Nearing the end! And still so much going on!

The online edit of the documentary 'Nothing Rhymes with Ngapartji’  was finalised in Melbourne in January and after a lot more detailed work by Suzy the film is now officially completed! It is now in the process of submitted to national and international festivals. Director Suzy Bates and co-producer Shannon Owen recently attended the Australian International Documentary Conference in Adelaide to promote the film. The documentary premiere screening will take place in Alice Springs on April 9^th at the Olive Pink botanical gardens with many of the Ernabella Community (where the documentary was filmed) in attendance. The also documentary now has it’s own website www.nothingrhymeswithngapartji.com

In February the Nyuntu Ngali team (Trevor, Scott, Beth, Derek, Jennifer, Gina and Anne) came together again to present a twenty five minute spotlight at the Australian Performing Arts Market in Adelaide. A particular highlight of this trip was observing the developed professional approach of young Pitjantjatjara performer Jennifer Wells as she seamlessly slipped back into an intensive rehearsal period. Her performance in both music and projection improved as she took on greater creative responsibility. Nyuntu Ngali performs its next season of the full show in Sydney at Wharf Two as part of the Sydney Theatre Company’s 2010 program May 5^th-14th. http://www.sydneytheatre.com.au/stced/2010/nyuntu-ngali

March has been an exciting month for the Namatjira project as they undertook the first major community oriented creative development. Producer Sophia Marinos has brought together the team in Alice Springs including co-directors Scott Rankin and Wayne Blair, key cast members Trevor Jamieson and Derek Lynch, community liaison workers (Alice based) Sia Cox and Pru Gell and a dynamic group of Namatjira descendents including Ngapartji Ngapartji participant Elton Wirri. The group traveled to Hermannsburg to consult with family and spent time studying watercolour painting at the Ngurratjuta Arts Centre. For more information check out the Namatjira project blog http://www.namatjira.bighart.org/

Ngapartji Ngapartji’s ninti website www.ngapartji.ninti.org received a spotlight at an exhibition at SA Museum detailing geological work across the APY region and expressions of country from elders through visual art.

The ‘Wanti Watjilpa’ CD from Ernabella, released at the end of 2009 is receiving airplay on the 5NKY network via PY Media and Ngaanyatjara Media and on the CAAMA network, and is reported to be selling well at the CAAMA shop. Beth has received orders for it from around Australia also!

The Memory Basket is very near completion as of March – the team will be scrambling to compile all the goodies into the specially designed tins once the final CD and DVD’s arrive, in preparation for the April 9^th launch.

Planning for the April wrap-up celebrations are in full swing. The ladies have been talking to Beth on the phone about which inma (dances) they’d like to perform on the night, there’s pruning planned for Olive Pink gardens to fit the truck in which supports the screen for the film, working out how to get everyone in from out bush, and getting the word out around town. Anyone in Alice Springs on Friday the 9^th is invited to attend! Look forward to as many people coming along to share celebrating what is not exactly ‘the end’ but an emotional moment for us to recognise our achievements.