Delmar Gallery

Delmar Gallery Contemporary art gallery Its program includes curated exhibitions of Australian and international art, salon-style concerts and other events.

Delmar Gallery was established in 1966 as a contemporary art gallery at Trinity Grammar School, and is part of the school's Society of the Arts.

Bula’bula weavers make bush string from harvested bark that is softened, dyed and rolled on the thigh to produce twine k...
03/06/2026

Bula’bula weavers make bush string from harvested bark that is softened, dyed and rolled on the thigh to produce twine known as Raki. The choice of fibre depends on the function of each piece. Archival photos reveal where materials are harvested, the plants collected to naturally dye the twine, and the unique production technique where the weaver uses their legs as a dynamic, living loom as a support structure to weave. These archival photos have safeguarded a rich living legacy of women gathering, storytelling and maintaining strong connections to their Country.

Margaret Djarrbalabal used traditional weaving methods to create a blanket, 2021 and a Dhirrithirri (ceremonial skirt for men) 2024, made from the bark of the red flowering kurrajong or balgurr.

Spreading out of a blanket is an act of welcome for Yolngu. Dhirrithirri are worn by both men and women for different ceremonies particularly dhapi (boys’ initiation ceremony).


Djalkiri: The Bula’Bula Arts Archiving Project
Exhibition: until 14 June
Gallery hours: Wednesday – Sunday, 12-5pm. Free admission.

Exhibition documentation: Silversalt Photography

The breathtaking and ethereal Yukuwa made especially for the exhibition by Frances Djulibing floats across the middle ga...
30/05/2026

The breathtaking and ethereal Yukuwa made especially for the exhibition by Frances Djulibing floats across the middle gallery and is inspired by thinking about the old people and the Bula’bula founders.

The Yukuwa is the vine of an edible yam found in the jungles surrounding Ramingining in the Arafura Wetlands of NE Arnhem Land. It has purple flowers and an edible root. The Yukuwa is of the Yirritja moiety and the songline comes from the sunrise. It is connected to Wunungurra family (Dhalwangu language) which is also connected to the Malibirr family (Ganalbingu language).

There is a Yukuwa dance performed at funerals and some ceremonies with string or only actions. This work is the manifestation of the idea of this dance and this songline which teaches the Ngarra (lore).

Djalkiri: The Bula'bula Arts Archiving Project is open all weekend 12 -5pm

Exhibition continues until 14 June 2026
Curated by Coby Edgar
Presented by Bula'bula Arts in collaboration with Delmar Gallery

Frances Djulibing, Yukuwa, 2026
Bunyan tree bark (Ficus virens), beeswax and feathers
dimensions variable

Documentation By Silversalt Photography

In our current exhibtion, 'Djalkiri: The Bula'bula Arts Archiving Project, the men’s wall includes photos of senior late...
22/05/2026

In our current exhibtion, 'Djalkiri: The Bula'bula Arts Archiving Project, the men’s wall includes photos of senior late artists Jimmy Wululu and Jimmy Djelminy, who contributed to the Aboriginal Memorial, and Djardi Ashley. Reinterpretations of their paintings by their descendants are hung near their portraits. Artists begin by laying down the ground (red ochre or black), then yellow ochre and finally white rarrk. Rarrk or very fine cross-hatching conveys energy through its shimmering, radiant effect, and is particular to art from Northern Australia. It is used on burial poles and carving as well as bark paintings.

Come visit us this weekend to see these incredible works.

Exhibition open 12-5pm Wed - Sun until 14 June 2026

Presented by Bula'Bula Arts in collaboration with Delmar Gallery
Curated by Coby Edgar
Text by Bula’bula Arts

Images:

Andrew Wanamilil
Baltji (Yam) 2025
acrylic on canvas
40 x 30cm
Re-creation of painting by the artist's blood father, Bobby Bununggurr

Peter Gämbung
Niwuda (yirritja) Honey 2025
acrylic on canvas
40 x 30cm
Re-creation of painting by the artist's third father, Jimmy Wululu

Johnny Guwana Malibirr
Warrnyu Dhawu (Flying Fox Story) 2025
acrylic on canvas
40 x 30cm
Re-creation of painting by the artist's blood father, Jimmy Djelminy

Evonne Rraraypum
Warrnyu Dhawu (Flying Fox Story) 2025
acrylic on canvas
40 x 30cm
Re-creation of painting by the artist's cousin, Roy Burnyila

'Djalkiri: The Bula'bula Arts Archiving Project' was opened with a very special Spring water bungul from Andrew Wanamil...
16/05/2026

'Djalkiri: The Bula'bula Arts Archiving Project' was opened with a very special Spring water bungul from Andrew Wanamilil (Chair Bula'bula Arts Centre), Johnny Milibirr and JB Fisher.

"The title of the show, Djakiri (footsteps) was chosen by the artists to signify the journey forward while honouring those who came before. It is a reflection on the triumphs of Ramingining people through the past 40 years and a marker in time as we make footsteps into the future" - Coby Edgar, Curator

If you haven't seen the exhibition, stop by this weekend - we're open from 12-5pm. The gallery is filled with the knowledge and power of the Ramingining community.

Presented by Bula'bula Arts in collaboration with Delmar Gallery

Exhibition runs until 14 June, 2026

"The weavings in the archive are spectacular, masterfully woven, tight, even, balanced and powerful. The archival collec...
13/05/2026

"The weavings in the archive are spectacular, masterfully woven, tight, even, balanced and powerful. The archival collection included images of ceremonial objects that are rarely made or seen today by the public. A lot of the objects were for ceremonies that would be gifted or traded amongst families and neighbouring mob. Private objects of personal significance to the individual it was made for. We are lucky enough to have some of these objects recreated here by master weavers for public display, some for the first time in decades."

- Coby Edgar, Curator, Djalkiri: The Bula'bula Arts Archiving Project

Works L-R

Margaret Djarrbalabal, Djerrk (Bush String Bag), 2025, Bulgurr (Kurrajong - Brachychiton populneus), natural dyes, feathers, 45 x 50cm

Making djerrk (bush string bag)

Margaret Djarrbalabal, Matjka (Ceremonial Body Wear), 2024, Bulgurr (Kurrajong - Brachychiton populneus) and natural dyes, 28cm diameter

Margaret Djarrbalabal, Matjka (Ceremonial Body Wear), 2024, Bulgurr (Kurrajong - Brachychiton populneus) and natural dyes, 28cm diameter

Mary Dhapalany wearing matjka

Presented by Bula'bula Arts in collaboration with Delmar Gallery

Gallery open Wed-Sun, 12-5pm
Exhibition runs until 14 June, 2026

Documentation by Silversalt Photography

Joy Burruna, 'Gumang (Magpie Geese) 2025, Re-creation of painting by the artist's mother, Dorothy Djukulul, acrylic on c...
11/05/2026

Joy Burruna, 'Gumang (Magpie Geese) 2025, Re-creation of painting by the artist's mother, Dorothy Djukulul, acrylic on canvas, 40 x 30cm

Djalkiri: The Bula'bula Arts Archiving Project

Curated by Coby Edgar

Presented by Bula'bula Arts in collaboration with Delmar Gallery

"The records with Dorothy Djukulul and Linda Namiyal Bopirri who were in the first wave of women nationally to take to painting from the late 1970s were treasures to come across. Both had successful careers and were collected into state collections across Australia in an era when women's practice was primarily weaving. It's common for women to paint now, but back then it was a practice slowly taken by a select group of women who had male teachers from their family to guide their interpretations of stories."

Exhibition open Wed-Sun, 12-5pm until 14 June 2026

Documentation by Silversalt Photography

"Once digitised and preserved, it was found that the archive had material relevant to the entire community. There were f...
08/05/2026

"Once digitised and preserved, it was found that the archive had material relevant to the entire community. There were folders of photographs of Country, football matches, the opening of the art centre, voting days as well as people hunting, harvesting materials and trips taken by artists all around the world. There were also films, albums of local bands, and artist archives. In the artist archives we digitised images of exhibitions, artist portraits and catalogues of individual artists' works. These rich archives tell a story that goes much farther than just the art centre; they are a reflection of the whole community."

Coby Edgar - Curator, 'Djalkiri: The Bula'bula Arts Archiving Project

22 April - 14 June 2026
Wed-Sun, 12 - 5pm

Works L-R

Djardi Ashley painting at Bula'bula Arts

Evonne Gayuwrri 'Wagilag ga Wititj Dhawu (Wagilag Sisters and Olive Python) 2025, Re-creation of painting by the artist's grandfather, Djardie Ashley. Acrylic on canvas, 40 x 30cm

Flood plains at dusk

JB Fisher and first-born son, Jabison

JB Fisher 'Mewal' 2025, Re-creation of painting by artist's third father, Jimmy Moduk. Acrylic on canvas, 40 x 30cm

Jimmy Djelminy, father of Johnny Malibirr

Jimmy Wululu with hhis painting at Bula'bula Arts

Peter Gämbung 'Niwuda (yirritja) Honey' 2025. Re-creation of painting by the artist's third father Jimmy Wululu. Acrylic on canvas, 40 x 30cm

Documentation by Silversalt Photography

Address

144 Victoria Street
Ashfield, NSW
2131

Opening Hours

Wednesday 12pm - 5pm
Thursday 12pm - 5pm
Friday 12pm - 5pm
Saturday 12pm - 5pm
Sunday 12pm - 5pm

Telephone

+61295816070

Website

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