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Digging for Honey Ants

This painting is depicting two women (minyma) digging for one of their favourite bush foods, Tjala or honey ants. Found in central Australia the ants construct nests in the red flat sandy soil under trees or bushes. The women look for the camouflaged entrance to the nest amongst dead litter, then start digging about half a metre from the entrance working around to locate the side chambers where the storer ants hide. The honey is sucked or squeezed from the storers’ extended abdomens which look like tiny pots of honey.

The ‘U’ shapes are the women. Next to them are their wana or digging sticks. The coloured circles in the middle represent the honey ants under ground.

Categories: Papulankutja Artists

Name: Loretta Grey


Community: Papulankutja (Blackstone)


Biography:

Loretta was born at Mount Margaret Mission which was located between Laverton and Lenora. She attended various primary schools at the mission, Laverton and Lenora. She then attended Laverton District High School. Loretta has worked in various jobs including as a cleaner and administrative assistant at the Blackstone office. As well as painting she makes painted beads from gum nuts, tjanpi grass sculptures and baskets.

 


© the artist / art centre