Driving to Alknarinja (Kepler Springs Outstation)
Name: Dawn Ngala Wheeler
Language: Luritja, Western Arrarnta
Community: Ntaria
Biography:
Dawn was born in 1953 in Hermannsburg. She is the daughter of Pastor Peter Buller, a Lutheran missionary of whom she has fond memories of, and recalls learning to make music sticks from him.
Dawn married in 1970 and has two daughters, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. They live at Rirrka (Sandhill) Camp in Ntaria and spend time visiting their nearby outstation - Rrirrkathathaka (Red Sand Hill).
Dawn draws on the landscape around her, her love of her father's country, who's memory has inspired her to maintain links to her Luritja hertiage through her art practice.
Dawn is a respected Senior artist, she is a precise and methodical potter, and her sytle has been noted for her considered figurative story telling.
Dawn's work is held in prominent public collections including at the Art Gallery of NSW and the National Gallery of Australia. Dawn was Hermannsburg Potter's feature artist at Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair 2023 and had her work show at the Indian Ceramics Trienale in 2024.
Status: Stock AS Colour Uni-sex Cut Chestnut Brown 100% Cotton Digital Print In language we say “Ntaria-rinya ntjaarrala etna nama urrknga mpaaranha!” and that means “Ntaria mob, they make things from clay!”
Yalka (Bush Onion) All the family digging for yalka (bush onion) in Ntaria. Kwatja kngarrala nhamalanga yalka mangkama. Wild onions grow after lots of rain.
Kutjera (Bush Sultana/Desert Raisin) This is bush raisin, Kutjera. We find it near Ntari and 8 mile.