Cairns artist and author, Munganbana Norman Miller, has produced an Aboriginal art book that records over 25 year of his prolific artistic output. The art work and the accompanying stories depict his life culturally and spiritually as they feature the natural wonders of two world heritage areas – the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics.

Munganbana Norman Miller is from the Jirrbal, Bar-barrum and Tableland Yidinji tribes. He grew up in the Wondecla bush, near Nigger Creek, Herberton, North Qld .

Munganbana graduated with an Associate Diploma of Art (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) from Cairns TAFE.

He has had his designs on the cover of the Aboriginal Law Bulletin, Barfly, Aboriginal Co-ordinating Council research reports, Strikeforce College lecture notes and inside the Aboriginal Health Worker.

His book, Reef and Rainforest: an Aboriginal Voice Through Art and Story, features over 200 pieces of his art work, and has earned him Bronze Medal from the internationally prestigious and globally recognized Independent Publisher Book Awards – IPPY Awards 2016. The book’s Bronze Medal was awarded under the IPPY’s National Category of Multicultural Non-fiction Adult, which is for the overall medalists and includes entrants from UK, US, Aus/NZ, and Europe. This is an outstanding achievement.

Munganbana displays a unique style combining traditional Aboriginal themes with contemporary techniques and striking colour.

Munganbana has stories that go with each painting that depict his life growing up in the rainforest, his family, his culture and his spirituality. It also provides a brief history about Aboriginal people from the rainforest tribes, and his life’s work for reconciliation. Through his award-winning book, Munganbana is regarded as an Indigenous ambassador for tourism for Far North Queensland, Australia.

SESSION:
Saturday 13 August 2016, 1.30-3.00pm
PANEL: LOCAL INDIGENOUS VOICES: speaking with words is only part of the picture