Bernice Condie

Bernice lives on Flinders Island. Collecting shells as a young girl on Babel Island gave her the inspiration that she needed to continue this long tradition. She would sit and watch Aunt Louie Brown stringing. Later in life it seemed natural that she should string shells herself.
Bernice has been stringing now for many years. She considers herself to be a keeper of cultural knowledge. Bernice has sold her strings to many private buyers. There have been two short documentaries about Bernice. These films have talked about her shell stringing as well as her mutton birding.
Bernice has taught many of the younger generations that skill is required to gather, treat and string the shells. Bernice exhibited in a large exhibitions called "Woolilly". This exhibition was held in the Carnegie Gallery in Hobart and was very successful.
Bernice's work has been acquired by buyers from all over the world. She hopes to continue the handing down of this cultural knowledge. Bernice is a very strong Aboriginal woman who guards this role.
Bernice is represented by IXL Gallery of Hobart and also by Strait Art of Flinders Island. Bernice has worked at the Inveresk Museum.
Bernice strings around six or seven strands per years and sells them to private collectors.
It take about three months to get them from the sea to the strings. She spends many long hours collecting shells and cleaning them.