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Wirlarra (Wilarra)

Wirlarra, the site depicted in this painting, lies on the eastern edge of a large salt lake, Nyayartakujarra (Lake Dora), near Punmu Aboriginal community. A distinctive group of small salt water pools are clustered together here. The water from these pools is known for its’ powerful healing properties, and the pools are still visited today by Martu to bathe cuts and sores. 

Wirlarra is also a term for ‘moon’ in Manyjilyjarra, and through the site’s Jukurrpa (Dreaming) narrative, the site is united with the moon in significance. It is said that at Wirlarra, the moon called to a family of dingoes; a mother, father and their large litter of dingo pups. The dingoes gathered at Wirlarra, where the moon cared for them and created a windbreak for the family to shelter. Here the dingoes scratched at the surface of the salt lake and created the cluster of salt water pools located there today. They lay down there. After a time, the dingoes continued travelling eastward toward the rising moon until they reached Kinyu (Well 35 on the Canning Stock Route), where they remained until all of the dingo pups had grown up. From Kinyu the family travelled further east with the moon.

Categories: Shire of East Pilbara (Martumili Artists)

Name: Marianne Burton

Language: Manyjilyjarra

Community: Punmu

Biography:

“I was born in Jigalong, long time [ago in] Jigalong. The old people all got picked up and brought into Jigalong. Them old people all wanted to go back to the desert. We moved to Camp 61 [Ngalkuninya] for a little while and then we all moved this way to Punmu. I was young, thirteen or something when I came to Punmu.   

I like to paint around Punmu rockholes, springs.  In the morning, sunset colours, that’s what I’m thinking about. In the plane looking down, I want to do a painting what I’m looking at, it looks nice. I want to do more painting like that. I like painting, it makes me feel good.

I’ve been in Jigalong with my father, learning to paint. I was watching him paint. I stayed with them all day, sometimes I help[ed] him and he told stories. Doing the dot paint, that’s when I learn[ed] on a little canvas.”

- Marianne Burton

 

Marianne was born in Jigalong, moving briefly to Camp 61, an outstation on Bilanooka Station as a child, before settling in Punmu Community, where she still resides. Her father was senior Martu artist Pukina Burton. Marianne and her father used to sit down together, painting while Pukina told stories about his Country. One day Marianne would like to teach her children and grandchildren the same stories; “Me and [my granddaughter] Azaniah like painting together, sometimes she helps me too.  Sometimes my grandson Jake too, he did a couple.  I like having my family around to paint.” 

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