Gilbert Jack

The artist is a Thaayorre Elder and one of the traditional Pormpuraaw owners. He speaks Thaayorre, Wik Mungkan, Kugu Mungkan as well as English. His totems are the emu and black duck. He has a loose naive style that he employs to depict contemporary issues and many of the traditional stories that belong to his country around Pormpuraaw. Gilbert has worked at the Art Centre since its inception in 2005. Pormpuraaw is an Aboriginal community located 680 kilometres from Cairns on the west coast of the Cape York Peninsula. Two groups of Aboriginal people live in Pormpuraaw. The Thaayorre people, who originated from the area to the south that included the Coleman River and a second group known as the Mungkan people who are from the area to the north and north east that includes the Edward, Kendall and Holroyd Rivers. The Art Centre was established in 2005 with the encouragement of the Elders from the two language groups and the first Art Centre manager, Irma Ashwin. The Centre facilitates the production of traditional and contemporary art that is unique to the community. Its role is also to document and preserve artworks, and language, dance, songs and other aspects of traditional culture.
Group Exhibitions
2011 A New Beginning, Australian Art Network Galleries at Canopy Artspace, Cairns Qld.
2012 Saltwater, Freshwater, Alcaston Gallery Melbourne Vic