Country around Boroloola

Borooloola Gulf Country from the air

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Waralungku Arts at Boroloola in the Gulf country of the Territory was only recently established in 2003. Borroloola is situated 70 to 80 kms inland from the Gulf of Carpentaria, 250kms west from the Queensland border. Its country is mainly hilly and billabongs with a spring right next to one of the camps and the Mcarthur river running beside the township.

The word ''waralungku' (pronounced Wharr Ral Loonghu) represents all of the language groups of the Borroloola Region and is also the place name for the Burketown crossing on the Mcarthur River, the crossing on the main road just outside of Borroloola. It is also associated with the Hill Kangaroo Dreaming and an imprint of its feet, tail and hind quarters are located at this site.

Waralungku Arts represents over 40 different artist from the Yanyula, Garrawa, Gudanji and Marra languages. Some of our artists paint about dreamtime stories which are passed down to them from their elders. But others like to paint favourite scenery out bush. Most paintings are acrylic on canvas, some are on various other objects such as saltwater and freshwater turtle shells and dugong bones. Artists also produce didgeridoos, basketworks, jewellery, coolamans and woodcarvings. The art centre has two workers, coordinator Peter Callinan, and local yanula/garra women Miriam Charlie.

Paintings coming out of the art centre have been described as 'a fresh look at country through new eyes, colour and styles' (Stewart Hoosan Country Exhibition Karen Brown Gallery).

One artist's work has been described as presenting a rare and important visual account of the Gulf frontier as seen through eyes that witnessed the imposition of pastoral capital on the traditional ways of indigenous people. (Nancy McDinny, Frontier Stories Exhibition, Indigenart Melbourne).

Waralungku Arts has evolved to its present development over the last ten years due to the encouragement of the Tennant Creek based Barkly Regional Arts. Through their support and in association with the communities and commercial galleries a number of significant exhibitions have been developed toured. Waralungku artists are now being selected to exhibit in the Annual Telstra Art Award.