Stairway from Heaven by Helen Norton

Artwork

Escape!

Shinju Matsuri Art Award Winner 1992 Helen Norton is a celebrated Australian narrative artist from Broome and this work is proudly displayed in the Broome library. This enigmatic painting depicts an Aboriginal woman in the disguise of a nun, rescuing Aboriginal children from a group of Europeans in Christian uniforms. It is the outback version of William Blake’s protest against the treatment of the dispossessed young by “official” Christianity in 19th Century England. The painting delves into the complex and often conflict-ridden relationship of a clumsily dominating European society with the First Nation people, set against the well-loved red cliffs of Broome's coast.

Available at:

Shire of Broome Art Collection

Kimberley artists abound

The Shinju Matsuri Art Awards is an open competition and exhibition for Broome and Kimberley based artists, held every year as a core event of Broome’s annual Shinju Matsuri Festival. The overall...

Address:

Shire Administration Centre
Crn of Weld and Haas Street
Broome WA 6725
Australia

Tel:

(08) 9191 3456

Email:

shire@broome.wa.gov.au

Open Hours

Mon to Fri 9am - 4pm

Return to collection to read more

Head of Sammy the Dragon

Sammy the Dragon

This is one of the early versions of Sammy the Dragon, who has been the mascot of the Shinju Matsuri Festival since its inception in 1980. Sammy, like all Chinese dragons, is thought to bring good...

"Kalpurtu", by Jimmy Pike

A desert Rainbow Serpent

Shinju Matsuri Art Award Winner 1994 This is Japingka – the home country of Jimmy Pike, a jila (permanent water place) inhabited by a rainbow serpent – Kalpurtu. The bold silhouettes of two figures...