Sunshine Coast artist Jandamarra Cadd is in line for Visual Artist of the Year at this year’s Deadlys. The Deadlys vision is to showcase the achievements and contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to our community and to Australian society as well as excellence in their field, and this is the second time Jandamarra has been up for the gong.
“I was a finalist in 2011 as well”, shares Mr Cadd, “and the experience of being amongst so many amazing people of our mob in the Opera House was quite humbling and awe-inspiring”.
Jandamarra (a Yorta Yorta man) with an art career spanning 25 years, began visually documenting stories from his tribal area and over time has evolved to become primarily a portrait artist. He uses a variety of styles and mediums, favouring oil on canvas, and uses his art to express messages of unity and unconditional love.
In the past 12 months, Jandamarra has toured the first ever portrait exhibition of entirely Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander role models. This exhibition was born out of a desire to bring pride to the indigenous people of their amazing role models, and also to bring deeper awareness and knowledge of the wider community about indigenous people. It was exhibited in 8 galleries throughout metropolitan and regional Victoria and Queensland and included subjects such as Jessica Mauboy, Christine Anu, William Cooper, Sir Doug Nichols and Archie Roach and the late Ruby Hunter. It was exhibited locally in Nambour, Eudlo and the Gympie Regional Gallery.
Within the Sunshine Coast community, Jandamarra is continually sought after to be involved in mentoring projects, workshops and community events. Recently, he spoke at the inaugural TEDxNoosa where he shared about how as a society we can learn much from Indigenous culture about sustainability and living in harmony as a society.
As an artist, Jandamarra continues to exhibit and paint and is now working towards his next Solo Exhibition “Ceremony” that will celebrate and highlight the importance of the passing on of customs and traditions and keeping valuable culture alive.
The 19th annual Deadlys will be held at the Sydney Opera House on 10th September, showcasing the achievements and contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across the nation.
If you’d like to support Jandamarra in his contributions to the community, you can go to http://www.deadlys.com.au/vote/ to cast a vote. Voting closes on the 18th August 2013.
JANDAMARRA’S ART
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