RAYGUN Co-Directors Tarn and Ali met Torres Straight Island artist Glen Mackie at the University of Southern Queensland when Ali invited him to work with the School of Creative Arts to run a workshop for First Nations young people and become the NAIDOC artist in residence at the University. Tarn and Glen also facilitated a Drawing/Painting workshop together during NAIDOC week during which time many beautiful chats were had, we wanted to capture some of Glen's stories for you.
The Art Gallery of New South Wales asserts 'Glen Mackie, who is also known as Kei Kalak, has been at the forefront of the Torres Strait Islander print movement since the 1990s. He was taught to carve and paint by members of his extended family and explores both family stories, and environmental issues in his works. Mackie has developed a distinct infill design or minar, which is informed by his family’s design and employs an inverted water pattern that is repeated across his works, giving a sense of the ebb and flow of the tides that inform his home environment.
In this chat Glen talks about making art, his family and his culture.
Check out some more of Glen's work here:
