Our Artists:
Whats Available:
- Art Gallery & shop
- handmade Didgeridoos
- Boomerangs
- Aboriginal Meeting Place
- Schools Educational Programs
- Artists Studio Space
- Resource Centre
Bindi is a Aboriginal Arts + Crafts & Cultural Centre located 2 km north-west of Wauchope in the Central Coast region of New South Wales.
The members of Bindi are the Birapai & Dunghutti people and have strong traditional and historical associations with the surrounding country.
Bindi have been producing stunning paintings, wood carvings and other artefacts, from the centre since 1994. The centre has developed from a bus, to the now vibrant cottage which was relocated to the property.
The cottage remains in use by members
of Bindi as a centre for the production of art works.
Please come along and see the great range of art & artefacts for sale to the public.
Isabell was born in Kempsey NSW in 1946 and is a member of the Daingutti and Biripai people. Isabell has been an artist all of her life learning from her grandmother and grandfather who were traditional artists and artefact manufacturers.
Isabell’s talent has developed over the years, her paintings representing the stories of her child-hood, the traditions that have been passed down and the new issues that have impacted on her family and friends. One of her recent thought provoking paintings (Cancer- 2006) has probably touched us all. It shows the different forms of cancer that attack the body eating away at its heath, and, the circles of family, friends, medicine and culture that are needed to maintain the strength to fight this affliction. Unfortunately even those circles that protect us are sometimes not strong enough to break its invading presence.
Isabell has 4 children, 16 grandchildren and is soon to be a great grandma. Her children have followed in her footsteps being fine artists who are developing a reputation throughout the world. Not only does Isabell each her own children and grandchildren but she actively participates in her local community teaching at School functions and community venues. She and her husband Frank Snr, are well respected elders of the community.
Her art works hang in prominent locations and private home throughout the world. Isabell is also an extremely capable seamstress and designs and hand sews a range of hand printed Aboriginal print clothing.
Exhibitions:
- Olympics 2000 Sydney exhibition
- the Sydney Affordable Art show 2005
- Oceanic Indigenous Art Show Sydney 2006
- The gift and HomewareS Show Sydney 2008
- Arts and Craft exhibition Japan 1993
- Australia Trade San Francisco 1998
- Spirit of the Outback Sedona USA 2002
- Exhibitions also in Hong Kong and France.
Maria was born in Kempsey NSW in 1966. She has lived in the Hastings River area most of her life, being a member of the Dungutti and Biripai people. She has 2 children and 1 grandchild.
Maria was greatly influenced by her mother Isabelle Moran, whose broad range of diverse art is to be found all over the world. The family, due to their love of Art and culture formed the Aleira Heritage Arts and Culture Aboriginal Corporation which is further developing its art, extending the range of art and artefacts and introducing tourism and land management into its enterprise development concepts. This family has a long line of dynamic artists and artefacts manufacturers going back for many generations.
The Spirit of the Outback Gallery purchased an amazing hand painted turtle shell that Maria had designed and painted. Many of her artworks are sold overseas and in Australia. She has also won collective awards with the other Bindi artists for her involvement in the Cowarra Dam project and the 2007 Greater Port Macquarie Small Business Award.
Maria is determined to see her children and her grandchildren benefit from her work, and for the non-Indigenous people to have a better understanding of the culture and history of her people. She has spent many hours teaching in schools from the Hastings to Newcastle, in primary, high and preschools. Maria has also undertaken many courses including Information Technology and Advanced Diploma in Applied Aboriginal studies and visual arts to improve her own knowledge and independence.
Maria’s art style, like any artist is developing and changing as her experiences and techniques expand. She focuses on the creatures and landscapes associated with the river and ocean environments that she lives near. Using the traditional dot methods, but the vibrant colours of the Pt Macquarie region her art work makes a worthwhile investment or decorative piece for any household. Maria is also a very capable silk painter, fabric printer including batik and screen print, mosaics and tiles artist and wall mural designer.
Exhibitions:
- The Sydney affordable art show 2005
- Oceanic Indigenous Art Show Sydney 2006
- The Homeware and Giftware Show Sydney 2008
- Art and craft Exhibition 1993
- Australia Trade San Fransisco 1998
- Spirit of the Outback Sedona USA 2002
- Hong Kong & France
Gary is a descendant from the Dungutti Tribe. He was born in Wauchope in 1957. He has lived in the area all of his life and knows its history and people well.
Gary spent is childhood swimming and fishing on the Hastings river with his family and friends. After leaving school he did various jobs as a mill hand and farm hand until he started working for Bindi Aboriginal Art over 10years ago. He became more interested in Aboriginal Arts and Crafts under this influence and completed certificates I, II and III in Visual Arts at Wauchope TAFE. He soon developed a reputation for unique and detailed traditional and contemporary artworks and artefacts. Some of his work has sold at the prestigious Blue Pole Art gallery in Byabarra. Gary was also one of the artists chosen to work on the Public art project at Cowarra Dam (consisting of decorative poles and mosaics works) which won a local council Indigenous Art prize.
Gary’s art works are inspired by his childhood, and the animals, people and landscapes he sees around him. Gary has developed his own style of artworks incorporating the traditional dot methods in a contemporary and vibrant style.
Exhibitions:
- the Olympics 2000 exhibition,
- the Sydney Affordable Art show 2005,
- the Oceanic Indigenous Art Show Sydney 2006 and,
- the Rainbow Patch Exhibition in 2008.
Frank John Moran was born in Newcastle in 1975. He was the second child and eldest son of Frank and Isabell Moran.
Frank has a strong cultural connection which he has built on over the years, through the development of not only his visual art, but also through dance and performance including didgeridoo playing. His art has progressed and developed; exploring new medium including wood sculpture.
Frank’s unique style includes a mixture of contemporary and traditional signs and designs to portray his life experiences, memories and the tribal lore that has been passed down from generations. He is a young father of 6 children and is determined that they will be raised knowing and being proud of their culture and heritage. His family come from a long line of artists and artefact manufacturers and he has developed the skills of both.
Exhibitions:
- Olympics 2000 Sydney exhibition
- Sydney Affordable Art show 2005
- Oceanic Indigenous Art Show Sydney 2006
- The Gift and Home Ware Show Sydney 2008
- Arts and Craft exhibition Japan 1993
- Australia Trade San Francisco 1998
- Spirit of the Outback Sedona USA 2002
- exhibitions in Hong Kong and France
TEL: 02 6586 4560
PO BOX 245 WAUCHOPE NSW