Thepa irnaka antjua mpaaranha. Birds that nest in trees.
Name: Beth Mbitjana Inkamala
Language: Western Arrernte
Community: Ntaria
Biography:
Beth was born in Alice Springs and grew up in Hermannsburg, where she recalls observing her aunties working with pottery in the 1990s. As an adult she moved to Papunya with her husband and child, where they remained for 9 years. During this time Beth worked at the local council in adminstration while painting at the art centre in Papunya.
In 2014 Beth started working at the Ntaria School as an assistant teacher. In this role she has taken an active part in facilitating the 'pots that tell stories' program, supporting the senior artists to mentor the children of Ntaria School.
In 2014 Beth starting making her-own work developing a distinctive style. Since then Beth has dedicated more and more time to her pottery and now she is one of the more ambitious potters of the group. Beth is disciplined in her work, using hand coil technique paired with a contemporary approach to painting. Beth’s dedication to the potters, interest in her local community and the world around her is taking her from strength to strength.
In 2022 Beth was a finalist in the Indigenous Ceramic Award at Shepparton Art Museum.
Beth is the current Chair of Hermannsburg Potters.
In 2017 Beth was selected for the Finalists exhibition for 2017 NATSIAA Telstra Award.
Finalist in the 2017 Desart Photography Prize.
Beth is currently completing a Cert II in Visual Arts with Charles Darwin University and is on the Hermannsburg Potters Board of Directors.
2017 Clay Stories, Sabbia Gallery, Paddington, New South Wales, Australia
2017 Time and Tide, Alcaston Gallery, Victoria. Australia
2017 Desert Mob, Alice Springs, Northern Territory. Australia.
2017 Irna :Trees, Alcaston Gallery, Paddington, New South Wales. Australia.
2017 TELSTRA FINALIST exhibition, Museum and Gallery of Northern Territory, Australia
2018 'Lurpa- Seasons' Bett Gallery, Hobart Tasmania, Australia
2018 Desert Mob, Araluen Alice Springs , Northern Territory, Australia
2018 Tarnanthi, Adelaide, South Australia
2018 Ramaramaka 'Generation Big Pot Project Alcaston Gallery, Fitzroy, Melbourne, Australia
2019 Pmere Nuka- Our Country' Turner Galleries, Perth, Western Australia
2019 Hermnannsburg Potters, Bett Gallery, Hobart Tasmania, Australia
2019 Desert Mob, Araluen, Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia
2019 Vincent Lingari Finalst exhibition, Tangetygere Artists, Alice Springs, Northern Territory
2019 Looking Back Moving Forward' Alcaston Gallery, Fitzroy, Australia
Collections:
Art Gallery of New South Wales
National Art Gallery
ART FAIRS:
2017 Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair, Darwin, Northern Territory
2017 Tarnanthi Festival and Art Fair, Adelaide, Australia
2018 Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair, Darwin, Northern Territory
2018 Tarnanthi Aboriginal Art Fair, Adelaide, South Australia
2019 Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair, Darin, Northern Territory
2019 Tarnanthi Aboriginal Art Fair, Adelaide, South Australia
Status: Stock AS Colour Uni-sex Cut Chestnut Brown 100% Cotton Digital Print In language we say “Ntaria-rinya ntjaarrala etna nama urrknga mpaaranha!” and that means “Ntaria mob, they make things from clay!”
Yalka (Bush Onion) All the family digging for yalka (bush onion) in Ntaria. Kwatja kngarrala nhamalanga yalka mangkama. Wild onions grow after lots of rain.
Kutjera (Bush Sultana/Desert Raisin) This is bush raisin, Kutjera. We find it near Ntari and 8 mile.