This artist has depicted her mothers country. This is an area of the artist’s traditional country at Goodim near Keep River National Park close to Kununurra in Western Australia. This is spinifex country. The blue line curving through the painting represents Moonoomoorrem – the Keep River as it runs through the gorge indicated by the two hill ridges at the centre of the piece.
Basil Hall Editions.
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.
Goonoonoorra This is my mother’s country and traditional country for Miriwoong people. The name of this place is Goornoonoorra. In my language Miriwong, this name means Big Waters. In the old days we all lived Read more…
Black Rock Falls This painting shows Black Rock Falls. During the wet season – flood water time – this was our camp spot. We would camp up on the hillsides to keep dry form the Read more…
Binjin & Jarnem In this painting the artist represents the billabong country on either side of Moonoomoorrem – the Keep River. Binjin is her mother’s traditional country and Jarnem is her uncle’s country. Only the Read more…