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Slag Heap Projects
Marnpi Festival
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Through our gallery and off-site programs, Slag Heap Projects’ advocates for Far West NSW artists by facilitating experimentation, place-based research and commercial engagement. Slag Heap Projects wants to understand increasingly complex cultural frictions by creating a space where art is a tool for inquiry.
Slag heap, Round Hill, Lake Pamamaroo, Stephen’s Creek, Wilyakali and Barkindji Country, 2021-23. Photo: Hester Lyon
Marnpi Festival: Badger Bates & Baaka Bates
Catalogue Badger Bates was born on the Baaka (Darling River) at Wilcannia in 1947. He was brought up by his extended family and his grandmother Granny Moysey, learning from them the language, history and culture of the Barkandji people. He continues travelling the country looking after important places and teaching young people about their culture and their Country.
Badger is an artist, cultural heritage consultant and environmental activist. His art shows his connection to Country and the complex relationships between people, Country and water. In 2024, he was awarded Creative Australia’s prestigious Red Ochre Award for Lifetime Achievement, the highest honour for senior First Nations artists in Australia. His work is held in significant private and public collections, including Art Gallery of South Australia, Art Gallery of NSW and Australian Museum.
Badger is well known for his public art such as the sandstone Stolen Generations Memorial at Yandelora (Yan-da-lora), Mt Annan Botanic Gardens; Paul Ramsey Foundation building hand forged steel gates with Eveleigh Works and painted ceiling, Darlinghurst; mosaic seats and sandstone sculpture at the Mildura riverfront; sandstone sculptures at Baradine ‘Sculptures in the Scrub’.
Recent exhibitions include Art Gallery of South Australia’s Tarnanthi Festival 2019, the Biennale of Sydney 2022: Rivus, and Barka the Forgotten River at The Australian Museum in 2023.
Baaka Bates is Badger’s five-year old grandson. He spends time with his grandfather in their studio shed in Broken Hill learning how to carve, forge and draw.
For more information about Bagder and Baaka’s work, read Krystle Evan’s introduction to Marnpi Festival.
William (Badger) Bates
Menindee Lakes Fish Kills 2018-2019, 2023
linocut print
Edition of 50
43 x 72 cm
$3,900 (unframed)
William (Badger) Bates
Kularku (Brolga) 1, 2023
found metal, ships tank, motorcycle chain, pipe, rio
46 x 183 x 2 cm
$3,800
William (Badger) Bates
Drying Lake 2, 2023
steel, old galvanised tin, and found metal objects
180 x 125 x 2 cm
$8,900
William (Badger) Bates
Kularku (Brolga) 2, 2023
found metal, ships tank, motorcycle chain, pipe, rio
46 x 183 x 2 cm
$3,800
William (Badger) Bates
Kularku Maarni (Brolga Dance), 2023
linocut print
Edition 9 of 50 (framed)
44 x 78 cm (unframed); 115 x 81 x 4 cm (framed)
$4,500 (framed); $3,900 (unframed)
William (Badger) Bates, fabricated by Matt Mewburn
Marnpi Bronzewing Pigeon Journey, 2025
hand forged steel and bent wire
53 x 58 x 14 cm (Marnpi); 22 x 124 x 4 cm (hills)
Price on request, email info@slagheapprojects.com.
William (Badger) Bates
Marnpi Bronzewing Pigeon Spirit, 2025
Dead Finish sculpture and Needlewood stand
144 x 62 x 23 cm
Price on request, email info@slagheapprojects.com.
William (Badger) Bates
Marnpi Bronzewing Pigeon, 1994
linocut print
Edition 18 of 25, 2nd Ed. (framed)
37 x 59 cm (unframed); 99 x 79 x 4 cm (framed)
$4,100 (framed); $3,500 (unframed)
William (Badger) Bates
Kilpara & Makwara at Baaru-Baaka junction (Eaglehawk & Crow at Paroo-Baaka Junction), 2024
linocut print
Edition 1 of 50 (framed)
42.5 x 71 cm (unframed); 110 x 81 x 3 cm (framed)
$4,500 (framed); $3,900 (unframed)
Baaka Bates
(Bronzewing) pigeon, 2025
copy paper, pencil, texta
40 x 31.5 x 4 cm
$110 (framed)
Baaka Bates
Footpath with 2 dogs, flowers and light for night, 2025
stonehenge paper, watercolour
69 x 43 x 4 cm
$200 (framed)