Katie Cox / Eagle Hawk and Crow

The use of garliwan (natural tree resin) in the execution of an artwork is complex, from the collection of the resin from certain trees at certain times of the year, to coming up with a combination of resin that can be applied like paint but won’t crack, to applying the resin over the ochre in a quick motion to ensure that the resin doesn’t harden whilst painting. The result is well worth it though as the effect is like a beautiful piece of mahogany furniture.  Highly recommended.

Katie was born at Texas Downs Station and was fortunate to have an education at Beagle Bay.  She relocated to Warmun after her schooling and began teaching the children on the Community – an occupation which she is still involved with today.

Katie comes from a family of talented artists – her aunts Lena Nyadbi and Goody Barrett introduced her to painting, and she was encouraged by her brother, International Artist Churchill Cann, and other established artists.  Her husband is renowned artist, Tommy Carroll.

Katie not only has a style of her own which is varied, bold and yet often whimsical (as in her “Devil Dog” work), but she is meticulous in method and fastidious in detail.  Her paintings are invariably accompanied by a Ngarrangkarni (Dreamtime) story.

She has participated in many Exhibitions, collected by the National Gallery of Australia and Parliament House Collection – most definitely a collectable artist for the investor or those who enjoy a beautiful piece of art on their wall.

Selected Exhibitions

2007
– Back To The Board, Coo-ee Gallery, Sydney, NSW

2006
– “Women from Texas Downs,” Gadfly Gallery, Dalkeith, Perth, WA
– Warmun Art Centre Presents, Mary Place Gallery, Sydney, NSW

2005
– Warmun Group Show, Framed Gallery, Darwin, NT

2004
– Big Country Show, Gallery Gondwana, Alice Springs, NT
– The Next Generation, Balgo and Warmun, Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne, VIC
– Featured Artist, Posco Art Centre, Seoul, Korea

2002
– Warmun Group Show, Flinders University Art Museum, Adelaide, SA
– Thornquest Gallery, Gold Coast, QLD
– “Women’s Show”, Vivien Anderson Gallery, Melbourne, VIC
– “Colleen Carter, Tommy Carroll and Katie Cox”, Span Gallery, Flinders Lane, Melbourne, VIC
– “Collectors Show in association with Seva Frangos”, Span Gallery, Flinders St, Melbourne VIC

2001
– “Grand Opening Exhibition of Thornquest Gallery”, Gold Coast, QLD
– “Four Warmun Ngarliwarrin (Women)”, Artplace, Perth, WA

2000
– “State of My Country”, Hogarth Galleries, Paddington, Sydney, NSW
– Katie Cox and Tommy Carroll, Ben Grady Gallery, Canberra, ACT

1999
– Short Street Gallery, Broome, WA
– Hogarth Galleries, Paddington, Sydney, NSW
– Desert Designs, Japingka Gallery, Fremantle, WA

Selected Collections
– National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
– Parliament House Collection, Canberra
– Broadmeadows Health Services Collection, Broadmeadows, VIC
– Private and Corporate Collections Australia and Europe

In the Ngarrangkarni (Dreaming) Eagle Hawk and Crow were husband and wife. Eagle Hawk asked Crow to help him make spearheads to hunt kangaroo, but she was a lazy woman and said “No”. Eagle Hawk built a fire for cooking, then went hunting and brought back a kangaroo to the camp. He found Crow still sleeping. He was proper angry and put hot rocks in her eyes and burnt her all over with the coals from the fire. They turned into birds and live in the trees at the top of the mountain. The white in the hillside is their campfire – and this is why the crow is black with white circles in her eyes.

Note: Katie has painted the hills behind Warmun. The white in the painting is quartz, which was used for making spearheads. It is still evident today, as are the trees mentioned.