Description

Extended Data

DAAO URL

https://www.daao.org.au/bio/norma-macdonald

Birth Place

Geraldton, WA, Australia

Biography

Norma MacDonald was born in 1943 in Geraldton, Western Australia. She claims Yamitji and Nyungar heritage. Her grandmother was a Yamitji woman from the Gascoyne region of Western Australia and her grandfather who was from Katanning in the south of the state was from the Wilman/Balardung people. Her prints and paintings of oil on linen, canvas and board, acrylics on linen and watercolour pastels and pencils on paper are inspired by and investigate the 1905 ACT that was 'make provision for better protection and care of the Aboriginal inhabitants of Western Australia’. This research lead MacDonald to investigate her own family history of removal, assimilation, family memories and the broader topic of politics. She also works as a sculptor and a mosaic muralist for public and school art commissions. Her art career began when in 1993 she enrolled in a TAFE course Midland, WA and received a Diploma in Art where in 1995 she was acknowledged as Western Australia’s top TAFE student. Her first solo exhibition that was untitled was held at the Artist In Residence Gallery in Perth at the end of 1994. In 1995 she was awarded a Visual Arts grant from Arts Western Australia and the 'Sangora Award’ from Midland TAFE. Her 1996 solo exhibition 'Dreams of Discovery’ “consisted of works that had been presented for assessment during her TAFE course” (Daughters of the Dreaming: Sisters Together Strong catalogue). In 2003 she received an Australia Council for the Arts 'Visual Art Fellowship’ all of which allowed her time to research her family history, family memories and historical Western Australian state government documents. In 1997 she was included in the exhibition, 'Daughters of the Dreaming: Sisters Together Strong’ at the Art Gallery of Western Australia. Other artists who participated in this exhibition included Bai Bai Napangarti, Ngingi Nangala, Patsy Mudjidell, Tjemma (Freda) Napanangka, Julie Dixon, Alta Winmar, Gladys Milroy and Gnungu Mia. This same year also saw MacDonald stage another solo exhibition 'Land Strong, We Belong’ at the Aboriginal Arts and Crafts Gallery in Perth. MacDonald is represented by Gomboc Gallery in Perth and since 2000 has staged many solo exhibitions with them including 'I Can Fly’ in 2002, 'Coming Home’ in 2003 'Third Space Between Two’ and 'Two Worlds-One Sky’ in 2004, 'Fusion’ in 2006 and 'Could Have – Should Have: The Story of Carrolup Mission’ in 2008. In 2003 she also participated in the group show 'Gnyung Waart Kooling Kulark’ at the Fremantle Maritime Museum. In 2005 her work was included in John E Stanton curated exhibition, 'On Track: Contemporary Aboriginal Art from Western Australia’ at the Berndt Museum of Anthropology. This exhibition toured nationally until 2008. She has work in the permanent collections of the Art Gallery of Western Australia, the National Gallery of Australia, the Berndt Museum of Anthropology, the University of Western Australia, Curtin University, Edith Cowan University, Midland College of TAFE, Port Hedland Hospital, Armadale City Council, Fremantle City Council, Mundaring Shire Council and Gomboc Gallery. In 2009 MacDonald was living and working in Perth, Western Australia. Writers: Allas, Tess Date written: 2009 Last updated: 2011

Born

b. 1943

Summary

Painter, sculptor, printer and community artist who is of Yamitji and Nyungar heritage. Has work in collections of Art Gallery of Western Australia and National Gallery of Australia. Works are informed by Australian Aboriginal history.

Gender

Female

Died

None listed

Age at death

None listed