DENPASAR (indo.com): In December 1991 the first Gallery for female artists was established in Ubud. The Seniwati (Seniwati derives from words "seni" that means art and "wati" that means women) is a gallery devoted to the training and exposure of female artists who are living and working in Bali.

Mary Northmore, a former Hong Kong art teacher, saw the potential of female artists in Bali ten years ago. With her husband, Indonesia painter Abdul Aziz, she looked around for women artists on this island. "There was a belief that women have no sense of color. I thought this did not make sense since their daily life could not be separated from the arts," says Mary Northmore. "I wanted to see Balinese female painters for artistic exchange, but it was hard for me to find them. There weren't even female artists represented in the art museum!" She explains.

The idea behind the establishment of this gallery is to provide an outlet for female artists to display or promote their work, however, selling the work of forty members is just one aspect of Seniwati. The gallery also maintains a permanent collection, has an organized traveling exhibition, provides Seniwati Showspace for regular exhibitions and also supports local craftswomen by selling greeting cards, calendars and pottery.

Until 1992, when Seniwati began their activities in collecting and promoting, collectors from Indonesia and beyond only knew male artists. To find out what distinguishes the Seniwati Gallery from the other galleries in Bali, I spent six days talking with the director, staff and some of the artists, and gained an introductory impression of the gallery's mandate, activities and impact on the art world of Bali, Northmore quoted from her press release.

Seniwati also ensures the continuation of female artistry by cultivating students at a young age. "We have special classes to educate children in developing their talent in art. We hold an annual competition and the sixteen most talented entries are given free lessons in our school and access to all the necessary materials," Northern said.

Until the arrival of western artists to Bali in 1930s, traditional painting was limited to temple scrolls and calendars. The themes were exclusively religious. This is apparent in the work of fifty-seven-year-old Seniwati's artist, Ni Made Suciarmi, one of the few who still uses traditional material and technique. "It is so amazing to watch her work, says Northmore. "She mixed the pigment, which come from battle nuts, in the palm of her hand with holy water and applied it with a shell."

As for modern styles, people can note I.G.A. Kadek Murniasih, a pontential young artist in Seniwati. Without any art background or exposure to international art, Murni (her nick name) has managed to have her work shown not only throughout Indonesia, but in Germany and Hong Kong as well"

So during your holiday in Bali, do not forget to put Seniwati Gallery on your schedule and help to put female artists on an equal footing to their male counterparts.

The Gallery is at Sriwedari Road No. 2B, in Banjar Taman, Ubud, Bali. Oh, just one more accolade, this gallery recently received the former president of America, Jimmy Carter, when he visited this island.