Shawn Lewis, Untitled. 2020. 600mm x 800mm. Acrylic on plywood. Warakurna Artists. (#101-20)

Shawn paints with Warakurna Artists through our Tjitji Canvaspa Program (after school hours kids painting program). Shawn is the son of Clifford Mitchell, and the grandson of Peter Tjaluri Lewis (dec). He lives with grandmother Nancy Nyanyarna Jackson (incredible tjanpi weaver, painter and wooden artefact maker) and is already showing flair for visual arts.

Shawn was around 12 years old when he created this design. Drawing on a favourite memory, he painted a family in a bus. Where are they driving? To a local aussie rules football game or out hunting? Mobility is a big thing out on the lands; with people travelling vast distances to see family, go to the footy, go out on country to hunt and care for it, or to a funeral. Cars have enabled people in remote communities to be more connected. This design has proved timeless and very popular with adults and kids alike.

The Ngurra Streetwear Project was initiated in 2014 in response to artists and directors request to design fashion within the community. Working with graphic designer, Jack Searls, each year we host a week-long intensive design workshop to create aesthetic elements that are new and original. Participants use paint, textas and photography to create a host of imagery from around the community, which are then workshopped to create the best images for screen printing as well as creating a design direction for the overall project.

The workshops include photography, collage and digital manipulation using design software. Participants then made the final designs print ready and worked out costing, sizes and market development.