Artist on the way to finals

A Kimberley artist is one of 13 WA finalists announced in the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards.

Isaac Cherel, from Louisa Downs, midway between Fitzroy Crossing and Halls Creek, was among the bunch from as far afield as Marble Bar and the Ngaanyatjarra Lands.

Culture and the Arts Minister John Day launched the awards’ inaugural touring exhibition that starts in Perth and proceeds to Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.

“Once again, West Australian artists feature highly in the finals. I congratulate them... and wish them luck in the finals,” he said.

Mr Day said the long-standing awards were regarded as one of the premier events in the Australian indigenous art calendar.

“The installation here in WA gives visitors to the Perth Cultural Centre the chance to see some of the latest work by leading artists,” he said.