Catapult + Tarnanthi
Catapult + Tarnanthi is a career development mentorship program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, craftspeople and designers based in South Australia. Catapult + Tarnanthi is presented in partnership with the Art Gallery of South Australia. Tarnanthi is presented by the Art Gallery of South Australia with Principal Partner BHP and support from the Government of South Australia.
2025
Shane Cook with Jo-Anne Driessens
Multidisciplinary artist Shane Cook (Wulli Wulli, Guwa Koa) spent time in community on Koa land, sharing knowledge and connections, experimenting with materials and techniques in his photographic practice with support from Jo-Anne Driessens (Guwa Koa, Gungarri, Kuku Yalanji), and visiting significant collections.
2023
Elizabeth Close with Karla Dickens
Contemporary visual artist Elizabeth Close is a Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara woman from the APY Lands in Central Australia. She was mentored by multidisciplinary Wiradjuri artist Karla Dickens to create new work pushing boundaries and challenging perspectives, for display at Art Gallery of South Australia during Tarnanthi Festival.
2020
Anna Dowling with Deborah Kelly
Emerging artist Anna Dowling is a descendant of the Badimia people of the Yamatji region in Western Australia. She worked with Sydney-based established artist Deborah Kelly to develop a series of political works that explore the impact of genetics and DNA testing on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Christina Gollan with Kirsten Coelho
Kaurna and Ngarrindjeri artist Christina Gollan worked with renowned ceramicist Kirsten Coelho (SA) to hone her skills in a dedicated ceramics studio. The mentorship further developed her use of colour and expanded her practice to include large works and sculpture.
2019
Sandra Saunders with Jess Wallace
Wangary-based Ngarrindjeri painter and activist Sandra Saunders worked with mentor film maker, writer and painter Dr Jess Wallace to further develop her painting practice. The artists travelled from the Gove Peninsula to Eyre Peninsula in order to extend Sandra’s technical skills, while also chronicling Sandra’s development and activism in a documentary that will accompany the exhibition pieces.
Damien Shen with Glenn Iseger-Pilkington
Adelaide-based Ngarrindjeri painter and illustrator Damien Shen travelled with mentor Glenn Iseger-Pilkington to Canberra and Sydney to research representations of indigenous identity and power in national collections. Through critical discourse with curators, artists and his mentor, Damien developed a new body of work relating directly to his Aboriginal and Chinese heritage and his young children.
Images (L-R): Installation view: Tarnanthi 2019, featuring artwork by Damien Shen, photo Saul Steed; Shane Cook, photo Renee Readett; Installation view: Tarnanthi 2023, featuring SandWoman by Elizabeth Yanyi Close, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide, photo Saul Steed; Kirsten Coelho and Christina Gollan, Catapult + Tarnanthi Mentorship, photo Saul Steed; Installation view: Tarnanthi 2019, featuring artwork by Sandra Saunders, photo Saul Steed.