Paula Kerry b. 1 January 1923

Also known as Paula O'Dare
  • Designer
Kerry was an associate of Bill Onus, principal of Aboriginal Enterprises. She was the firm's chief designer executing textile designs, furniture and other items. Her work with Onus began in the late 1940s. Sets of boomerang-shaped nesting tables are attributed to her with Aboriginal themes painted on the surfaces.
Tags: textile design, furniture design, boomerang design
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In her exploration of Aboriginal Enterprises (Sylvia Kleinert, Aboriginal Enterprises: negotiating an urban Aboriginality, Aboriginal History Vol. 34 (2010), pp. 171-196 (26 pages) Published By: ANU Press), Kleinart writes “After attending the National Gallery School (possibly part-time) Paula Kerry (later O’Dare) trained as a silk screen designer initially with Vida Turner then with Tubby Grant and Joan Porter whose firm adapted English textile designs for printing in Japan and subsequent resale in Australia. Kerry, together with Geoff Kerry and Ambrose and Phyl Dyson established the Guild Studios in 1949. In the late 1940s Kerry began working freelance for Bill Onus and in 1952 she commenced employment with Aboriginal Enterprises. Kerry’s involvement with Aboriginal Enterprises was political in nature. In retrospect Kerry believed that it was the racism and segregation she witnessed whilst working at Peak Hill, New South Wales in the late 1940s which predisposed her to working with Onus.”

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Date written:
2021
Last updated:
2021

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References [<ExternalResource: Sylvia Kleinert, Aboriginal Enterprises: negotiating an urban Aboriginality, Aboriginal History Vol. 34 (2010), pp. 171-196 (26 pages) Published By: ANU Press>, <ExternalResource: Sylvia Kleinert, "Jacky Jacky Was a Smart Young Fella": A study of art and Aboriginality in south east Australia 1900-1980. PhD thesis, ANU, 1994, p.234-245>] [<ExternalResource: Sylvia Kleinert, Aboriginal Enterprises: negotiating an urban Aboriginality, Aboriginal History Vol. 34 (2010), pp. 171-196 (26 pages) Published By: ANU Press>]