12 International Women’s Day
THURSDAY 2 MARCH 2023 TORRES NEWS
CELEBRATING OUR LOCAL FEMALE
Artists & Cultural Practitioners MOANA AHWANG
WASIE TARDENT
ROSALINE TOMSANA
PAULA SAVAGE
Known for her acrylic work on canvas, Moana is an innovative Torres Strait artist that expresses her culture and stories through visual contemporary pieces. Moana’s style is unique and uses bold bright colours, metallic paint and eyecatching designs.
Ama Wasie is a cultural weaver, specialising in natural fibre weaving and jewellery making. Her immense talent also extends to jewellery-making and accessories. Ama Wasie launched her long-awaited autobiography at the tender age of seventy-nine.
Aunty Rose hails from Kubin Village on Mua Island. A proud Kaurareg woman and Kala Lagaw Ya speaker, she delivers regular workshops at Gab Titui Cultural Centre and is excited to soon travel overseas for the first time to facilitate workshops in Fiji.
Paula is from the clan group Serganilgal on Moa Island and Kaurareg of Muralag. Her works are based on her cultural heritage, stories in traditional knowledge, techniques and styles. Paula has grown her craft to include printmaking, weaving, drawing and carving.
Acrylic on canvas by Moana Creations
Lei Ribbon Necklace by Wasie Tardent
Beaded Earring by Rosaline Tomsana
Raffia bag by Paula Savage (Moa Arts)
MARGARET MARA
FIONA ELISALA-MOSBY
GOEYNAW ISUA
NANCY KIWAT
Margaret is a First Nation’s artist based at Badu Art Centre. Margaret’s artwork entitled “My Journey My Way” was featured on the North Queensland Cowboys 2022 Indigenous Jersey. Her works are inspired by her life experiences, and stories from her mother.
Originally from Dauan Island, Fiona graduated from Queensland College of Art with a Bachelor of Visual Art in Contemporary Australian Indigenous Art. She is a role model and based at Moa Arts. Fiona works primarily with lino printing, etching and monoprints.
Proud Saibailaig and avid cultural practitioner, Goeynaw is a natural entertainer. Her traditional kaikai demonstrations at the Gab Titui Cultural Centre are part instructional, part comic relief. Elders, children and visitors alike, all enjoy her interactive workshops.
Raised on Erub, Nancy Kiwat is a threetime Gab Titui Indigenous Art Award Winner and a renowned artist. Her tribal clan is Saisarem and she draws from her cultural heritage, community and family for inspiration. Nancy is renowned for her 3D sculptures.
‘Coral Spawning’ acrylic on canvas
Humanity State by Fiona Elisala-Mosby
Goeynaw Cooking for QLD Weekender TV
Kara Ama Woven by Nancy Kiwat
NANCY NONA
MARGARET GABEY
LAURA DE JERSEY
NAZARETH FAUID
Nancy proudly shares her traditional knowledge through weaving and cooking workshops. A First Nations fashion model and television food stylist, Nancy has applied her expert eye to styling her beach shack at Alup on Badu Island; one of American Forbes Magazine’s best 2023 travel destinations.
Margaret Gabey, affectionately known as Nayama has bloodlines from Mer to Mabuyag. Nayama is a talented ukulele player, singer and cultural weaver who creates extraordinary pieces using contemporary and natural fibres; pandanus, coconut fronds and cane.
From the Argun/Thupmal clan of Badu Island, She likes exploring and learning different mediums including acrylic on canvas and linen, works on paper, photography and digital art. Laura’s creations are based around the themes of connections to family and country.
Nazareth resides on the central island of Poruma. Her totem is Samu, and traditional language dialect is Kulkalgau Ya. She thoroughly enjoys each element of the creative process and is a gifted craftsperson excelling in jewellery making, basket weaving and carving.
Weaving workshop hosted by Nancy
Ukulele singing at workshop hosted by Nayama
‘Sea Shells’ acrylic on canvas
Raffia earrings
07 4069 0888
Corner Blackall St & Victoria Pde Thursday Island
