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Wonganbayn – Alice Downs

“They get fish there – they call it Gilgaye – when they roll up that spinifex and the fish can’t get way. We used to look at all the old people – they used to roll that spinifex (to catch the fish). That’s a holiday place, Birnoo country.”

Goorndarram bembarramungbende ngenghengs gilmigilgaye wumbarramande gerlernenybaya ngengenghenga binoon.   

Gordon Barney is a senior Gija Warmun artist. His ancestral country is Birnoo Country, which is known as Alice Downs. As a young man, he was a fine stockman, and mustered all over his ancestral Country, which is the subject of all his paintings. 

Categories: WARMUN ART

Name: GORDON BARNEY

Language: Gija, Kimberley Kriol

Community: Warmun

Biography:

Gordon Barney was born and grew up on Alice Downs Station. His father taught him stockwork and he became known as a skilled horsebreaker and buckjumper (rodeo rider).

When Gordon worked as a stockman, he would often carry with him a saddle bag for his ochre collection. At the end of his mustering stint, he would have a bagful of ochres that he sourced from riding through his country. Whilst working on Mabel Downs Station, Gordon met Shirley Purdie who later became his wife. Shirley is a well known senior Warmun artist who encouraged Gordon to paint his country.

He started painting in 1998 when Warmun Art Centre commenced operation, often painting various hill lines located in his traditional country. Barney's sense of concentration and focus on country are often reflected in these landscapes. Gordon is well known in Warmun Community as a strong law and culture man and was as an important ceremonial dancer.

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