Lockhart River old girls (Lockhart River artists)

Ngana ku'unchikamu miintha mutpulu ma'upina

We 'Old Girls' make good paintings together. Artists Maria Butcher, Elizabeth 'Queenie' Giblett, Susie Pascoe, Doris Platt and Dorothy Short - the self-proclaimed 'Old Girls' of Lockhart River - held a successful group exhibition of their paintings in Brisbane's Andrew Baker Gallery in December 2008.

All the women except Doris were born in the 1930s at Lockhart River 'Old Site'. For decades they have formed the backbone of their community.

Having made woven Puunyas (grass dilly-bags) and Ulku (water and baby carriers) since childhood, the artists recently began painting with acrylics on canvas. The artists have quickly become skilled in this new, expressive medium, producing distinctive works.

Each artist has their own style that speaks of their connections to the land. Pascoe's use of colour and bold shapes create vibrant landscapes often reflect a bird's eye view of the land. The strong lines in Queenie Giblett's works create a rhythmic dance across the canvas, as do Platt's, whose White River embodies the power of the river with its lines suggestive of curtains of water. The repetitive, cross-hatch patterns Butcher's Fig Tree Aerial Roots paintings create contrasting perspectives of closeness and distance. Short chooses a freer form of expression, placing objects and patterns on the canvas in a loose structure.

Art collectors have been quick to recognise the artists' talents and bought paintings for private collections. Public galleries have also recognised the importance of the works and purchased paintings to add to their collections.

The exhibition Ngana ku'unchikamu miintha mutpulu ma'upina (We 'Old Girls' make good paintings together) also featured fibre works from Lockhart River's women artists. The exhibition ran from 26 November to 20 December at the Andrew Baker Art Dealer Gallery in Bowen Hills, Brisbane.