About
The Australian Ceramics Triennale is Australia's landmark national ceramics conference, bringing artists, educators, theorists and collectors from around the country together to interrogate the field of contemporary ceramic practice.
In 2022, the Triennale; Apmere Mparntwe takes place 19 - 23 July in Alice Springs, and includes satellite events both before and after the conference.
Ampere Mparntwe will be hosted by Central Craft in conjunction with The Australian Ceramics Association. This years conference hub is located at the Araluen Cultural Precinct, Alice Springs.
Alice Springs, or Mparntwe to the local Arrernte people, is the physical and spiritual heart of Australia's red centre. On the banks of Lhere Mparntwe [Todd River] surrounded by desert sands, spinifex country, claypans and the majestic MacDonnell Ranges it has been a traditional "meeting place" for over 40,000 years.
Mparntwe is the traditional land of the Arrernte people and home of the dreaming story of the Yeperenye Caterpillar. This important desert town is a meeting place of diverse peoples, culture, art, ideas and creativity.
Doris Stuart Kngwarreye’s family have lived alongside the Todd River for countless generations.
She is an Mparntwe-arenye woman. Apmereke artweye for Mparntwe (Alice Springs)
Alice Springs is built on Arrernte country, in the heart of Central Australia at a place called Mparntwe, belonging to the Mparntwe-arenye people.
Over the past 150 years or so a small town has grown in the heart of the ranges, alongside Lhere Mparntwe (Todd River), to accommodate the settlers and visitors to this spectacular landscape. Alice Springs has grown much in its short history but beneath the streets of this modern desert town lies a much longer story.
Doris and her family continue to maintain strong connections to over a hundred sacred sites in this small area we call Mparntwe. In 2000 Alice Springs was the first an urban area in Australia to gain native title recognition though the high court of Australia.
“People wonder what it is that’s so special here and it’s because everything comes here. And we connect to it, we’re a part of it. Our Country is our home, and we know all the Sites and all the features, our rocks, our trees, our hills. We come up with our Country. We come up with it and feel it so strongly.”
'when you connect to country,
country talks to you'
Apmere Mparntwe
The Australian Ceramics Triennale
Central Craft is thrilled to host Apmere Mparntwe 16th Australian Ceramics Triennale on behalf of The Australian Ceramics Association 19-23 July, 2022.
The Araluen Cultural Precinct will be your home for 3 days of Apmere Mparntwe. Begin each morning with an immersive experience lead by local Arrernte elders to ground you and expand your experience and understanding of place then settle in for a jam packed program of discussions, presentations, workshops and demonstrations geared around the daily themes of Archetype, Alchemy and Anarchy.
Day 1: Archetype
Think community bedrock – people, place, story – think visceral, think tactility, think human condition, think cultural, historical, and contemporary narratives, think wild clay and material politics and sustainability, think place making and making place.
Day 2: Alchemy
Think transformation personal, social and environmental, think sumptuous surfaces and technical wowsery, think inspirational practices and pathways, think collaborations.
Day 3: Anarchy
Think activism, think politics, think alternative perspectives, think rule breakers and change agents.
GET HANDS ON
Central Craft Studios will host a series of demonstrations and workshops from leading national artists. Come early and participate in artists camps sleeping under the desert skies and/or a variety of masterclasses in local studios.
YEPERENYE SPACE
When you need to decompress from all the stimulus, lounge in the shade of the magnificent Yeperenye sculpture, amongst the gum trees and around the fire pits. A place to relax, share stories, chew the fat and maybe some roo tail, put a billy on the fire and engage in some hands-on community projects.
GALLERY HOPPING
Delight in a suite of exhibitions showcasing local and interstate artists in galleries and pop-up venues around town.
MARKETPLACE
Buy and sell, buy and sell, buy and sell. The urge to trade. So sublime.
Local artists and art centres will peddle their wares on Sat 23 July from 10am-2pm. Get in quick.
EXTRAS
Take the opportunity to engage with local artists and special places through a range of bespoke tours and activities developed specially for the Triennale.
Venue
The Araluen Cultural Precinct is home to some of the most significant artistic, cultural and historical experiences in Alice Springs and provides a unique visitor experience, encompassing Central Australia’s key cultural institutions and collections. In its four galleries and 500 seat theatre, the Araluen Arts Centre presents an annual program of exhibitions, theatre, and film, hosting iconic events such as the nationally significant Desert Mob.
The Araluen Cultural Precinct includes all:
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The Araluen Arts Centre, including the Albert Namatjira Gallery
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The Museum of Central Australia
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The Strehlow Research Centre
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The Central Australian Aviation Museum
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The Kookaburra Memorial
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Central Craft
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The Yeperenye Sculpture
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Yaye's Cafe
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Significant Indigenous Sacred Sites
Central Craft is the host of the 2022 Australian Ceramics Triennale.
Central Craft is a not for profit member organisation based in Alice Springs that supports and promotes traditional and contemporary craft and design practice in Central Australia.
Central Craft's Australian Ceramics Triennale Committee includes:
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Bron Field, Director, Central Craft
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Mel Drew, Project Officer, Central Craft
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Mel Robson, Ceramicist
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Bec Capp, Hermannsburg Potters
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Allison Milyika Carroll, Ernabella Arts
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Ruth McMillan, Tangentyere Artists
association
The Australian Ceramics Association fosters a lively, engaged ceramics community throughout Australia.
The Association publishes The Journal of Australian Ceramics, organise nationwide open studio events, supports ceramic artists in their studio practice and advocate for excellence in ceramics education and training.
