Her Story
An artist, a musician and environmental scientist by trade, Paula Boo has many a musical and often hilarious story to share through the deep resonance of her connection to community, land, the plant world, animals and spirit and shares what it means to traverse both the creative and logical worlds.
Paula Boo first arrived on Minjerribah/Tjerrangerri/Terrangee (North Stradbroke Island) in 1989 as a backpacker from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. She fell in love with the Island and its breathtaking natural beauty, open beaches, deep lagoons, bushland and unique creatures from both land and sea. ‘Straddie’ as it’s also colloquially known, has been her home since 1992.
Paula completed a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies with Honours in Ecology at Griffith University in Queensland. Her thesis was titled, The Rehabilitation following Sand Mining and Burning on North Stradbroke Island. Through her research and fieldwork, she developed an intimate knowledge of the ecology of Minjerribah/Tjerrangerri/Terrangee (North Stradbroke Island).
Paula’s transition to full time artist and musician in 2019 continues to develop as her creative journey unfolds. Come and be a part of this ever-evolving story.
Arts Practice
As a child Paula’s artistic passions were ignited by her mother’s creativity and love of craft, cooking and gardening. In 2005, and already a professional musician, Paula became captivated by traditional fibre arts which were showcased at the Dreaming Festival. A female Elder from the Central Desert introduced her to coil stitch and she has been learning and sharing weaving and basketry techniques ever since. Living on Minjerribah/Terrangee (North Stradbroke Island) provides her with the inspiration and motivation to continue her growth and evolution as an artist.
“My inspiration comes primarily from my natural environment, my community, and my mothers who have gone before me. When I look back and think about all these women, who were exceptional artists although they didn’t identify as such, I see the patterns they used and recognise those patterns in my own work and this makes me feel connected to my Mothers and brings my soul loving peace.”
Paula uses a variety of traditional and innovative techniques, styles, and materials, mainly working with natural fibres such as banana, palm inflorescence and sheaths, Lomandra spp., hemp, raffia and various weedy vines, and sometimes she incorporates rope and other found materials. She is currently exploring the fusion of metal works, ceramics, botanical printing and cyanotype with natural fibres.
Paula continues to explore and learn weaving and basketry techniques from traditional and contemporary weavers, whom she acknowledges as powerful women and men, always with respect for their ancient art forms. It is about sharing her knowledge with others whilst learning new techniques that will enable contemporary expressions of weaving as a vital art form.
Relevant Work
2005 – present Fibre Artist working with natural and recycled fibres. Basketry, coiling, Wall Art, Jewellery, Sculpture, Commissioned work. Paula also facilitates a wide selection of fibre arts workshops.
August 2023 IAM Straddie Arts Trail The trail was held across our island communities, and featured open studios, pop-up retail and gallery spaces, workshops and events designed to showcase our inspirational island and its creatives, as well as support community businesses. https://iamstraddie.com.au/arts-trail Paula launched the opening of her home studio during the arts trail.
Dec 2019 – Feb 2022: Owner/Manager/Artist at the Island Arts Gallery. Goompi (Dunwich), Minjerribah/Tjerrangerri/Terrangee (North Stradbroke Island). The Island Arts Gallery was a welcoming and thoughtfully curated visual art space that showcased hand-crafted and locally made art. Paula Boo brought together selected original fibre and mixed media artworks, photography, ceramics, jewellery, wood-turned pieces, textiles and unique homewares by local artists to realise the vision:
‘To create an inspiring and welcoming space that connects local artists with the greater community to nurture an appreciation of and respect for the Arts.’
Sept 2020: Minjerribah Arts Trail - The inaugural Minjerribah Arts Trail showcased artists across and galleries on the Island.
July 2019- Feb 2020: Island Arts Collective Pop-up Galleries. Paula came together with four other local artists from Minjerribah/Tjerrangerri/Terrangee (North Stradbroke Island) to form the Island Arts Collective and host two successful popup galleries at Point Lookout, North Stradbroke Island.
2016: Woodford Folk Festival Fibre Arts Workshop Facilitator
2011 and 2012: Lines in the Sand Fibre Arts Workshop Facilitator
Exhibitions/Showing
Exhibitions/Showing
August 2022- Present: Paula Boo Studio Mulumba (Point Lookout)
Jan 2023 – present: Museum of Brisbane Gift Shop Meanjin (Brisbane)
August 2022 IAM Straddie Arts Trail – Waypoint 20 Paula Boo Studio Mulumba (Point Lookout)
May 2022 – present: North Stradbroke Island Historical Museum Goompi (Dunwich)
May 2022 Brisbane Grammar Art Show, Meanjin (Brisbane)
July 2022 MAYO Art Show, St Margarets, Meanjin (Brisbane)
2019-2022: Island Arts Gallery - Goompi (Dunwich)
2021 – present: Redlands Coast Tourist Information Centre - Nandeebie (Cleveland)
2021 – present: IndigiScapes Gift Shop – Capalaba, Qld
July to Oct 2019: Island Arts Collective Pop-up Gallery – Mooloomba (Point Lookout)
Nov 2019 to Feb 2020: Island Arts Collective Pop-up Gallery – Mooloomba (Point Lookout)
Nov 2019: Exhibition: Many Moods – Wooloongabba Art Gallery , Meanjin (Brisbane)
2017: Exhibition: Island Made – Redland Art Gallery – Nandeebie (Cleveland)
2016: Island Made – Canaipa (Russell) Island