HULA DREAMS

Hula dreams is an exhibition of hand painted ukuleles by over fifty artists who were invited by curator, Coral Reef, to paint or make a ukulele in any way that moved their creative spirit.

The result is an eclectic collection, of wicky whacky, cultural, sculptural, even sentimental ukuleles by a cocktail combination of famous artists, pop stars and musicians, Western Desert artists, Top End artists, cartoonists, and Pacific Islanders.

It seems everyone loves a ukulele, pronounced 'ookoolaylee' in Hawaiian. Carol Ruff, aka Coral Reef, curator of Hula Dreams, an artist and a ukulele musician, delivered or mailed a ukulele to each of the participating artists.

Artists include Martin Sharp, Garry Shead, Mic Conway, Ningurra Naparulla, Marie McMahon, Adam Rish, George Tjungurrayi, George Gittoes, Mathew Martin, Chip Mackinolty, Long Jack Tjakamarra, Greg Weight, Bruce Goold, Mike Cooper, Michael Fitzjames, Paul Worstead, Peter Kingston, Ruth Waller, Joel Tarling and Mervyn Rubuntja.

Hula Dreams is a powerful and sometimes political exhibition played out on a tiny instrument.