Carla Purse – Kodbolbok (Frogs) – Gabriella Maralngurra

Fabric: Cotton drill feature base cloth and cotton lining.
Color: The base cloth color is ‘french navy’ blue and the inks are a colorway of blue and green.

• W: 20 cm (8 inches)
• H: 10 cm (4 inches)
• D: 2 cm (0.75 inches)

Features:

• Magnetic clasp
• 6 slip-in card pockets
• Two full length pocket/compartments for notes
• Zippered full length internal pocket
• Limited edition – only 4 made
• Can be washed gently by hand

The fabric was hand-printed by artisans at Injalak Arts in West Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory. This purse was made by Kravan House, our partner social enterprise that has been employing, training and supporting disabled artisans in Cambodia since 2003. It is one of Cambodia’s oldest social enterprises.

NB: Please note that each purse is unique and the placement of the fabric design is different and wonderful on each item.

The fabric is designed and hand screen printed by Aboriginal people in Gunbalanya and made into fabric products by our fair trade partners in Cambodia.
Please note that each purse is unique and the placement of the design is different and wonderful on each item.

The designer: Gabriella Maralngurra

Gabriella Maralngurra started her artistic apprenticeship at a young age, sitting with her grandfather the late Lofty Nadjamerrek AO at Kabulwarnamyo and Kamarrkawan outstations. Her style, with its parallel rarrk (hatching) in the old rock art style, reflects his influence and that of her father Gabriel Maralngurra.

The design: Kodbolbok (Frogs) 2018

Gabriella has created a design inspired by kordbolbok (frogs). In this design, the artist has drawn frogs throughout their lifecycle, as karlkki (tadpole) and as mature kordbolbok. Gabriella is inspired by the different types of kordbolbok found across Arnhem Land – in the kulabbarl (billabongs), pandanus fronds and stone country. Although, kordbolbok share a name there are many variations,“Every frog has different skin. Some have spots, some stripes, some are plain.” Different frogs appear at different times of year throughout each of the six Kunwinjku seasons. Mandem (water lilies) where some kordbolbok live, can also be seen in this design, drawn in clusters and as mandala. The Kordbolbok is Gabriella’s two nieces’ totem which means she has permission to paint it.

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Injalak Arts is a non-profit, fully Aboriginal owned arts corporation located Gunbalanya in West Arnhem Land in remote Australia. The 300 members make beautiful arts and crafts. Their print workshop is busy with new screenprinted fabrics being created daily. They have an extraordinary 47 different fabric designs all created by the members and use lots of different base cloths (all natural fibres) and two teams of printers – men and women. Injalak Arts is registered as a charity in Australia.
Visit the Injalak Arts Etsy shop to see an amazing range of fabrics and other high quality authentic hand-made products.