Fashion and Art Portfolio
Early art skills ranged from painting and sketching portraits, still life and landscapes to various forms of art and craft such as beadwork, batik, tie-dye, appliqué, photography, macramé, liquid plastics and pottery and writing poetry.
Lenore creates artworks under her Kungarakan name – Laniyuk
Fashion Label names include:
- Women – Lenore Dembski Paperbark Woman
- Men – Oakman
- Children – Aunty Lenore
- Other items – Paperbark Woman
AWARDS
2001 – Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Community Business Partnerships – Small Business – NT Winner
2001 – Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Community Business Partnerships – Small Business – National Finalist
2001 – Darwin NAIDOC Artist of the Year
ART
2003 – Garma Festival – outside Nhulunbuy, NT – Garma Panel
Completed an etching [14 x 22cm] as part of a group of approximately 60 artists. Number 1/12 of the Garma Panel (the complete collection of all the smaller panels) was sold by the Yothu Yindi Foundation in Bermuda in 2003. Another copy is being held by ANKAAA. Each of the individual artists will receive 10 copies and Yothu Yindi Foundation will have 5 and Basil Hall Editions will also have 5 available for sale through exhibitions.
FASHION AWARDS
1996 – Northern Territory Fashion Awards – Darwin, NT
Second Prize in the “Corporate Wear Category” – First Prize in the “Men’s Wear Award” – Three outfits designed as a joint venture with three other designers, Paul Rider, Barbara Smith and Katarina Hutcheson. Textile artists were Barbara Smith and Katarina Hutcheson from Darwin.
1998 – Northern Territory Fashion Awards – Darwin, NT
Third Prize in the “Our Territory, Our Life Style Category” – First Prize in the “Chief Minister’s Award” – Two resort wear outfits using “Snake” Design fabric from Tiwi Designs.
1998 – Australian Gown of the Year – Melbourne, VIC
Runner Up in the “Australia at Its Best Category” – A string bikini and top and skirt made using licra printed in Melbourne, with the “Rain Dreaming” pattern from Ali-Curung.
1998 – Flair Fashion Awards – Taree, NSW
One of 125 garments to be shown on the catwalk – out of 350 entries – A silk bridal gown, using the “Body Painting” design from Tiwi Designs.
1999 – Australian Gown of the Year – Melbourne, VIC
Finalist in the “Australia at Its Best Category” – A dress, jacket and skirt using “Snake” Design fabric from Tiwi Designs.
1999 – Flair Fashion Awards – Taree, NSW
Indigenous Designer Award – An evening dress using a textile by Hermy Munnich from Dunnilli Arts
1999/2000 – Bayagal Collection, Powerhouse Museum – Sydney NSW
Commissioned to create three outfits for the Bayagal Collection – An evening dress using a textile by Hermy Munnich from Dunnilli Arts; An evening dress using a textile by Reggie Sultan from Darwin; A two piece resort wear outfit using a textile by Leonie Gardner from Darwin
2000 – Flair Fashion Awards – Taree, NSW
Indigenous Designer Award – A dress, jacket and skirt using “Snake” Design fabric from Tiwi Designs.
2001 – Flair Fashion Awards – Taree, NSW
First Prize in the “Cocktail Award” – A cocktail dress using a textile by Makapetic from Darwin
2002 – Northern Territory Fashion Awards – Darwin, NT
First Prize in the “Children’s Wear Category” – A collection of three outfits using commercially produced mainstream fabrics
SOME FASHION PARADES FEATURING GARMENTS BY LENORE DEMBSKI
1996 – Wheel of Fortune TV Show
4 garments worn by Kerri Friend on Wheel of Fortune
Bush Foods, Hermannsburg Silks – Water Lily Diamond, Helen Salee – Crystal Water Lily, Marita Sambono – Golden Croc, Hermy Munnich
2000 – Pre-Sydney Olympic Events
Lenore showed approximately 30 of her outfits and about 250 other ATSI designers’ clothes, textiles and accessories from around Australia at the Sydney Media Centre, Powerhouse Museum and the NSW Department of Industry and Business exhibition centre.
2006 – Guringai Festival, Manly NSW
Co-ordinated and produced a 1 hour fashion parade at the Guringai Festival showing clothes made with fabrics designed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander textile artists and or designers from NSW, WA and the NT. Approximately 30 garments were designed and made by Lenore using ATSI designed fabrics.
2010 – The Deadly Awards, Sydney, NSW
Two garment in the National finals for Fashion Design at the 2010 Deadlys at the Opera House.
2012 – Stylin’ Up With Worawa Fashion Event, VIC
24 outfits shown at event on 24.8.12
2013 – “Traditional Splendour”- Asia Pacific Region fashion Show in Kuwait
2 garments used in fashion parade “Golden Croc” using textiles by Hermy Munnich and “White Hands” using textiles by Tex Sculthorp
2013 – Indigenous Fashion Unearthed – Lóreal Melbourne Fashion Festival’s Cultural Program – Melbourne – 23.3.13
10 women’s garments
2013 – Linga Longer Festival – Batchelor – 3.8.13
garments for women, men, boys and girls
2013 – Indigenous Fashion Unearthed – Melbourne Spring Fashion Festival’s Cultural Program – Melbourne – August 13
12 women’s and men’s garments
2014 – Indigenous Fashion Unearthed – Lóreal Melbourne Fashion Festival’s Cultural Program – Melbourne – March 14
10 women’s garments – hand printed textiles and 10 men’s shirts – Aboriginal designed commercially printed fabric
2014 – Yapa Fashion Festival – Catwalk Show – Alice Springs – 21.6.14
12 women’s garments and 7 men’s shirts
2014 – Positive Runway, Stop the Spread – 2014 World Aids Conference – Melbourne – 23.7.14
10 women’s garments and 10 men’s shirts
2014 – Linga Longer Festival – Batchelor – 2.8.14
garments for women, men, boys and girls
2014 – Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education 40th Birthday Celebrations – Batchelor – 7.8.14
garments for women, men, boys and girls
2014 – Cultural Program – Melbourne Spring Fashion Festival – 6.9.14
4 women’s garments and 7 men’s vests
2014 – Indigenous Funders for Indigenous Programs Summit – New York – 23.9.14
various women’s garments
2015 – Yapa Fashion Festival – Catwalk Show – Alice Springs – 18.7.15
garments for women, men, boys and girls
2015 – Indigenous Fashion Runway – Cultural Program – Melbourne Spring Fashion Festival – 30.8.15
garments for women and shirts and vests for men
2015 – Fashion the Indigenous Way – Darwin Melbourne Cup Luncheon – 3.11.15
garments for women, men and children