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Kakárra (bush flowers)

 

This design features lost of flowers and bush food from around the coastal areas of Entrance Island and Maningrida.

‘There are the leaves of the black plum – we call that karranganjónganja vita glabrata. There are also jungle flowers that we find when we are looking for yam, I don’t know what they call them but that’s the curly one. The small one in the middle is the flowers of the warakkála (flowers of the long yam). These flowers grow all over this region, you can find them when you walk around the bush. Marilyn James

Name: Marilyn James


Language: Ndjébbana


Community: Maningrida


Biography:

Marilyn is a senior artist with deep knowledge of culture & country which she brings into textiles and her design story. Marilyn is also a integral member of the Bábbarra Women’s Centre and multitasks in all areas of the studio from retail, printing and designing. Marilyn has represented Babbarra in Adelaide at the Tarnanthi Art Fair which she enjoyed.

Marilyn’s first design depicts the story of funeral logs (Lorrkkon).

‘This is the story of my great great grandfather and grandmother who were bark painters and Lorrkkon painters. I remember this story, and decided to make this my first design. My mother used to weave, she made pandanus hats, floormats, baskets and dilly bag.’

She also depicts Ranba (beach) and Yokkarra (fish), Ngaduma (palm tree) and Barruar (seagull egg) in her Lino print designs.

Marilyn has children and grandchildren all of whom live with her in Manayingkarírra (Maningrida), where she was born.


© the artist / art centre