400 Worrell Drive
Charlottesville, VA 22911
Last February, our OLLI Outings group toured the Kluge-Ruhe’s art galleries, including their featured exhibit, Papunya Tula Artists – Part 1. The Part 1 exhibit featured art from the first twenty-five years of Papunya Tula Artists, Australia’s first Aboriginal arts company. Our October Outing to the Kluge-Ruhe continues the Papunya Tula story through the second twenty-five years up to the present day. One highlight of the Part 2 exhibit is an entire wall of commissioned small paintings by current Papunya Tula artists commemorating 50 years of the company. Each work speaks to the artist’s life experiences and connection to family and Country. Shown as a group, the works are testament to the vitality of Australian Western Desert Art and continued relevance of Papunya Tula Artists.
In the mid 1990s Aboriginal women became as enthused about painting as the Aboriginal men that first touched paint to canvas in the early seventies. Many women started painting for Papunya Tula Artists and breathed new life and color into the company. Papunya Tula – Part 2 art reflects both the inclusion of women and changing artistic styles. Join this OLLI Outing to view outstanding contemporary Western Desert art that can be abstract venturing into minimalism and optical effect. During the art galleries tour, you’ll hear how Aboriginal love of Country, and the ancient narratives inform the artists. Before and after the scheduled 1:30 p.m. tour, you’ll have time to explore the rest of the Kluge-Ruhe collection, including its wonderful gift store. Visit on the web - kluge-ruhe.org.
