Feeling for Pattern: 50 Years of Tiwi Pottery

In 1969, six Aboriginal men from Milingimbi, Port Keats (Wadeye) and Bathurst Island began their traineeships at Bagot Pottery: a ceramic and clay processing unit founded by the Northern Territory Welfare Department and the Department of Industrial Arts at the University of New South Wales. 2018 marks the 50 year anniversary of the establishment of a pottery studio at Bagot Reserve in Darwin.

Two Tiwi men, Eddie Puruntatameri and John Bosco Tipiloura showed particular promise and upon their return to Bathurst Island in 1972 they established Tiwi Pottery. Over a decade later in 1984 Pirlangimpi Pottery, was established on Melville Island.

Feeling for Pattern: 50 years of Tiwi pottery is a small exhibition of Tiwi pottery highlighting the evolution, style and direction of Tiwi pottery over 50 years.

For more information: www.magnt.net.au/feelingforpattern