• Enamel and Mixed media on Masonite

• Dimensions: 109 x 109 cm

• Cat No. 177-20

Fabian H. Brown (b. 10/07/1968) was born in Alice Springs and grew up in Ali Curung as a child. One of his grandfathers witnessed the Coniston massacre in 1928 and took the family away to escape. His parents worked as teacher aides at Ali Curang south of Tennant Creek. It was watching his eldest brother sketching that inspired him to start drawing himself when he 10 years old. As a child Fabian first went to school in the 1970s at the local community school and developed his drawing skills. By 1979 he headed for Alice Springs and went to Yiara College. In the early 1980s Fabian went bush to learn ‘Aboriginal way’ from his uncles where they imparted important cultural practices and knowledge about the land and caring for country.

Later in 1984 as a young man in his 20s he attended Tauondi Aboriginal College in Adelaide whose ethos was to provide education and training for the whole person. This rich experience allowed him to establish friendships with people from many different communities including Tasmania, Queensland, Kalgoorlie and Whyalla. “I provided plenty of compassion to other artists working with them in Adelaide. Later I started working when I went back to Ali Curang as a community development worker and then I came to Tennant Creek. I was working on canvas on the weekends for friends who I knew in Tennant Creek and working during the week with the manager Mr Ronnie at the Tennant Creek Town Council. When Rupert came to work at the men’s project in 2016 I was the first male artist to work with him. We gathered a group of men and began working together at the men’s centre. There wasn’t much room to do art so we moved to East St. I’m now back working with Nyinkka Nyunyu for the last two years where I am the lead male painter.”

Clifford Thompson belongs to the Kaytetye language group, his mother’s country is Karlu Karlu (Devil’s Marbles) and his father’s country is Jarrah Jarrah. He was brought up in Ali Curang and his interest in art began as a boy at school doing chalk drawings on small blackboards. Clifford went to school with Fabian and Lindsay and they still live close up in the south fringe camp. Clifford has a strong work ethic and has worked at the Nyinkka Nyunyu precinct in the gardens and in particular with suicide bead project which makes painted beads for young people at risk. He is currently working with the council fencing and paints for the Tennant Men's Brio. Clifford likes to paint to for its meditative process which assists him to steer away from alcohol and keeps his mind off any problems. Painting is also a way for him to connect with country and remember his ancestors. Clifford preferred medium is acrylic on board. Clifford enjoys creating spacial patterns. His bold and rhythmic work depicts various aspects of life in Tennant and country, mainly from his mother’s country.