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Indigenous Artist Bruce Rivett with painting “Snake Hunt” 100cm x 100cm

Red Desert Gallery supports local emerging indigenous artists, and Bruce Rivett who paints his customary kin stories from the Torres Strait is at the gallery two to three days a week as an “Artist in Residence” for the next six months.

Bruce’s family moved from Brisbane to Mooloolaba in the 70’s where he excelled at art during his school years at Buderim Primary and Burnside State High School in Nambour. From the tender age of five he enjoyed watching his uncles, artists Mark and Colin Rigby share their traditional knowledge of the land, waterways, reef and ocean and has been a professional artist since 1985.

He is a third generation Meriam (Mer - Murray Island, Torres Strait) from his mother’s side and his work is a contemporary expression associated with his Torres Strait Island ancestry.

During 1982 the Meriam people of Mer island (Murray Island), led by Eddie Mabo, began their fight for land rights to ensure its protection. The Meriam people's claim resulted in the most significant recognition of Indigenous land rights and law by an Australian court and on 3 June, 1992 the High Court granted the Meriam people their land rights and defied the claim that Australia was terra nullius (unoccupied), which the Europeans declared in 1770.

Paul Curtis of Red Desert Gallery said Bruce’s paintings aren’t only a statement about rights and responsibilities to land and sea they’re also about inheritance, the continuity of custom, resurrection and eternal life.

“Bruce’s inherent skills and traditional knowledge have resulted in his own distinct contemporary style and one of his paintings was quickly whisked away by a collector in Japan”. he said

Bruce is proud to have gallery visitors sit with him and observe him creating sacred Meriam myths and to explain the several layers of meaning behind each story.

Bruce has moved to Eumundi where he feels a strong connection with the natural environment and his artist residency will culminate in an exhibition aptly named “Our Way” featuring his fresh and exquisite artwork in April.

Red Desert Gallery is open Wednesday to Sunday 10am – 4pm and at other times by appointment. Tel: 5442 7172 or visit www.reddesertgallery.com.au