Based in Orbost, Janelle Owen is a Wemba Wemba descendant from Deniliquin in New South Wales. Her mother, Veronica Day, was born on Moonahcullah Mission in New South Wales. Owen’s grandfather spoke traditional language fluently and her grandmother made feather flowers which people travelled from Melbourne to purchase. She also wove baskets.
Unfortunately, Owen’s grandparents’ language and cultural skills were not passed on, a fact that the artist regrets. She explains her mother’s generation “didn’t want to learn, they were too busy being kids having fun “ .
When an opportunity came for Janelle to learn basketry she eagerly took it up. Aunty Linda and Uncle Carl Turner from Lake Tyers taught Owen as she completed her Koori Art and Design course at Moogji Aboriginal Council in Orbost. Locating the grass needed to create her baskets in the local bush, Owen uses both traditional and unique methods to create baskets of all shapes and sizes. She incorporates coloured raffia and found local gum nuts into her basketry techniques to decorate smaller baskets with lids.
Photographs of Owen’s baskets have been used to promote the East Gippsland Aboriginal Arts Corporation, which shows her work at the Home Gallery, in exhibitions and at various showcase events. Baskets exhibited in the 'Victorian Indigenous Art Awards’ at Mahoney’s Gallery in Melbourne in 2006 were quickly sold.
Owen also teaches basketry to local school children.
- Writers:
- East Gippsland Aboriginal Arts Corporation
- Date written:
- 2008
- Last updated:
- 2009
