Our staff
Come in and meet our staff and learn why people love our customer service. You are welcome to browse at your leisure without pressure, however, we are more than happy to give assistance if you need it.
Danella (Nutburra Nutburra) Lee
When you come in you’re very likely to meet Danella (right) at the front desk. She’s our Shop Manager and is shown here with Kathy, a lovely customer. Danella was born in Darwin and is of Larrakia, Wardaman & Karajarri descent. She’s an artist and has had the opportunity to be involved in many different arts and community building projects over the years ranging from teaching, creating art and supporting other artists. Her work has been shown in exhibitions & galleries in Australia, Europe and at the Milano Art Festival in Italy, the latter at which she was the first Indigenous female artist to enter and sell artwork. Danella comes from a big art making and appreciating family. She is self-taught and was strongly influenced by her three older brothers Gary, Roque and Tony, who are renowned artists in their own right. Danella joined us in 2022.
Marie Napurrula Laruffa
Marie joined us in 2021 and is an accomplished artist herself. Her professional name is Marie Napurrula. She was born in NSW. Her mother and grandmother were both forcibly removed from their birth parents and are now known as ‘Stolen Generation’. Their ancestors are from Central Australia. She became determined to explore her Aboriginal ancestry as a young woman and this quest brought Marie back to Central Australia. There she made connections with relations and kin in the region, and gained more familiarity with her grandmother’s story, which inspired her and her art. Marie lived in Alice Springs for a number of years and then moved to Darwin in 2019. Marie is currently studying at CDU and works with us on Wednesdays. She also takes our ladies out for Pandanus.
Christine Isaacs
Not only does Christine have extensive experience in retail in a range of locations in Darwin including Parap Fine Foods, Spotlight and Dragonfly Fabrics, she’s also a very accomplished seamstress who teaches sewing. Her specialty is fabrics and since joining us she’s been hard at work learning the different designs and remote community art centre products we stock. She also whipped up her pants (above) and is happy to support beginner sewers. Christine’s art practice training was in Melbourne as a glass artist and she still undertakes commission work and delivers workshops. Currently Christine works Thursdays and Fridays.
Obi – Theo Obiawuchi
Obi is our Saturday Guy and is available to support us during busy times. Obi spent nearly four years working at Injalak Arts, a remote community art centre in Gunbalanya, as Assistant Manager and was much appreciated due to his sense of responsibility and composure. He has provided customer service to people from all over the world, supervised artists, Hill Tour guides and CDP participants, ensured the art centre was secure and and sent artworks around the globe. He brought those skills to Songlines and has been on the team since we opened in 2021. He makes sure any precious objects sent out of Songlines are expertly and securely packed.
Felicity Wright
Most days you’ll find Felicity (Flick) onsite. She’s our founder and opened Songlines in April 2021. She’s shown with Kenan Namundja from Central Arnhem Land. Please feel free to ask for information or throw her some tricky questions. She especially loves talking about Indigenous fabrics, fibre arts and textiles. Flick has been working in and with remote community art centres since 1986 and Songlines is the most recent adventure in a long and winding career that’s taken her around Australia and beyond.