BLAK MANTA Exhibition Talk
July 4, 2026 11:00 am to July 4, 2026 12:00 pm
About
DATE: Saturday 4 July 2026
TIME: 11:00am - 12:00pm
WHERE: Wagga Wagga Art Gallery | Margaret Carnegie Gallery
COST: FREE - RSVP Essential
Please join us at the Wagga Wagga Art Gallery for a special exhibition talk to kick off NAIDOC Week 2026. We are delighted to be hosting artist Nyunmiti Burton and Skye O'Meara from the APY Art Centre Collective. Come along and find out more about the APY Collective, the Adelaide ceramics studio and the collaborative nature of the community that exists in the APY Art Centres. A perfect chance to see the BLAK MANTA exhibition one last time on its final weekend.
NYUNMITI BURTON: was born in Alice Springs in 1960. She grew up in Pukatja (Ernabella) with her parents where she attended school. After completing her final school years at Yirara College in Alice Springs, Nyunmiti moved back to Ernabella and began her first job at the arts and crafts centre working with batik. Nyunmiti has held many leadership positions and holds a respected and senior position within her community. Nyunmiti was integral in the formation of the APY Art Centre Collective and a vocal campaigner for establishing a base and art studio for Anangu in Adelaide. Nyunmiti is also an Anangu Manager for the organisation and plays a key role in inspiring and encouraging young men and women into the art centre. Nyunmiti paints her country and the important stories found within, including the Seven Sister's Story. When she paints, Nyunmiti is remembering stories passed down to her from her father, mother and grandfather. She is thinking about how a long time ago they used to look after the country, there was plenty of food and families were happy travelling around from place to place.
SKYE O'MEARA: is the CEO of the APY Art Centre Collective. Skye has extensive experience in the Indigenous visual arts sector having supported the management of government grant and investment programs for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Board at Australia Council from 2002. Skye began her work with Anangu artists in 2007 in her role as Art Centre Manager of Tjala Arts. In 2012 APY Elders began developing regional programs, projects and priorities that were the catalyst to the inception of the APY Art Centre Collective and its thriving program today. This included the Kulata Tjuta project, regional painting camps, an international program, in addition to supporting Elders to develop the first of its kind bush-to-board room gallery model. Skye has demonstrated a commitment to the Elders vision in supporting a safe and ethical Indigenous Arts Industry. In 2016 Skye worked closely with staff and Directors of Art Centres across APY Communities harnessing over $200k in funding to support the Purple House Renal Facility in Ernabella. This is one of several projects that the APYACC has supported that focuses purely on Indigenous Health and wellbeing outcomes. In Skye’s term with the APYACC, it has established three fine art galleries supporting career pathways for young and early career artists, and three start-up Art Centres in Coober Pedy, Port Augusta and Adelaide.