Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair
- Words by Peppermint
Connection, community, Country… oh and COVID-19 — as the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (DAAF) kicks off again next week, things are set to look a little different as the event moves online for the first time in its history.
Now in its 14th year, DAAF will run for nine days from 6 August on the DAAF website and social channels. This year Peppermint is proud to partner with the event and its vibrant program of cultural performances, artist workshops and demonstrations, Indigenous food experiences and panel discussions.
On top of its diverse public program, DAAF allows for a rich exchange of art, culture and ideas with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. As we all continue the work that comes with becoming a better ally to Indigenous people here in Australia, the event is a great way to engage with the rich heritage and vibrant culture of our First Nations people.
Creativity can be expressed and shared in many ways, so moving beyond the boundaries of a physical fair made sense in 2020, particularly given our collective yearning for a sense of connection and meaning as we move out of lockdown.
IMAGE: 2019 DARWIN ABORIGINAL ART FAIR. PHOTO BY DYLAN BUCKEE.
“Creativity can be expressed and shared in many ways, so moving beyond the boundaries of a physical fair made sense in 2020, particularly given our collective yearning for a sense of connection and meaning as we move out of lockdown,” DAAF Foundation Executive Director Claire Summers shared. “It’s exciting to be able to deliver DAAF in such an engaging and accessible format – by moving to a digital platform, we can reach a truly global audience and help people from all walks of life explore the wonderful world of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art and design.”
This year although DAAF’s annual Country to Couture event won’t be going ahead, organisers will launch the National Indigenous Fashion Awards (NIFA) on NITV’s social media channels on 5 August. Developed as a platform to recognise and celebrate the innovation, diversity and ethical practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and fashion designers, NIFA will provide opportunities for growth through business development, mentorship, financial support and promotion and skills development.
IMAGE: CHILDREN’S WORKSHOP WITH ANINDILYAKWA ARTS AT 2019 DARWIN ABORIGINAL ART FAIR. PHOTO BY DYLAN BUCKEE.
IMAGE: 2019 DARWIN ABORIGINAL ART FAIR. PHOTO BY DYLAN BUCKEE.
“Showcasing vibrant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander traditions in new contemporary forms enables us to share the powerful stories which have connected Australia’s First Nations Peoples to this country since time immemorial,” NIFA Creative Director, Nina Fitzgerald, said. “Fashion is a medium which transcends cultural boundaries, and can be the vehicle to bring people together.”
Still boasting all the usual excitement and vibrancy of the real-life Fair, the digital program has been thoughtfully curated to offer a series of online events including basket weaving, watercolour painting, artist talks and cultural performances. While some events have already sold out, others are selling fast so check out our pick of the bunch below.
IMAGE: ARPAKA DANCERS FROM THURSDAY ISLAND AT 2019 DARWIN ABORIGINAL ART FAIR. PHOTO BY DYLAN BUCKEE.
IMAGE: MORNINGTON ISLAND DANCERS AT 2019 DARWIN ABORIGINAL ART FAIR. PHOTO BY DYLAN BUCKEE.
Both Ways, Baskets Weaving
Sit with master weavers from Groote Eylandt, including Maicie Lalara who recently returned from an art residency in Jakarta, to learn the basics of weaving baskets using ghost nets, along with recycled fabrics and pandanus fibres.
Friday 7 August
12.30pm – 2:00pm (ACST)
Hands on Watercolour Painting
Acclaimed artists from Iltja Ntjarra Art Centre will teach a watercolour landscape masterclass. Learn how to paint the beautiful desert sky, the MacDonnell Ranges, and the iconic white gumtrees.
Monday 10 August
1:00pm – 2:30pm (ACST)
Artists of Iltja Ntjarra Many Hands Art Centre
Artists of Iltja Ntjarra Many Hands Art Centre, Mervyn Rubuntja, Clara Inkamala and Selma Nunay Coulthard, will share stories and insight into their varied careers as artists and teachers with Indigenous curator Tina Baum.
Friday 7 August
1.00pm – 1.45pm (ACST)
The Monster Net Project
Join artists Annabel Amagula and Maicie Lalara for their talk, ‘The Monster Net Project’, about their Asialink Artist in Residence project, facilitated by Erin Vink.
Friday 7 August
11.00am – 11.45am (ACST)
Long Water: Fibre Stories
‘Long Water: Fibre Stories’ artists, Susan Balbunga, Fiona Elisala-Mosby, Ruth Nalmakarra and Lucy Simpson, join exhibition curator, Freja Carmichael, in conversation, as the artists discuss their work and personal connections to salt water and fresh water Country.
Friday 14 August
11.00am – 11:45am (ACST)
Mornington Island Dancers
Since their very first public performance in Cairns in August 1964, the Mornington Island Dancers have been sharing Traditional Lardil culture with audiences.
Monday 10 August
11:00am – 11:30am (ACST)
Free online event via Facebook
TOP IMAGE: ELCHO ISLAND ARTS BOOTH AT 2019 DARWIN ABORIGINAL ART FAIR BY DYLAN BUCKEE.
JOIN OUR MAILING LIST
Brighten up your inbox with our not-too-frequent emails featuring Peppermint-related news, events, competitions and more!
explore
More articles
Have you made the Viola Quilted Jacket yet? This pattern hits the sweet spot for both established sewists keen to learn a new skill (quilting!),…
Hang out with us on Instagram
“My piece of advice for makers and designers? Run your own race… make sure your key decisions stay anchored in your brand’s core beliefs.”
- Bec Bligh
Quick show of hands: who’s opened a water bottle expecting a refreshing sip… and instead been greeted by the unmistakable whiff of uh-oh?
Because for something that follows us everywhere (desk, car, hikes, yoga…), the humble drink bottle is strangely prone to becoming a science experiment. Hard-to-clean corners and gaskets. Mystery smells. Bec Bligh and her husband Tim know it well. A six-month sailing trip along the Queensland coast left them with a lifetime of memories and one stubborn annoyance: mouldy water bottles they couldn’t properly clean.
So they did something about it.
Enter @EverVessel. Thoughtfully designed borosilicate glass and stainless steel bottles that keep things beautifully simple: durable materials, wide openings, easy-to-clean parts and none of the techy gimmicks that tend to age badly. Turns out simplicity, done well, is pretty powerful stuff. (Their many design awards agree!)
And lately they’ve added a little extra delight: the Artist Series, where creatives like Paola Castro, Ben Miners and Martin Thompson transform these everyday companions into tiny travelling artworks. There are more colabs in the works, too: hydration, but make it joyful! 🎨💧
We chatted with Bec about the sailing trip that started it all, the philosophy behind Ever Vessel, and why the most sustainable product is often just the one you keep using.
Tap the link in our bio to read the full conversation. 🚰
#EverVessel #ReusableWaterBottle
Pull up a chair… there’s room at this table!
For the first time, Feast for Freedom is bringing people together for a spectacular long-table dinner as part of the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival.
A Longer Table is exactly what it sounds like: one beautiful shared table inside the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (@Asrc1), piled with generous dishes inspired by this year’s hero cooks, Noha and Nige.
From 6 to 9pm on Wednesday, 25 March, this is what you can expect:
🍽 A three-course shared feast
🍷 Matched drinks
🎶 Live entertainment
✨ A room full of good humans
Your ticket doesn’t just buy you a delicious dinner. It supports the ASRC’s vital work and helps create a fairer future for people seeking asylum.
Seats are limited, and long tables have a way of filling up quickly – head to @MelbFoodAndWine’s website to book now: feastforfreedom.org.au/mfwf
#FeastForFreedom #MelbourneFoodAndWineFestival #LongTableDinner #FoodForChange
Sew versatile! 🪡
Another great make from Lisa from @SunnySewsEveryday:
My #PeppermintWaratahWrapDress is finished and I’m so proud of it. It has been designed not to flap open and flash your pants in the wind, so I feel confident it will be a great wheelchair or standing dress in English weather.
#PeppermintPatterns #WrapDress #WrapDressPattern
Frame your face with the Peppermint Bucket Hat!
Stay safe and stylish in the sun with your very own self-sewn and self-drafted wide-brimmed bucket hat. This beginner-friendly sew is perfect for a sunny day. Get out your pencils – this pattern is created using equations and maths!
This DIY project was featured in Issue 53 and now you can access it for the lovely low price of only $5.
Sun-safe chic is always in style. ☀️
Find it via the link in our bio!
Photos: @KelleySheenan
#PeppermintPatterns #PeppermintBucketHat #BucketHat #BucketHatPattern #DIY
✨ INSTANT CLASSIC ✨
The Peppermint Myrtle Shift Dress is a beginner-friendly make with a few special details based on the ever-stylish shift shape – the perfect dress you need in your wardrobe right now!
Myrtle cuts above the knee with options to customise the length. Don’t think she’s reserved for hot weather either: try a heavier-weight fabric to turn your Myrtle into a pinafore-style garment for layering.
For our fabrics we chose two from our lovely sewing partner @Karmme_Apparel – the bold Rottnest Stripes in a lightweight, soft-drape cotton, and the quality linen in the handpainted Mexico Collection.
Get making the Myrtle – the only question is, can you stop at just one?
Link in bio 🪡
Fabric: @Karmme_Apparel
Sewist: @Laura_The_Maker
Photos: @KelleySheenan
Models: @SerahSews and @Pins_And_Tonic
Location: @ShareTheDignityAustralia
#PeppermintMyrtleShiftDress #PeppermintPatterns
It’s time to Feast!
Some recipes travel a long way before they land on your table to delight your taste buds. This year’s Feast for Freedom invites us to gather our friends, cook something delectable and raise funds for the incredible work of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (@Asrc1) while we’re at it.
The 2026 Feast features recipes shared by two remarkable cooks: Noha, who brought the flavours of Palestine with her when she arrived in Australia, and Nige, a Sri-Lankan Tamil cook whose journey with food began in the most unexpected of places.
You can host your own Feast up until 30 April – simply register online and get planning! Host a dinner, organise a workplace lunch, or gather your community… However you do it, the idea is simple: cook, connect and celebrate the cultures and stories that shape Australia.
Want to find out more? Head to the link in bio to meet Noha and Nige, learn more about their stories, and discover a delicious recipe to try.
#FeastForFreedom #PeppermintMagazine #FoodForGood #ASRC
