STAMP Gallery’s Latest Art Exhibit: “Yams, Tomatoes, Potatoes and Plums”
By Mythili Devarakonda
November 11, 2021
Image Credit: Josie Jack for The Campus Trainer
There’s more to the daily root vegetables and fruits, as showcased in the University of Maryland, Adele H. Stamp Student Union’s latest art exhibit, “Yams, Tomatoes, Potatoes and Plums,” featuring works from multiple artists. The exhibit opened on Oct. 25 and features works of contemporary Indigenous Australian artists that visually captures its viewers and introduces them to the interesting history attached to its intricate paintings of the Australian bush tucker.
“The entire initiative is to promote science and art that supports conservation and public health,” said Andrea Ottesen, an adjunct professor in the department of Plant Sciences and Landscape Architecture. Drawing parallels to her subject, Ottesen personally collected pieces from her time in Australia and featured them in the exhibit, which is curated by the non-profit organization One Health Arts and Sciences.
Calling the paintings a “celebration of native foods from Central Australia”, Ottesen reminisced about her final year of doctorate studies when the opportunity to visit Australia for a conference presented itself. Upon her visit, Ottesen discovered the world of indigenous bush tucker paintings.
“For me, the ethnobiology [of the paintings], as a plant scientist, called me like crazy,” Ottesen said.
“Bush tucker”, referring to the food (tucker) of the land (bush), such as yams and potatoes, were painted by generations of indigenous Australian women in a distinctive style, showcasing their sacred cultural events such as farming or giving birth.
“These women take farming and their practice of harvesting, and they elevate it to a level that is spiritual, generational and so impactful for their community,” said Isabella Chilcoat, STAMP gallery’s student docent and a junior art history major.
“Yams, Tomatoes, Potatoes and Plums” has been in the making for almost two years now, according to Tara Youngborg, manager of STAMP gallery and Studio A. “Our faculty collector-partner [Andrea Ottesen] reached out to the STAMP gallery [asking] if we would be interested in exhibiting some contemporary indigenous Australian artwork,” said Youngborg. Anticipating an interesting collaborative opportunity between STAMP and the Department of Plant Sciences and Landscape Architecture, Youngborg and Ottesen joined forces on the project.
Initially set to open in fall 2020, the exhibition was delayed for a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, a year later, the exhibition is open to an in-person, masked audience to experience the vibrant depictions of aboriginal Australian harvest.
“The entire initiative is to promote science and art that supports conservation and public health,” said Andrea Ottesen, an adjunct professor in the department of Plant Sciences and Landscape Architecture. Drawing parallels to her subject, Ottesen personally collected pieces from her time in Australia and featured them in the exhibit, which is curated by the non-profit organization One Health Arts and Sciences.
Calling the paintings a “celebration of native foods from Central Australia”, Ottesen reminisced about her final year of doctorate studies when the opportunity to visit Australia for a conference presented itself. Upon her visit, Ottesen discovered the world of indigenous bush tucker paintings.
“For me, the ethnobiology [of the paintings], as a plant scientist, called me like crazy,” Ottesen said.
“Bush tucker”, referring to the food (tucker) of the land (bush), such as yams and potatoes, were painted by generations of indigenous Australian women in a distinctive style, showcasing their sacred cultural events such as farming or giving birth.
“These women take farming and their practice of harvesting, and they elevate it to a level that is spiritual, generational and so impactful for their community,” said Isabella Chilcoat, STAMP gallery’s student docent and a junior art history major.
“Yams, Tomatoes, Potatoes and Plums” has been in the making for almost two years now, according to Tara Youngborg, manager of STAMP gallery and Studio A. “Our faculty collector-partner [Andrea Ottesen] reached out to the STAMP gallery [asking] if we would be interested in exhibiting some contemporary indigenous Australian artwork,” said Youngborg. Anticipating an interesting collaborative opportunity between STAMP and the Department of Plant Sciences and Landscape Architecture, Youngborg and Ottesen joined forces on the project.
Initially set to open in fall 2020, the exhibition was delayed for a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, a year later, the exhibition is open to an in-person, masked audience to experience the vibrant depictions of aboriginal Australian harvest.
Image Credit: Josie Jack for The Campus Trainer
“It took my breath away,” said Youngborg, talking about her two favorite pieces from the exhibit – “Bush Yams 2018” and its 2019 counterpart by Jeannie Mills Pwerle. “I think the pattern on that and the way the colors mixed is just really beautiful.”
Another painting that seemed to make a powerful impact on the audience was the 2008 “A Borning Place” by Ningura Napurrula, which depicted a young woman giving birth surrounded by other women, wearing ceremonial skirts, assisting or collecting harvest to feed the community. Chilcoat said the painting, for her, embodied the concept of women supporting each other.
On why these paintings should matter to people, Chilcoat had a thoughtful response: ”It’s important to take these works and recognize the influences of colonialism and [how] the colonization had a direct impact on these women.”
Open to students and campus community from Oct. 25 to Dec. 11, experience a glimpse of First Nations Australian heritage through these paintings of “Yams, Tomatoes, Potatoes and Plums” on display at the UMD STAMP gallery.
Another painting that seemed to make a powerful impact on the audience was the 2008 “A Borning Place” by Ningura Napurrula, which depicted a young woman giving birth surrounded by other women, wearing ceremonial skirts, assisting or collecting harvest to feed the community. Chilcoat said the painting, for her, embodied the concept of women supporting each other.
On why these paintings should matter to people, Chilcoat had a thoughtful response: ”It’s important to take these works and recognize the influences of colonialism and [how] the colonization had a direct impact on these women.”
Open to students and campus community from Oct. 25 to Dec. 11, experience a glimpse of First Nations Australian heritage through these paintings of “Yams, Tomatoes, Potatoes and Plums” on display at the UMD STAMP gallery.