This year’s Cairns Festival saw nine days of events once again bring the Far North Queensland city to life and the community together through a program of art, music, film, culture and family-friendly activities.

Cairns Regional Art Gallery hosted three main art exhibitions - Erub Kebe Le, Flotsam and Jetsam and Re-Imaging – each of which provided an exciting collection of work that represented Far North Queensland.

Hope Vale Indigenous elder and artist, Roy McIvor, brings his culture to the forefront of his intricate pieces in his exhibition Re-Imaging, which spans a wide spectrum of mediums and includes works he created in the 1960s.  His 'shadow boxes', comprising of wooden boomerangs, shells and painted timber, and his recent works embracing color, brightness and the fun Dunggans – friendly spirits – are stand-out pieces that showcases McIvor’s beautiful connection between art, his culture and surroundings.

The combination of his traditional Aboriginal paintings, with their characteristic repetitive circular patterns, and his new, amusing pieces, make for an exciting exhibition which ends, fittingly, with his vibrant work 'I love my Country'. And having followed his journey throughout the displays, it isn't hard to see why he does.

It's rare for an artist to create a piece of art that leaves its viewers in a mix of admiration, captivation and consideration, but Caroline Mudge does just that throughout her Flotsam and Jetsam exhibition. The ongoing theme is environmental issues, however it takes moments to see past the stunning paintings and realize there is more to her work than first meets the eye. When it does become clear, every feature of each piece takes on a new meaning, and the powerful message of 'look after the environment, you've already done enough damage' is unavoidable.

Her knowledge in this area and her ability to present alternative perspectives makes for an interesting, insightful and informative viewing. Mudge's depiction of Mother Nature as an imposing, glamorous figure provides a strong contrast to the frequently featured small boats, timid girl and garbage 'islands', and the result is a stunning collection of thought-provoking works that you'd want on your walls – both as a source of beauty and as a reminder to consider the consequences of your actions.

In partnership with Cairns Indigenous Art Fair, Erub Kebe Le showcases the work of senior Torres Strait artist, Ken Thaiday Snr. Many of his pieces - from the mechanical creations to the headdresses for which he is most renowned for - have been featured in Coming of the Light celebrations, which mark the arrival of the first Christian missionaries from England. Both Thaiday and his father’s interest in dance and choreography inspired the collection, and the attention to detail, as well as the size of the headdresses, is fascinating. It’s an inviting exhibition; viewers require restraint to not feel the soft feathers of the headdress, or graze the delicate jellyfish on show in one of the many oceanic-themed mechanical works. Thaiday’s unique talent is well celebrated in an exhibition which perfectly captures the rustic sense of design through sophisticated execution.

McIvor, Mudge and Thaiday beautifully convey the essence of Far North Queenland's art and culture, with the Regional Gallery playing the perfect host. It's just hoped that Mudge's pieces make the necessary impact so our stunning natural surroundings can still provide inspiration to future generations of Queensland artists.

UK journalist Stephanie Bolton is The Newsport's guest Arts and Events Contributor. She has previously written for From Dusk 2 Dawn, an East Midlands-based online arts publication.

PICS Stephanie Bolton