Bay) but Captain Cook and Joseph Banks 1770.

In a moving ceremony at the Wren Library at Trinity College, Cambridge the four spears were returned to traditional owners from La Perouse Aboriginal Community.

The spears were removed in 1770 by Captain James Cook and Joseph Banks from an empty camp. They were removed without permission after the explorers landed close to the encampment at Botany Bay (Kamay) which had been abandoned after the Gweagal men had been shot at.

It was initially thought - by Banks - that the spears were poisoned. However, his senior officer quickly realised the 40-50 spears they had collected were used for fishing and the “poison” was in fact a resin used to attach the bone tips to the shaft.

The traditional owners have sought to have them returned from Trinity College, Cambridge, since the 1990s. Michael Ingrey, a Dharawal man, said the spears’ return has been “a long time coming”.

He added: “The emotions are mixed…a lot of the old people that started the campaign aren't with us any more to see their hard work and labour come to fruition.”

The spears were given to Trinity College by John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich in 1771, along with other artefacts collected during Cook’s explorations. The spears have been held at the university’s Museum of Archeology and Anthropology since the early 19th Century.

The spears were among the first artefacts to be removed from Australia after initial contact, making them “exceptionally significant” and the last from that era to remain.

“They reflect the beginnings of a history of misunderstanding and conflict,” said Nicholas Thomas, director of Cambridge’s archaeology museum.

The wood used to make the spears can still be found on Country where they will be re-homed. Senior elders continue to teach younger generations how to make the spears in very much the same way these important artefacts were fashioned.

Community representatives Quaiden Riley Williams and David Johnson at the ceremony. Photo: Jenny Magee (Courtesy Trinity College Cambridge website)

Building on a Sacred Site - National Aboriginal Art Gallery in Alice Springs

Mparntwe (Alice Springs) seeks to address its dwindling visiting numbers by building the National Aboriginal Art Gallery (NAAG) on Anzac Oval in the the centre of town.

This cultural initiative aims to celebrate 65,000 years of Aboriginal culture while controversially construction will be on a sacred women’s site. Doris Stuart Kngwarreye is an Arrente woman who is a senior custodian or Apmereke-Artweye for Mparntwe, a role she inherited through her father’s line when she was young. Stuart has opposed the proposed gallery site for years as the gallery’s proposed artworks will overlap the sacred sites and song lines of the traditional owners.

“If you put a building up there with stories that don’t belong there, how do you think the ancestors will feel towards that?” she said.

The prospect not only concerns the ancestors but indigenous, living artists like Western Arrarnta elder and artist Mervyn Rubuntja. "It's a women's site," he said. "You need to talk to the ladies first if they say yes or no, because it's important for every non-indigenous person to listen."

Despite consultations and recommendations that the gallery should be built in the Desert Knowledge Precinct, the Arrente women have been ridden over roughshod by the Labour MP Chansey Paech who took over the Arts, Culture and Heritage portfolio for the Northern Territory in 2020. Mr Paech, an Arrernte man, said Ms Stuart and her family had been invited into the consultations "at every stage".

The NT government have been accused of traditional owner shopping for approval for the Anzac Oval site. As such, custodian families are being torn apart, particularly as some of them don’t hold authority of the land in question.

Rather ironically NAAG does not currently hold an Aboriginal art collection and will rely on the consultative powers of Arrente woman Sera Bray to obtain art for the collection for the £130m project, due to start once the design consultation process ends late in 2023. As it is a sacred women's site, this may proof difficult.

For ABC article go to:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-14/national-aboriginal-art-gallery-new-name-flagged/101433054

Doris Stuart Kngwarreye on her home country. (ABC News: Kirstie Wellauer)

Quasicrystals and the Origin of Life - featuring our Emu Dreaming tile

Yankirri Jukurrpa (Emu Dreaming) painting by Geraldine Nangala Gallagher, 2015

Bay Gallery Home was slightly perplexed when academic John Gardiner contacted us for permission to use our Emu Dreaming tile as an example for his work on Quasicrystals in the NeuroQuantology journal.

Initially Gardiner told me the paper concerned aperiodic tiles. What on earth is an aperiodic tile? After a quick online search it turns out it is not a non-periodic tile. That cleared up everything! In any case he went on to consider the tile design in terms of quasicrystals and the origin of life.

When John sent the paper we were quite touched by the inclusion of the importance of Aboriginals connection to Country, “The cultures revere the state of things, as they are found, and how this leads to survival. Geology uses fractals to describe landscapes and Australian Aboriginal culture is at the point where initiates ARE the fractal landscape, weather and other living beings. For something to exist within Aboriginal culture it must be present in the physical or metaphysical world. This encompasses both contemporary and more traditional Dreamings.”

Yankirri Jukurrpa (Emu Dreaming) sits in a place 50km north of Yuendumu called Ngarlikurngu. The Jukurrpa story belongs to Nangala/Nampijinpa women and Jangala/Jampijinpa men within the Walpiri people of the Central Desert of Australia.

The paper is a fascinating study of possible events leading to the origins of life, involving “crystals being the substrate for the formation of the first life”.

To read the full paper please click on the button below.

Shortlisted for The Fabric Award: International Design and Architecture Awards

‘My Country’ botanical velvets - left to right Rosie Pink, Betty Pink, Daisy Brown, Lilly Green, Melita Dusty Pink

Exciting news! Bay Gallery Home’s innovative fabric collection has been shortlisted for a major award at this year’s International Design and Architecture Awards.

Our ‘My Country’ range has been chosen by the events’s curators, Design et al, to vie with famous brands like Liberty Fabrics for the prestigious Fabric Design Award. The winner will be chosen by a judging panel of 26,000 industry professionals and announced at the awards show in London in September.

The ‘My Country’ interiors collection has taken five years of dedication and investment to build and it is a joy to see it being recognised. It has been created against sometimes difficult challenges, including the pandemic, Australian wildfires, personal tragedies and, in the fabrics case, manufacturers going out of business just as the first prints came off the press, leaving me to start all over again.

So much has been poured into this creation, with us often to’ing an fro’ing across the world to spend days and nights in the car driving around our desert communities in search of beautiful Aboriginal artwork. It has a been a real family effort too - my mother is always at the wheel (driving 3000km from Brisbane) and my children squished into the back for the long journey from Alice Springs to “Outbush”.

Lots of adventures were had including my Mum greeting us at Lasseter’s Hotel in Alice in 2017 with a lump the size of a grapefruit on her lower leg. “Oh, don’t worry,” she shrugged as she helped load our bags into the boot. “It’s just a snake bite I got sleeping in the swag on the way here.”

There have been many hours spent slogging up and down the motorways of the UK searching of the right designers and manufacturers capable of making a product that can compete against the worlds best design houses.

‘My Country’ is a collection of 12 breathtaking designs - all taken from the work of some of the most talented artists among the oldest continuous race on Earth - on a range of five fabric bases. They are suitable for upholstery and soft furnishings including cushions, lamps and curtains.

Thank you to all those who have collaborated with us and bought from us over the years. We hope you agree it’s been worthwhile.

Wish us luck!

‘My Country’ fabrics are from paintings by: Lilly Kemarre Morton (Lilly Green) , Betty Pula Morton (Betty Pink) , Alana Ngwarraye Holmes (Alana Pink), Daisy Kemarre Turner (Daisy Brown), Joycie Pitjara Morton (Joycie Yellow), Michelle Pula Holmes (Michelle Blue), Rosie Ngwarraye Ross (Rosie Pink and Rosie Blue), Ruth Nungarrayi Spencer (Ruth PInk, Ruth Blue, Ruth Red) and Sarah Napurrurla Holmes (Bush Onion).

Images of some of them are below (left to right): Michelle Pula Holmes, Lilly Kemarre Morton, Betty Pula Morton, Rosie Ngwarraye Ross and Ruth Nungarrayi Spencer.

Photograph credits: Alexandra O’Brien, Adam Carter & Lara Damiani Think Films

Valentine Day Gift Ideas

Bay Gallery Home has many new gorgeous imported chinaware designs. Particularly lovely are the scented candles in fine bone china bowls featuring artwork by Aboriginal artists Coral Hayes Pananka and Nora Davidson.

The candle scents are devine!

There are many other Valentine gift ideas on our website including teapots, mugs, milk jugs, sugar bowls and platters, vases, cushions from the ‘My Country’ interior and of course our amazing original artworks by our Central Desert artists.

You can visit our Tetbury art gallery seven days a week or click below to visit our online shop.

Christmas Gift ideas - 'My Country' Aboriginal art cushions!

At Bay Gallery Home our gorgeous ‘My Country’ cushions are flying out the door with Christmas orders for them flying in.

Infused with 70,000 years of ancient culture our cushions bring you back to a place where our connection to earths natural beauty is freshly appreciated. Our cushions designs are translations of Aboriginal creation myths, law, topographical mapping, bush medicine and bush tucker. As each one is translated from Aboriginal paintings you are, in essence, buying an artwork while supporting the Central Desert artists and communities we represent.

The fabric collection comes in 12 different designs seven of which match our wallpapers. You can choose between cotton velvet, poly velvet, avanti linen and cotton fabrics in any of the designs. They are available ready made in 50x50cm, 40x40cm and various sized bolsters all with hidden zippers and feather or poly infills. Or you can order bespoke cushions.

Over the next few weeks we’ll be sharing more Christmas ideas with you including our wonderful upside down umbrellas which are perfect gifts for the people with everything!

Please get in touch with alexandra@baygalleryhome.com or call 077776 157 066 for more information regarding our cushions or making service.

Bay Gallery Home collaborates with Sample Library at Decorex International 2021

Bay Gallery Home is excited to announce we will be presenting our ‘My Country’ Aboriginal interiors collection in collaboration with Sample Library at Decorex International 10-13 October 2021.

Over the course of the show our samples will be available to view on the Sample Library stand G140.

On Monday from 11am we will be doing a two hour presentation where you will learn more about the origins of ‘My Country’, the Aboriginal artists we represent, the process of bringing the collection from painting to translation’s onto fabric, wallpaper, tiles and rugs. You’ll also see some of the original artworks!

Sample Library are holding a prize draw for people who sign up for an account with them during Decorex. Our Lilly Green cushion (from an artwork by Lilly Kemarre Morton) is among the prizes and usually retails for £60. Prizes will be drawn on Friday October 15th.

Bay Gallery Home has reopened!

Bay Gallery Home is very excited to welcome people back into our gallery now the lockdown has finally ended for non-essential retail.

This lockdown was harder than previous ones as we barely recovered from the Summer one before being thrust into the next two so it’s with great relief we can reopen giving you the opportunity to see the beautiful paintings we have imported during lockdown in the flesh.

We’ve also used the time we’ve been shut to make more velvet cushions and pouffes. You are going to love them! They feel and look amazing.

Come and feast your eyes on artwork by the oldest continuous race in the world. Indigenous communities across the world were particularly under threat from Covid but as the communities closed, very early on in the pandemic, across Australia they remained safe and in good health. The art centres are cautiously reopening so we’ll have more work arriving over the next couple of months.

Wishing you all the best and look forward to seeing old and new faces in our Tetbury, Cotswolds gallery.

'My Country' wallpapers bring Spring to your home

In the UK Spring has arrived with lambs tripping across daffodiled fields. To bring some of that beautiful outside spirit in your home our Joycie Yellow is the perfect choice. Joycie Yellow is often used to brighten bathrooms and kitchens. The many colours artist Joycie Pitjara Morton used in the original painting have translated splendidly onto the wallpaper. The oranges and greens pop depending on the light and angle its viewed at so there’s endless choices of fabric colours for blinds or other soft furnishings you can pair it with - including our own fabric collection. Or you can opt for one of our other ‘My Country’ wallpapers which are equally as endearing with their depictions of sacred outback Australian land.

Our wallpapers suit many residential and commercial projects and have been used across the world in English period homes, French chateus , and contemporary houses who’ve opted for minimalism but needing a pop of colour and design with soul.

What’s your favourite?

Stock is held in Australia so if you’re an Australian customer please be assured your ordered will be sent from there. If you contact us and you don’t get a reply please check your Spam. We always reply immediately.

New face masks have arrived!

Teddy Jakamarra Gibson, Emu Dreaming face mask

A range of Australian made 100% cotton face masks featuring beautiful Aboriginal Artwork have just arrived! There’s a filter pocket on the inside of the mask and using the adjustable nose wire, you can adjust the mask for a close fit to your face. Elastic loops fit around your ears to hold the mask in place. 
One size fits most. They are machine washable; washing is recommended after every use.

This mask does not claim to give you respiratory protection from viruses but may help prevent the spread of germs to others.

The Artists whose work is featured on the masks receive a royalty from the sale of each one benefiting them and their Community.

To see more designs and purchase go to:

https://www.baygalleryhome.com/face-masks-1

EC Collective - Australian Distributors

The ‘My Country’ collection of wallpapers, fabrics, tiles and rugs is now available through the Elliott Clarke showrooms in Australia. Bay Gallery Home’s award winning translation of Aboriginal artworks into interiors proudly sits among international artisanal brands selected for the EC Collective.

Brisbane Showroom
UNIT 2/269 Abbotsford Rd
Bowen Hills, QLD 4006
Email: qld@elliottclarke.com.au
Phone: +61 (07) 3852 1107

Sydney Showroom
15-19 Boundary Street
Rushcutters Bay, NSW 2011
Email: nsw@elliottclarke.com.au
Phone: +61 (02) 9361 6199

Melbourne Showroom
441 High Street
Prahran, VIC 3181
Email: vic@elliottclarke.com.au
Phone: +61 (03) 9516 3333

Elliott Clarke & Co
C/- Abbode Interior Products
49-51 Magill Rd
Tepney, SA 5069
Email: info@abbode.com.au
Phone: +61 (08) 8362 9909

Elliott Clarke & Co
Tessuiti & Moo
Unit 1/145 Stirling Hwy
Nedlands, WA 6009
Email: showroom@tessutimoo.com.au
Phone: +61 (08) 9389 8439

Vinterior Magazine - Art Edit

Vinterior the worldwide online vintage, antique and unique ethnic resale behemoth has published their first magazine. One of Bay Gallery Homes paintings by Flora Nakamarra Brown, Mina Mina Dreaming was curated by Louise McKinney for the magazines first Art Edit.

Louise McKinney of A-I-R, a collective of leading cultural advisers from around the world, previously lead development programmes for world class galleries: the Lisson, Serpentine and Whitechapel. To read more about Louise and see the other curated works for the Interior Art Edit please go to vinterior.co.

Telescope Style features Bay Gallery Home

Telescope Style seeks, curates and sells elegant, destination-inspired products for home & lifestyle. Items with a direct, unmistakable connection to a country, region, landscape or city. They source from well-travelled, design-led creatives, with a focus on quality, originality and timelessness. Bay Gallery Home is thrilled to be featured by Telescope Style on their latest blog.

Please follow the link below to the complete article.

For the full article go to https://www.telescopestyle.com/bay-gallery-home/

Dudgeon Sofas and Bay Gallery Home Ottoman collaboration

Following our Decorex International 2018 debut Bay Gallery Home collaborated with Dudgeon Sofas using our ‘My Country’ Ruth Blue velvet to upholster one of their signature ottomans. Dudgeon, a family run business have been making hand-made top quality upholstered furniture since 1947.

The Ruth Blue velvet ottoman is currently a key piece in their Fulham showroom so please contact Dudgeon Sofas www.dudgeonsofas.com or www.baygalleryhome.com with any queries regarding this piece or bespoke work using our fabrics.