Australian family-owned fresh juice processor Grove Juice has launched new packaging putting indigenous artists in the spotlight, and on kitchen benches. Seven ‘limited-edition artworks adorn new packaging on its two-litre juice range.
Grove Juice partnered with the Warlukurlangu Art Centre to feature the artworks, taking inspiration from the remote community of Yeundumu, and aims to connect consumers with the brand’s community-centric values, with a percentage of sales from every bottle benefiting the artists and the Warlukurlangu Art Centre.
The Mandarin with Pulp juice features Agnes Nampijinpa Brown’s art which tells her father’s Jukurrpa (Emu Dreaming) stories relating directly to her father’s country around Mikanji. The painting is of Puyurru, and is the story of two Jangal men, who sang the rain unleashing a giant storm which travelled from east to west across the country.
The Cloudy Apple two litre bottle features Liddy Napanangka Walker’s (dec.) art; a Purlapurla Jukurrpa (black kite dreaming) belonging to the Nungarrayi/Napaljarri women and Jungarrayi/Japaljarri men. The Purlapurla is an ancestral hero who flies high in the sky and perches in the tops of trees. This painting depicts an incident where he injured his legs and was flying up and down.
The Orange with Pulp, Orange Mango Pineapple Passionfruit and Apple, the Apple, Mandarin, Passionfruit and the Apple Ginger bottles feature art by Vanetta Nampijinpa Hudson, who paints her father’s Walukurlangu Jukurrpa (Fire Dreaming) stories relating directly to her land, its features, the plants and animals that inhabit it.
The Orange Pulp Free two litre bottle features Margaret Nangala Gallagher’s art; Yankirri Jakurrpa (Emu Dreaming), belonging to Jangala/Jampijinpa men and Nangala/Nampijinpa women and represents the yankirri travelling to the rock hole at Ngarlikurlangu to find water where a fight ensued between yankirri ancestor and Warilyka ancestors over the sharing of the water.
Grove Juice owner Dick Estens said the collaboration has been a passion project driven by a desire to give back, while celebrating the incredible artistic abilities of First Nations peoples.
In the 1990s, Estens established the Aboriginal Employment Strategy (AES); a not for profit which now helps 1,500 Indigenous Australians find employment each year. Some of the funds raised will also go towards this essential service.
“These beautiful works of art will not only seek to raise money for indigenous communities, but help to build self-esteem via expanded employment opportunities, and also enable Grove consumers to learn about the work AES does.”
For the collection, Grove Juice and the Warlukurlangu Art Centre worked collaboratively to select the featured artists which include four globally renowned Central Western Desert artists - Agnes Nampijinpa Brown, Liddy Napanangka Walker’s, Vanetta Nampijinpa Hudson and Margaret Nangala Gallagher.
Warlukurlangu Art Centre’s Manager, Cecilia Alfonso said: “We were delighted to partner with Grove Juice as it was an opportunity to tell stories of our country using bottles as our canvas.”
Managing Director at Grove Juice, Greg Quinn expects the collaboration to be a successful fund-raising platform.
“Our limited edition, two litre juices will be available in over 840 supermarkets across Coles, Woolworths and Aldi nationally, and we hope to raise at least $50,000.
“With our established relationships with Indigenous communities, we may look to build on this initiative over time and feature other amazing artists from across Australia, for future brand collaborations,” Quinn said.
The range is available at Coles, Woolworths, and Aldi.
