sean richard smith

Selected projects | workshops

Sean facilitates creative workshops in Melbourne, Sydney, and throughout Australia’s extensive network of Aboriginal owned and controlled art and culture centres. To date he has worked closely with Elcho Island Arts (NT), Mardbalk Arts and Crafts (NT), Waralungku Arts (NT), Buku Larrnggay Mulka Centre (NT), Warlayirti Artists (WA), Warmun Art Centre (WA) Mowanjum Art and Culture Centre (WA), as well as The Ownership Project (VIC) and Koskela (NSW).

Images coming soon.

Screen-Printing Workshop – Mowanjum Art and Culture Centre (2018)

New Etchings from Elcho Island Arts (2018)

Editioning new prints from Elcho Island Arts artists: Margaret Gudumurrkuwuy, Ruth Lulwarriwuy, and Tommy Minburra.

Etching Training Workshop – Yirrkala Print Space, Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Centre (2017)

Sean worked closely with Yirrkala Print Space’s Manager, Munuy’ŋu Marika, and their young team of custom printers to create a large series of etchings by emerging and senior artists.

Outcomes:

Gapan Gallery, Garma Festival 2018.

Linocut Printing Workshop – Yirrkala Print Space, Buku Larrnggay Mulka Centre (2017)

In early 2017 Sean Smith travelled to Yirrkala Print Space, East Arnhem Land, to work with their print studio manager, Munuy’ŋu Marika. Over a three-week period, Sean and Munuy’ŋu tirelessly worked with senior and emerging artists to create and edition a large number of new multi-colour reduction lino prints.

Outcome:

Gapan Gallery, Garma Festival 2018 (Yirrkala)

Nomad Art Gallery (Darwin).

Etching Workshop - Yirrkala Print Space (Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Centre) (2016)

Sean spent two weeks working with leading Buku-Larrngay Mulka artists, Nyapanyapa Yunupingu, Mulkun Wirrpanda and Wanyubi Marika, to create a new and exciting series of etchings. Editioning occurred in Sean’s Melbourne studio.

Outcomes:

Gapan Gallery, Garma 2016.

GAPAN16, Chapman and Bailey, Melbourne, 16 September – 16 December 2016.

Nomad Art Gallery, Darwin.

Lining Printing workshop – Yirrkala Print Space (2016)

Ongoing lino printing series with artists from Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Project.

Artists: Nyapanyapa Yunupingu, Mulkun Wirrpanda, Marrnyula Munuŋgurr, Dhalmula #2 Burarrwaŋa, Djerrkngu Yunupiŋu, Ganybu Mununggurr, and Munuy’ŋu Marika and Barayuwa Munuŋgurr.

Outcome:

Gapan Gallery 2016, Garma Festival 2016 (Yirrkala)

Gapan 16, Chapman&Bailey (Melbourne).

Timor-Leste, Bali and West Papua Project – The Ownership Project (2015)

In 2014/15 Sean Smith facilitated a pilot print project with Timorese and West papuan communities in Kulin Biik/Melbourne. Working closely with fellow printmaker Kylie Blackley and The Ownership Project Gallery Coordinator Léuli Eshraghi, two artists undertook the initial pilot running from May-July 2014: Chico dos Santos from Timor-Leste and Artur Brotolaras from Bali, Java and Mi'kmaq First Nation. Both first-time artists were exceedingly motivated to create high quality etchings and relief woodblock prints in the month-long pilot project. From August, first-time artist Amos Wainggai from West papua joined the project, working on new etchings, and the project was extended over a twelve month period.

Artists Artur Brotolaras, Chico dos Santos and Amos Wainggai continued into the second phase of the project from late 2014 into August 2015, focussing on edition print training, with printmaker Sean Smith. 

Finding the Minority Voice in Art, a feature article on the artists and the project, was published in Peril, an Asian Australian arts magazine by writer Jarni Blakkerly.

Marking the successful completion of a suite of new woodblock prints and etchings, My Country exhibition concluded the project September 2015, part of Craft Cubed Festival.

Outcome:

My Country exhibition, held at The Ownership Project as part of the Craft Cubed Festival (Melbourne)

Finding the Minority Voice by Jarni Blakkerly publicised in Peril, an Asian Australian arts magazine.

Desert Printing: The Road to Wirrimanu – Waryirrlirti Artists (2013)

In 2013 Sean Smith was invited to assist in the facilitation of a Japanese woodblock print workshop engaging senior male artists from Balgo Community, Western Australia. Over five days six artists were engaged. For all participants involved this was their first experience of the traditional Japanese woodblock printing process.

Jacqueline Gribbin and Sean Smith also presented a paper on the workshop, titled Desert Printing - The Road to Wirimanu, at the International Mokuhanga Conference 2014, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. Their paper was also published in UK print magazine, Printmaking Today.

Artists: Helicopter Tjungurrayi, Sydney Moody, Larry Gundora, Bonney James, David Mudgedell, and Quinton Milner.

Outcome:

Acquisition into the Gallery of New South Wales collection.

Nomad Art Gallery, Darwin.

Northern Editions, Darwin.

Presentation at Tokyo University, part of International Mokuhanga Conference 2014.

Publication in Printmaking Today, United Kingdom.

The Yuta Project (2012 and 2013) – Yirrkala Print Space (Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Centre) (2012/13)

The Yuta Project was a youth driven series of workshops held at Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Art Centre in Yirrkala, Northern Territory. These workshops have resulted in a series of prints & etchings produced by young Yolngu artists. This remarkable project has empowered the individual in the community, without boundaries or judgment, by providing a safe space where young Yolngu can involve themselves artistically. The project aimed itself at youth who are not engaged with mainstream schooling. These contemporary and sophisticated artworks are a reflection of what these young people find important in their daily lives and are a powerful insight into issues facing Indigenous youth in Yirrkala. They are also a testament to the immense talent the next generation of artists in the region hold.

Sean Smith worked closely with Ruby Djikarra Alderton (Facilitator) and Annie Studd (Studio Manager) from the art centre in making this project a success.

Outcomes:

Harvey Arts Project (Idaho) (2013)

The Ownership Project (Melbourne) (2012)

Balnhdhurr – A Lasting Impression (National touring exhibition) (2017-18)

Textile Workshop – Mardbalk Arts and Craft (2013)

A three week textile screen-printing and gallery management project at Mardbalk Arts and Crafts.

Second Acrylic Painting Workshop – Elcho Island Arts (2013)

A follow up acrylic painting workshop at Elcho Island Arts.

Outcome:

Darwin Art Fair

The Kerry Stokes Collection

Yolngu Dhawu ga Rom (Yolngu stories and lore) – Elcho Island Arts (2012)

In 2012 Sean returned to Elcho Island Arts, Galiwinku, to collaborate with local artists. During the three week workshop, artists created limited edition prints centred on the themes of men’s and women’s business. Tommy Minburra and Andrew Markula created a series of culturally significant prints based on ceremonial designs painted onto the chests of young boys during Dhapi ceremony, marking a right of passage into manhood. Female artists chose to focus on subjects relating to their daily lives creating prints depicting pandanus weavings and bush tucker. Overall, the workshop resulted in a strong body of work with bolder designs and brighter colours than previous workshops.

Artists included: Charmaine Ashley, Katrina Burrawanga, David Djarrkara, Mavis W Ganambarr, Susan Bonal Ganambarr, Terrence Gaypalwani, Jocelyn Gumirrmirr, Mary Guyula, Ruth Lulwarriwuy, Joe Manyguluma, Andrew Markuka, Tommy Minburra, Sandy Pascoe, Elizabeth Rukarriwuy, Frank Wunuymurra, Johnny Yirryirrngu.

Exhibition:

Part collection exhibited at Alcaston Gallery, 2010.

Money Business Mural Project – Northern Territory Government (2012)

Ten local artists from Elcho Island worked in collaboration with Sean Smith over three weeks to transform the Money Management Services Building in Galwin’ku into a kaleidoscope of colour. Over the three-week project Sean liaised closely with well known indigenous artists to revamp the Money Management Services building, located in the middle of the remote community.

‘We have been overwhelmed by the response by the community.. It has given the community a colourful lift, something to be proud of for a long time’ – EASC Money Management Service Coordinator, Gina Rainbird.

Artists: Mavis Ganambarr, Tommy Minburra, Timmy Galalingu, Djulima Burrawanga, Linda Namiyal, Richard Ghandhuwuy, Margaret Dhorrpuy, Ruth Lulwarriwuy, Sandy Pascoe and Margaret Gudurmurrkuwuy.

Cultural Mural Project – Marthakal Homeland Resource Centre (2011)

Sean Smith worked closely with Marthakal Homelands Resource Centre to assist with realising a large mural project at the communities only motel. The project was lead by local artists with the aim of providing visitors with an awareness of Indigenous culture. Over a three week period the formally dreary building made up predominantly of demountable dongas was transformed into a colourful and culturally enlightening canvas and a source of pride for the community.

Folio Sets with Margaret Gudumurrkuwuy – Elcho Island Arts (2009)

While working at Elcho Island Arts Sean worked closely with Margaret Gudumurrkuwuy, an emerging artist based in Galiwin’ku, Northern Territory. Over a few weeks they created three story series, 'Brolga Story, Buffalo Story, and Bark Story. Each story consisted of three text based woodblock prints and three corresponding multicolour woodblock illustrations.

Outcome:

Dhapirrk Djama, Alcaston Gallery, 1 –23 December 2009.

Collection: Artphilein Foundation, Liechtenstein.