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SNAKE DREAMING

This painting shows special place in Chinaman’s Garden, in Alice Downs Station, which is Marietta’s mother’s country. This place is where the Dreaming Snake moved through the country making permanent water holes where he passed.

Categories: WARMUN ART

Name: Marietta Bray


Language: Gija, Kriol


Community: Warmun


Biography:

Marietta Bray has spent most of her life living in the Warmun Community. Her mother Shirley Bray and Aunty Eileen Bray both hold prominent roles in the community as law women and linguists. Both women are responsible for several texts and are the primary authority on Gija language in the community. Marietta Bray was taught to paint by her mother as well as by other senior women artists at Warmun. Bray's work is detailed and finely executed. The themes she paints come from her mother's country - Alice Downs Station, which is located on the south side of Purnululu (the Bungle Bungles). Bray has five children. Her palette of colours is often restricted to naturally occurring browns and reds she sees reflected in the country surrounding her. Jack Britten was one of Bray's painting mentors and was also an uncle to her.


© the artist / art centre