Description

SHORTLIST, 2021 CHILDREN’S BOOK COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARDS, NEW ILLUSTRATOR

NOTABLES, 2021 CHILDREN’S BOOK COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARDS, EVE POWNALL AWARD

Told in English and Gija, this is the story of Shirley Purdie, famous Gija artist, as told through her paintings, as part of the Ngaalim-Ngalimboorro Ngagenybe exhibition created for the 2018 National Portrait Gallery exhibition So Fine: Contemporary women artists make Australian history. The exhibition will be rehung, in Gallery 1, to coincide with the launch of My Story, along with a series of cultural engagement activities based on My Story.

This is the first book in the Kimberley Art Centre Series. The series focuses on developing the skills of Kimberley Aboriginal artists in children’s picture book storytelling and illustration.

About the Author

Shirley Purdie has been painting for more than twenty years and is an artist of increasing significance and seniority. Her cultural knowledge and artistic skill complement each other to produce a practice that holds great strength. Shirley is also a prominent leader in Warmun community and an incisive cross-cultural communicator.

Inspired by more senior Warmun artists including her late mother, the great Madigan Thomas, as well as Rover Thomas and Queenie McKenzie. Much of her work explores spirituality and the relationship between Gija conceptions of Ngarranggarni (Dreaming) and Catholicism. In 2007 Shirley was awarded the Blake Prize for Religious Art for her major work Stations of the Cross. Shirley Purdie is represented by Warmun Art Centre and her artwork can viewed and purchased via their website.

Praise for Shirley Purdie: My Story, Ngaginybe Jarragbe

“This is an important book that needs to be in every home and school library.” ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
– Good Reading

“…stunning illustrations…”
– Frances Atkinson, The Sydney Morning Herlad

“…a captivating world for young reading enthusiasts and an ideal introduction to the diversity and exceptional talents of Kimberley Aboriginal visual artists.”
– Dan Shaw, Happy Mag