Earth Spirit Web site
ARTISTS
England Banggala, born circa 1930, Central Arnhem Land.
Peter Nabarlambarl, born circa 1930, Western Arnhem Land.
Thompson Yulidjirri, born circa 1930, Western Arnhem Land.
Bob Namundja, born circa 1933, Western Arnhem Land.
Bill Namundja, born circa 1940, Western Arnhem Land.
Mary Mullins Jujabilla, born 1954, Bathurst Island.
Eddie Ryan Bangadi, born 1958, Southern & Central Arnhem Land.
Gerry Joe Weise, born 1959, Sydney & Darwin.
Sonda Turner Nampijmpa, born 1959, Mt Liebbig Central Desert.
Maurice Fejo Minnadook, born 1960, Darwin.
Jocelyn Garrwurra, born 1979, Millingimbi Island.
Celeste Robertson Nangala, born 1976, Yuendumu Central Desert.
MUSICIANS
Gerry Joe Weise - guitar, vocals, didjeridu,
Keith Boyce - drums, Peter Cole - bass, Michel Urceof - percussion.
2001 EARTH SPIRIT EXHIBITION / CONCERT
Chambre Of Commerce CCI, Castres
La DEPECHE DU MIDI Newspaper
9 June 2001
12 ARTISTS AT THE CCI
Twelve exceptional artists from the Northern Territory of Australia will exhibit at the CCI in Castres during the month of June. Some of the Aboriginal artists are born in the 1930s, some of these elders possess tribal land and are clan leaders, and others are known in several different countries for their art. Like the very famous Peter Nabarlambarl, who in 2000 won an award at the 17th National Aboriginal Telstra Awards in Darwin. Or the renowned artists England Banggala, Thompson Yulidjirri, Bob Namundja, from the different Aboriginal communities in Arnhem Land. Gerry Joe Weise is a non-aboriginal contemporary artist born in Sydney and moved to Darwin, his work can be seen in different European museums and culture centres. He will exhibit several paintings, particularly the series painted in commune with fellow artist Eddie Ryan Bangadi, called "Collaboration Duo Works" (Ed. see illustrations below). Another artist is Sonda Turner Nampijmpa, who is celebrated as being the first female Aboriginal artist to win an award leading to international recognition.
Collaboration Duo Works by Eddie Ryan Bangadi & Gerry Joe Weise 2001
Chambre of Commerce CCI, Castres
La DEPECHE DU MIDI Newspaper
23 June 2001 n°19244
AUSTRALIAN ART REDISCOVERED
"When Gerry Joe Weise is a musician, he plays blues and rock with traditional Aboriginal sounds."
The Northern Territory of Australia has 96 main Aboriginal tribes and languages, Aboriginal art is a cultural force in Australia. Gerry Joe Weise an Australian international accomplished artist known in both art and music circles, decided with fellow Northern Territory artists to create a touring group exhibition named "Earth Spirit". Twelve artists from the Outback, different Aboriginal communities and Darwin, representing some of Australia's popular contemporary styles. For the present you can visit the exhibition at the Chambre of Commerce in Castres. "This exhibition will tour different places in France for maximum exposure", says Gerry Joe Weise. Some of the pictures are accompanied with explanatory notes on the more complicated symbolism by certain Aboriginal artists. Texts on legendary figures such as : the Mimi Spirits - the first inhabitants dating back 40,0000 years, and today live within sacred rocks. Namarrakon - the lightning spirit with thunder stone axes on elbows and knees. The Frog King that brings along the rainy season.
PANORAMA
"These artists are all friends, some I met on remote Aboriginal communities", confides Gerry Joe Weise. Earth Spirit is an exhibition grouping together different styles while keeping it's own identity as an unity. Different techniques on a distinct constant : "the communion with nature". Some of the pigments used for the yellow and red ochres come from the grinding of minerals, whereas some of the paint brushes are made traditionally from human hair or reeds. The exhibition runs until July 6th, it is well worth seeing these paintings on canvas, paper and bark, as a part of Australian culture. M.G.
Postscript : The show-opening had Gerry Joe Weise on guitar, vocals and didjeridu, with Michel Urceof on percussions for an interlude of Australian music.
Collaboration Duo Work by Eddie Ryan Bangadi & Gerry Joe Weise 2001
2002 EARTH SPIRIT EXHIBITION / PERFORMANCE / CONCERT
Cultural Centre MJC, Les Salvages
La DEPECHE DU MIDI Newspaper
21 March 2002 n°19515
EARTH SPIRIT AND THE BLUES
Australian Gerry Joe Weise is a nomadic artist, who isn't just content to practice contemporary abstract art, he is also an accomplished guitarist who has performed in many different countries. Gerry Joe is part of the Australian Earth Spirit touring exhibition uniting twelve artists at the Cultural Centre, from March 25 to April 5. Born in 1959 in Sydney, Gerry Joe Weise has lived and worked in Australia, Germany, Switzerland and France. He has been mainly influenced by Aboriginal ritual art, and images from different civilizations haunted by the cosmos and the atom. Weise has always opened his arms to modern technology, new techniques, and new materials for his installations.
AN ORIGINAL REPERTOIRE
Gerry Joe Weise, guitarist, vocalist and composer blues rock, has jammed with John Lee Hooker, Eric Clapton, B.B.King and Albert Collins. He has also toured with the musicians from Manfred Mann, Roy Buchanan, Tower Of Power, and released several albums. The show-opening is scheduled on Friday March 29 at 6.30, for an aperitif-performance-concert. Drinks and snacks will be served during the aperitif. Gerry Joe Weise will do a performance called "Pigments on Earth with Music", which consists of spreading coloured pigments and ochres on a large circle of black earth. Gerry Joe will also perform Australian blues rock songs with his trio for a concert among the Earth Spirit exhibition paintings. S.F.
Gerry Joe Weise performing the "Pigments on Earth with Music". He is spreading coloured pigments on black earth, while his bassist and drummer are vamping on the blues. Straight away after Gerry Joe picked up his guitar and joined his musicians for an Australian rocking blues concert. 29th March 2002, Cultural Centre, Les Salvages.
2003 EARTH SPIRIT EXHIBITION / CONCERT
Town Hall Chateau, Brassac
La DEPECHE DU MIDI Newspaper
2003 Summer Holiday Guide
AUSTRALIA CONQUERS BRASSAC
This Summer, Brassac will be possessed by the Australian continent. Twelve Australian artists from the Northern Territory will exhibit thirty paintings (on canvas, paper and bark), some of which the pigments are obtained from crushed ochres. Their myths and legends have explanatory texts for some of the difficult symbolism presented in the paintings. The exhibition runs from July 26 to August 31, with a special concert by Gerry Joe Weise and the Tones on August 2nd at the Salle Des Pas Perdus, Town Hall in Brassac.
The Brassac Summer Festival runs from July 30 to August 4.
