Recommended by Dunsborough Book Chat Club
This is a terrific autobiography of Tony Oliver, who was a young gallerist skilled at identifying and mentoring talented artists. He travelled to the East Kimberley in the 1970’s and stayed for 10 years. He walked alongside Gija master painter Paddy Bedford, Freddie Timms, and Rusty Peters, establishing Jirrawun Arts Collective, and a fairer model of Aboriginal Art sales.
The book is full of interesting anecdotes and close up details of deep poverty, amazing artistic talent, the effects of alcohol, cross cultural partnership, the heart healing saving power of connection to country and indigenous culture in Kimberley communities at that time. It’s well worth the read.
4.5/5 Stars