Emma arrived in Darwin, Northern Territory in 2008 by boat and had spent many years previously to this sailing on traditional rigs in Tropical locations where she became familiar with edible and native produce, and the stories and people that connect and use the plants. She is a nature lover and artist with a background in horticulture and tropical environmental science, working as a plant specialist and community engager. In whatever stream encourages the enhancement of our connection to the natural world and particularly to our wonderful tropical home.
Her work bridges both the worlds of art and science.
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Qualifications
Certificate IV in Creative Arts
Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, Australia, 2012- Present. 14 Units completed
Certificate IV in Training and Assessment
Site Skills Training, Darwin, September 2014
Bachelor of Environmental Science and Environmental Management-
Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, Australia , Jan 2011- Nov 2013.
Permaculture Teacher Training and Facilitation-
Permaculture College Australia, NSW, October 2015
Permaculture Design Course –
Permaculture Design Institute, NSW, June 2009
Higher National Diploma – Horticulture and Plantsmanship
Royal Botanic Garden/ Scottish Agricultural College, Edinburgh, Scotland, Sep 2004 – Sep 2006 Awarded with Distinction
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Awards and Prizes
ART
2017 Fledgling CDU Print Student Award – Best VET Student for Technical and artistic skill, innovation, imagination and flair in the field of printmaking
2017 Rights on Show, Ian Tranthem Justice Award
ENVIRONMENT/ COMMUNITY
2017 Territory NRM People’s Choice Award for Land for Wildlife Top End
2017 NT Landcare Award for Collaboration in Landcare for Land for Wildlife Top End
2013 ABC local Radio, Delicious Magazine Local Produce Community Award
George Brown Memorial Scholarship in Environment and Horticulture, Charles Darwin University, NT 2013
Flynn Family Scholarship in Environmental Sciences, Charles Darwin University, NT, 2012
Melaleuca Award- Excellence in Environmental Achievement- Individual Award, NT, 2012
Pride of Australia Medal. Environmental Section Finalist, NT, 2012
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All other environmental science work to be listed soon.
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Art and nature related facilitation
Arnhem Weavers Trip (through CERES), June 2016, June 2017, June 2018, July 2018
Co-facilitator and driver to remote Arnhemland homeland Marpuru for 10 day cultural exchanges and weaving trips; including plant hunting and dyeing. http://ceres.org.au/global/arnhem-land/
Naidoc Week- Tastes and Tales, Campfire Connections, Aboriginal Bush Traders, Darwin, July 2018
Co-facilitating a story telling and bush tucker workshop with Larrakia elder, Leslie Gordon
Land for Wildlife Top End- program coordinator (through Greening Australia) 2014- Present
Coordinating Land for Wildlife Top End, all communications, land assessment, member liaison, public events, capacity building workshops, landholder walks and talks and threatened species enhancement programs and training. Facilitation of workshops, working with guest presenters and experts include “Enhancing habitat for Reptiles”, “Mammals of the Top End region”, “Trees for Wildlife- habitat creation with a chainsaw”, “Aquatic Plants and habitats”, “Weeds Workshop” and many more.
Wild food Walks (through GULP NT), December 2016
Organising and guiding a wild food walk for interested Darwin residents; liaising with Larrakia Nation and bringing in other bush tucker experts. Including a wild food installation
Local food displays, workshops and installations, 2012-2016
Various events creating local food displays and installations including running a community based area in sustainability at the Tropical Garden Spectacular (Darwin) annually; various workshops and displays for Darwin Community Arts, City of Darwin and coordinating community group GULP NT (Growing and Using Local Produce) and facilitating workshops, and liaising with community cooks and local artists https://gulpnt.com/2016/02/04/botanical-alchemy-from-darwin-backyard-plants/
Previously involved in setting up and running Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program at Alawa Primary School (2009- 2013).
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Involvement in Festivals and live events
“Tropidelica” music and performance events.
Happy Yess, De La Plage, Railway Club, Darwin and Wide Open Spaces Festival, Central Australia 2017- 2018
Producer, collaborator, decorator, dancer and DJ of Femme Funkale, all female music collective produced events (Lay-Dee-Loopin)
Wide Open Spaces Festival, Ross River, NT, 2014, 2015, 2016
Concept creator and coordinator of a themed art installation and roving performances to add a little luxury, soulfulness and fun to the ladies toilets. http://wideopenspace.net.au/
Fringe festival, “Eat my Words”Darwin 2017
Producer, “Eat my Words” – Local food and story telling event https://gulpnt.com/2017/08/02/eat-my-words-tastes-and-tales-of-territory-cooks/
Darwin Festival, 2013, 2014, 2016
Local food consultant, wild food forager and inspirational speaker at Festival food series “PAST, PRESENT, FEAST” (2016) and Paddock to Plate series (2014) http://www.darwinfestival.org.au/events/past-present-feast-sold-out; Volunteer at Bagot festival in 2013.
Gurruwilling Eclipse Festival, near Ramingining, Arnhem Land 2012Pack down crew for remote festival working with the community to share art, culture and an eclipse of the sun. http://www.abc.net.au/local/photos/2012/11/14/3632906.htm
Woodford Folk festival, 2010 and Dreaming Festival, 2009, Queensland
Signologist ( part of the sign painting for the festival- venues and general)
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Art Exhibitions
Art Mart-NCCA, April 2018
Full body prints, plant dye and collage x 6- “5 more minutes”
Rights on Show, Darwin, November 2018
Photographic series- “It’s in Our Hands”
Flegling- CDU Print Students Exhibition, NCCA, October 2017
Full body prints, plant dye and collage x 2- “5 More Minutes”
Mayfair Gallery, Darwin, End of year group show, December 2016
Photography collaborative piece- “First Date in the Swamp”
Nomad Art Gallery, Darwin, The Wealth of The Land by Chips Mackinolty , August 2016
Creating a response to the exhibition in the form of a local food installation, a display taste and talk to give a Darwin context. Catalogue http://www.nomadart.com.au/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/catalogue-chips-email-version-1-112.pdf
Nomad Art Gallery, Darwin, The Secrets of the Sand Sheets , April and November 2015
Artists’ bush expedition coordinator, botanical consultant, botanical installations, and exhibition speaker.Catalogue http://www.nomadart.com.au/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Sand-Sheets-Catalogue-15-LR.pdf
Co-author of the Education Kit to accompany the expedition http://www.nomadart.com.au/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/SECRET-WORLD-Education-Kit.pdf
Rights on Show (Darwin Community Legal Service annual exhibition and prize), August 2013
Guest Speaker at the opening, to the theme “Quinoa, super food=super economy?”
Charles Darwin University Visual Arts End of Year show, October 2013
Photography installation series, “A waste of The Top End” – A play on local food blog “Taste of The Top End”, highlighting food security and food waste issues in Darwin
Charles Darwin University Student exhibition and Railway Club “Beards” concert, August 2012
Photography installation series, “Territory Beards”, an obscured series of identity caught in beards like dream catchers, telling the story of their beholder (before big beards were trendy) with accompanying “identity of beard” interviews.
Tasteofthetopend 