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Large Woven Mat

Fibre Art is an ancient Aboriginal women’s craft that is still made today using the same techniques as their ancestors. Making fibre art is labour intensive and much care and fine needlework is required to ensure the finished object is both functional and beautiful. Fibre art from the Ghunmarn Culture Centre includes dilly bags, floor mats, bush fans, woven creatures found in the landscape, plants such as yams (bush potato), baskets, place mats, and spirit figures such as mermaids and Mukuy’s.Natural pandanus fibre (Mukarra), is used to make much of the fibre art produced by the artists of Djilpin Arts. Women collect the pandaus by pulling from the top of the pandanus tree, then stripping and drying the leaves before they are dyed with natural bush colour collected from the Beswick surrounds.

Name: Betty Millikens


Language: Kune


Community: Maningrida


Biography:

Following the traditional Aboriginal way of learning, Betty learned to weave as a young girl from her mother and other strong ladies in Maningrida. She would often help her mother find colour, and via a form of apprenticeship learn while helping as needed.

"My mother taught me to weave and find colour. Travel around with the old people".

Betty has travelled extensively including to Sydney and Melbourne. She has also worked at Maningrida womens shelter and now resides in Darwin.


© the artist / art centre