An extraordinary tale of achieving against the odds is explored in the exhibition ‘Desert Psychedelic: Jimmy Pike’ The work of this wonderful indigenous artist is on display at Fremantle Prison until the 19th August 2012 and Perth conference venues would encourage you to get along to this special event.
Jimmy Pike was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1981 and began serving time in Fremantle Prison where he began taking the art classes on offer. It was not long before the prison’s art teachers recognised his extraordinary eye for colour and design. No one could have guessed that a global design icon would result, but it was from this unorthodox beginning that the Desert Designs brand was born.
Pike was born in the Great Sandy Desert around 1940, living a traditional Walmajarri life for most of his childhood . As an adult, his work captured the explosive beauty of the harsh desert landscape with bold forms and psychedelic colours. His collaboration with Desert Designs realised a beautiful union of Indigenous art, craft and commercial design.
Jimmy Pike passed away in 2002 but left a lasting legacy of vivid paintings and prints, brilliant textile designs and dynamic stories and illustrations. This significant exhibition follows his journey and offers an opportunity to celebrate his groundbreaking achievements. The focus on textiles acknowledges Jimmy Pike as one of the great Australian textile designers of the 20th Century.
Conference centres in Perth can assist you with additional information on this not -to -be –missed event, but you will need to be quick as the exhibition finishes soon.
When: Until Sunday, August 19
Where: Fremantle Prison, 1 The Terrace, Fremantle, W A.
Exhibition will feature in the front and main Gallery and access is free.
