Weaving on the Terrace

Sonja Carmichael is a Quandamooka woman from Mulgumpin / Moreton Island and Minjerribah / North Stradbroke Island, Queensland. She is of the Ngugi people, one of three clans who are the traditional custodians of Quandamooka, also known as Yoolooburrabee – people of the sand and sea. Sonja works specifically in the medium of fibre basketry and woven sculptures, informed by her family’s cultural connections to the land and seas of Quandamooka.

In her practice, she draws inspiration from the many stories connected to Quandamooka weaving, and also explores contemporary materials and techniques – in particular ‘ghostnets’ and fishing lines – that directly respond to concerns about the preservation of the natural environment.

An active member in her community, Sonja is a leader in the regeneration of Quandamooka weaving, passing on cultural knowledge and skills through workshops, exhibitions, and field research.

As well as presenting practical and philosophical aspects of her work, she has shown in group exhibitions, including: Open Hands, Tarnanthi (2020), Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide; Long water: fibre stories (2020), Institute of Modern Art, Brisbane; Legacy: Reflections on Mabo (2019), Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts and national touring venues; Micro Histories (2019), Museum of Brisbane; Shared Connections (2019), Brisbane City Council Indigenous Art Program; Australian Art Collection (2017), Queensland Art Gallery / Gallery of Modern Art; Gathering Strands (2016), Redland Art Gallery, Cleveland.

Her work is held in collections such as the Queensland Art Gallery, Museum of Brisbane, National Gallery of Victoria, National Museum of Australia, Australian Museum, Art Gallery of South Australia, and Redland Art Gallery.

Sonja Carmichael is proudly represented by Onespace Gallery.

Anaheke Metua is Ngai Te Rangi woman, born and bred in Aotearoa, NZ, relocating to Australia in the late 1980’s and currently residing on Minjerribah/North Stradbroke Island. For the past 20 years Anaheke has dedicated herself to learning the foundations of basketry and arts facilitation, expressing her own unique voice as a contemporary fibre artist and weaver inspired by the stories of her Polynesian ancestors and restoration of her Maoritanga (Indigenous wisdom).

As an exhibiting artist, she demonstrates skill in the construction and composition of interlocking a wide variety of natural fibres in an alternating pattern to create 2D & 3D woven sculpture and contemporary fibre art.

Her works in ‘Many Moods’ speak to the observations and daily rhythms of the night’s sky, seasonal sand migrations and the fruiting and flowering patterns of the native Bangalow Palm on Minjerribah/North Stradbroke Island.

Brian is a Torres Strait Islander whose language group is Kala Lagaw Ya and his spoken dialect is Mabuyag. Brian is a cultural educator who contributes his time supporting community organisations and cultural events throughout South East Queensland. Weaving for him was always enjoyed as a hobby, and it later developed into educational workshops and cultural sessions.

Anne-Marie Te Whiu is an Australian-born Māori belonging to the Te Rarawa iwi in Aotearoa NZ. She is a poet, editor, cultural producer and weaver. She was a 2021 Next Chapter Fellowship recipient, and her writing has been published broadly. Most recently she edited Woven (Magabala Books, 2024). This year she has been awarded the Varuna Residential Fellowship Writers and a Bundanon Artist Residency.  
Anne-Marie’s forthcoming debut poetry collection titled Mettle will be published by University of Queensland Press.