Carved Artefacts

These hand crafted wooden artefacts are made from a variety of timbers dependent on the required purpose. Although these items are functional, we recommend putting them on display to preserve.

Artists source the timber on country, walking from tree to tree to find the right piece for the desired functional outcome. Once found, it is cut and then brought back to camp to be worked, shaped, sanded and finally finished.

Boomerangs:
Boomerangs from this region are made from a variety of materials. Lighter weight woods such as Milkwood and Sandpaper Fig are used for “come back” style boomerangs. These tools are best used for birds, bats, and fruit in trees. Heavier woods such as that from Eucalypts, Ironwood and Kerosene wood are used for a more deadly boomerang on larger animals. These you don’t want returning!

Artists prefer to source branches which have a natural bend so that the wooden grain follows around the curved boomerang shape. This results in a stronger tool which can be used repeatedly.

Kali Kali:
Kali Kali (pronounce the “K” with a “G”) are boomerang shaped clapsticks. They are usually made from heavier woods which make for a crisp clapping sound when used in ceremony. Due to their shape they are also functional as a traditional boomerang.

Kali Kali are made using the same methods as a single boomerang, ideally from a naturally curved branch, with the artist working to create a symmetrical pair. Timbers used include Eucalpyts, Ironwood and Kerosene wood.

Clapsticks:
Clapsticks are used in traditional ceremony and dance as a percussion instrument to accompany Mako (didjeridu). Denser woods such as Ironwood or Kerosene wood are preferred due to their crisper clap sound. Clapsticks can be left raw or painted and decorated. Straight timber from younger trees is preferred as it requires less work to make functional.

Wooden Artefacts are proudly carved by Frankie “Tango” Lane, Travis Seccin, Darryl Jolly & Jason Garmu

Frankie Lane
Frankie is a senior Mayali man who has lived most of his life at Beswick. A master of Mago (West Arnhem didjeridu), Frankie also works on canvas, bark and local timbers, He has produced designs for bronze, textiles and print for Djilpin’s Gapu series. Frankie paints with the traditional grass brush, a skill learned from master such as David Blanasi. He is a founding member of Djilpin and has served as a Director for many years.

Travis Seccin
Travis is a dedicated guide for Djilpin Art's museum and on country tourism program. Having been "grown up" by senior elder, Djilpin Art's board member and custodian Frankie "Tango" Lane, Travis has been surrounded by art, artists and cultural knowledge from a younger age.

He has spent many an hour watching, helping and preparing work for Tango. Circa mid-2022 Travis decided to give artefact making a go first hand. Under Tango's tutelage he has learned to shape and tune Mako (didgeridoo), shape and paint clap-sticks as well as harvest bark. 

Darryl Jolly
Darryl has a long involvement with the Djilpin Art's board, including previously serving as Deputy Chair. He is also involved with day to day operations and is a tour guide for Djilpin. He is proud to share his peoples knowledge and traditions, and has a very approachable, friendly way of interacting.

As a busy man he doesn't have a lot of spare time to create art, however does carve and work on modern mediums such as prints and etchings. Carvings include boomerang, clapsticks and shields. He also occasionally shapes and tunes mako (didjeridu) before passing to others to paint.

Jason Garmu
Jason is a traditional Bungul dancer and occasionally plays didj for this ceremony. Jason is a self taught specialist in the art of making hunting implements including spear, bondock, boomerang, shield, and "jumbar-jumbar" or nula-nula/fighting stick.
Using a mix of traditional techniques and materials, through to modern "on hand at the time" components, all his hunting implements are functional. Some may be single use, but in the right hands are deadly. This crafting skill came from a desire to provide for self through hunting. As a young child he often needed a spear. He would use one, then go back to camp, and create a fresh one; Learn, rinse, repeat.
Bush tucker knowledge came from always being out on country & hunting. Cooking traditional ways went hand in hand with this.