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Balibaleng

Dora Griffiths continues in her father’s tradition by painting Country. In this print Dora depicts Balibaleng Midnight Creek in the Timber Creek area within the N.T. Balibaleng runs from the top left of the print across to the bottom right. The creek running down the bottom right is Saddle Creek and the two hills at the bottom are ant hills. The central hill is a small knob while the creek at the top right is Watermelon Creek. This creek was named after all the bush watermelon growing next to the creek providing a good source of food for cattle.

Categories: WARINGARRI ABORIGINAL ARTS

Name: DORA Gerrgngarri GRIFFITHS

Language: Miriwoong, Naringman

Biography:

Dora Griffiths' commitment  to her culture and her community are reflected in her multi faceted responsibilities as an artist, an emerging curator and a community leader. Her arts practice primarily includes painting and textiles printing.  "I was born in Kununurra on Miriwoong Country and lived here all my life except for some schooling in Broome in Years 8 & 9. I have worked at St Joseph's School as a teacher's aid and at Mirima Language centre as a secretary. I also worked at the Women's Centre. I started as the artist support worker at Waringarri Aboriginal Arts helping all the old people in 2004. After coming here for a while and helping the old people mix paints, I started painting myself.

I have worked as the art centre Administration and Gallery Assistant and then the Dawang Projects Officer supporting artists and art projects. I am a Director on the Waringarri Aboriginal Arts Board and have been the Chairperson in 2005, 2013, 2018 and 2020-23. I have been a Director on the ANKA Board since 2012 and the Gawooleng Yawoodeng Women's Centre Board since 2010.  I was elected to the advisory committee of the Miriwoong  Language Authority in 2022.  I completed the ANKA Arts-worker Extension program in 2012 and have learnt many industry skills. I completed a Certificate in Cross Cultural Conservation & Heritage as part of the AWE Pathways in December 2018 and I participated in the AACHWA Art Gallery of Western Australia Internship in  2019. Since then I have curated several exhibitions at Waringarri Arts including Our Legacy II and Open Borders, which both toured regional WA.

I paint and print textiles as often as I can because it heals me. I have 5 children and 15 grand children. I am following in the footsteps of my parents and my elders to learn about Country, culture and art and to share that knowledge through my art and in the way I curate exhibitions.

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