Q and A with artist Edwin Turner by Chantay Turner

Q and A with artist Edwin Turner with granddaughther Chantay Turner, Year 8

Edwin Turner

Age: 48 Occupation: Artist for Key Creative

Life

I grew up all my life living on Thursday Island with my family. I met Chantay’s grandmother when she was living on TI. After we got married, we moved to Hammond Island in 2004, Chantay’s great-grandfather’s community.

Family

My mother’s blood ties originate from Cape York, Queensland, Wuthathi tribal clan and Ambonese Indonesian. My father is a full-blooded European, who grew up on Saibai Island. He was nicknamed “Saibai” and was adopted by the Torres Strait, Saibai Island Clan, Suy Baydum. We had a live-in nanny from Saibai Island, Ama (meaning mother, in Torres Strait) Jaubie, who cared for my father. She travelled with my grandparents, Bubba (meaning Big Father) Turner, a teacher, and Nana Turner, a nurse, throughout the Torres Strait Islands and Brisbane during WWII. Ama Jaubie remained with my family for the rest of her life.

Hobbies

I enjoy boating and fishing, creating a beautiful yard in our home and planting garden food. My favourite hobby is spending time with family, looking after my goldfish and tropical fish aquariums and also making aviaries for my birds such as budgies, lorikeets and poultry. It is important to teach our children to be responsible, independent and sustainable, to work hard, care for people/animals and grow their food garden.

How long have you been an artist for?

I have been practising art since I was in Year 3 at Thursday Island Primary School, in the late 1970s. A local Anglican Bishop, Fr Ted Mosby, recognised and praised me for my artwork at a Religious Education class and asked to showcase it to his parishioners. This inspired me to continue to create artwork throughout school. As I grew older, I saw it as an opportunity to make money when people asked to buy my artwork.

Can you describe 21st keys?

I cut out plywood to create the keys, then paint, stain and varnish them and put paper on the back for people to write well wishes. At Key Creative, designing and producing personalised keys has become a very important coming of age milestone, almost like an initiation. The 21st birthday occasion has become a significant ritual practice, to acknowledge the recipient’s traditional and cultural identity. I also create wall hanging for families who are celebrating coming of age milestones such as 30th through to 90th birthdays.

Where do you get your materials from?

The Dremel equipment, paint, varnish and stains are bought locally on Thursday Island. It is important to buy local, support local businesses and keep money in the region. The plywood and a wood burner I order from Cairns or down south, because they do not supply them locally.

What motivates you to make these artworks?

In 2001, for their coming of age, I created my very first 21st keys for my twin niece and nephew as a present. Although it was my hobby, I started getting recognition and received a lot of personalised orders from families, near and far, who were willing to pay for my artwork. When I received good feedback from people, especially my customers, more orders kept growing. In 2012 at a Torres Strait Cultural Festival, I made a lot of money, then in 2013, I decided to quit my job and establish myself, as a full-time, practising solo artist. My artwork is unique and can be Torres Strait Island themed, which is hard to get for significant Indigenous celebrations.

Who do you make them for?

I make personalised carvings for anyone who wants to commission them from me. My customers range from families and relatives, sports clubs, community groups, including businesses such as local councils and government organisations. Most of my orders come from local families who want to revitalise traditional customary practices and identity, by including their tribal totems in their designed carvings. My commissioned orders range from keys, wall hangings, public art, trophies and shields.

How do people normally react when they receive their keys?

My customers instantly fall in love with their personalised carved keys. They often say how it brings tears of joy, when they receive it. I always receive good feedback and haven’t missed an order that I have committed to. My Facebook page has a lot of followers and I receive recommendations from customers. This means my business has a good reputation that people can trust.

Can you explain why it is important for Torres Strait Islanders to continue to make art?

When you live in Torres Strait Islands remote communities, there are limited jobs available for our people. We must become entrepreneurs and create our own employment opportunities. Australians and overseas visitors hardly know about the Torres Strait Islanders as Australia’s first nations’ people. There is a shortage of Torres Strait Islander art and merchandise available for retail throughout Australia, except in art galleries and museums. My business aims to celebrate and promote Torres Strait Islander arts excellence to the world.