September 2025

Elaine Papulankutja Dreaming

Elaine is a painter from Papulankutja (Blackstone) who now resides at Wanarn Aged Care. Elaine paints tjukurrpa from her country of Papulankutja, which includes songlines for associated tjukurrpa of Wati Kutjarra and Lirru – carpet python dreaming.

Warakurna Artists works closely with Wanarn Aged Care Facility to conduct painting sessions with elderly patients. This program nurtures artists who have contributed largely to one of the most significant art movements in Australia. The joyous communal activity has a myriad of positive benefits such as reliving boredom and frustration. Health staff report that this diversional therapy helps to reduce patient’s drug intake and the old people rejoice in sharing and passing on their important Tjukurrpa with their families who visit them when the workshops are conducted. Warakurna Artists is a positive and powerful example of Aboriginal businesses managed and governed by artists and community elders ensuring the wealth of talent and economic returns are retained in the community.

Tingarri

Tingarri

This painting depicts the tjukurrpa story about the tingarri men, women and children traveling from rock hole to rock hole. The tingarri people travelled north through Wirrintjunku, Pukaritjarra, Tarkal, Nyun and Kirritji as they move toward Tjukurla.

Mr Ward’s works can be read as visual histories, as well as maps of his country. Mr Ward is a well-respected artist and senior desert man based in Warakurna, Ngaanyatjarra Lands WA.

The tingarri* people, men, women and children travelled north through Wirrintjunku, Pukaritjarra, Tarkal, Nyun and Kirritji as they move toward Tjukurla. Tingarri Song Cycle depicting the route of dreamtime people who travelled from the sea near Port Hedland to the northern part of the central desert. It also refers to the route and to the dreamtime people who followed that route. 

Patjarr

I am painting Yankuntjuntju. It is my grandmother’s country, close to Patjarr. There’s a rockhole close. I like to paint my story, my grandfather’s, my grandmother’s. My father’s mother passed away at that rockhole, that is why I’m painting. My grandmother had two sons, two daughters. [She] passed away right there, rockhole side. I also paint Karrku, that’s my nyal-ku Tjukurrpa, (my dreaming) Porcupine dreaming in that place. I think about these stories and my family when I am painting. Proper story. Painting keeps my family, and these stories close to me.

Minyma Tjukurrpa

The young women are travelling around the country near Tjukurla with the older ladies. They are learning many things about where to collect special grasses and flowers and other types of bush tucker. 

Elaine Papulankutja Dreaming

Elaine is a painter from Papulankutja (Blackstone) who now resides at Wanarn Aged Care. Elaine paints tjukurrpa from her country of Papulankutja, which includes songlines for associated tjukurrpa of Wati Kutjarra and Lirru – carpet python dreaming.

Warakurna Artists works closely with Wanarn Aged Care Facility to conduct painting sessions with elderly patients. This program nurtures artists who have contributed largely to one of the most significant art movements in Australia. The joyous communal activity has a myriad of positive benefits such as reliving boredom and frustration. Health staff report that this diversional therapy helps to reduce patient’s drug intake and the old people rejoice in sharing and passing on their important Tjukurrpa with their families who visit them when the workshops are conducted. Warakurna Artists is a positive and powerful example of Aboriginal businesses managed and governed by artists and community elders ensuring the wealth of talent and economic returns are retained in the community.

Tingarri

This painting depicts the tjukurrpa story about the tingarri men, women and children traveling from rock hole to rock hole. The tingarri people travelled north through Wirrintjunku, Pukaritjarra, Tarkal, Nyun and Kirritji as they move toward Tjukurla.

Mr Ward’s works can be read as visual histories, as well as maps of his country. Mr Ward is a well-respected artist and senior desert man based in Warakurna, Ngaanyatjarra Lands WA.

The tingarri* people, men, women and children travelled north through Wirrintjunku, Pukaritjarra, Tarkal, Nyun and Kirritji as they move toward Tjukurla. Tingarri Song Cycle depicting the route of dreamtime people who travelled from the sea near Port Hedland to the northern part of the central desert. It also refers to the route and to the dreamtime people who followed that route. 

Tingarri

This painting depicts the tjukurrpa story about the tingarri men, women and children traveling from rock hole to rock hole. The tingarri people travelled north through Wirrintjunku, Pukaritjarra, Tarkal, Nyun and Kirritji as they move toward Tjukurla.

Mr Ward’s works can be read as visual histories, as well as maps of his country. Mr Ward is a well-respected artist and senior desert man based in Warakurna, Ngaanyatjarra Lands WA.

The tingarri* people, men, women and children travelled north through Wirrintjunku, Pukaritjarra, Tarkal, Nyun and Kirritji as they move toward Tjukurla. Tingarri Song Cycle depicting the route of dreamtime people who travelled from the sea near Port Hedland to the northern part of the central desert. It also refers to the route and to the dreamtime people who followed that route. 

Patjarr Creek

Patjarr is an Aboriginal Community located in the heart of the Gibson Desert.The creek rarely flows but forms a waterhole close to the community which is rich in wild life and of cultural significance to the Patjarr people.