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Published by CompNet Systems on

Jaiya & longneck turtle (woolamarra)

Wandjina is the creator for all the food on the land and in the sea.He’s the one who give us fish (Jaiya).
This painting is of the Woolamarra (longneck turtle) which lives in freshwater. This turtle has its own law which says that young children cannot eat them unless the elders make the turtle crawl on their backs and scratch them. If a young person eats it without it crawling on their back then the Wandjina will send a big rain storm with hail and strong winds. The young child must go out into the storm and get hit by the hail stones to satisfy the Wandjina then he will make the storm go away. When the turtle has been eaten up you can see the shape of a Wandjina in the shell.

Categories: MOWANJUM ART AND CULTURE CENTRE

Name: Barbara Arndie Bear

Language: Ngarinyin

Community: Mowanjum

Biography:

Barbara is the fourth child of nine children, and has lived in Derby and Mowanjum most of her life. Her mother is Brejalnga clan and her father is from the Warrtngarlingorngor clan and they are of the Ngarinyin language group. Barbara is related to the Morlumbun and Charles families from her mother's side, and the Nenowatt and Ngerdus families from her father's side. Further, Barbara has extended family in Mowanjum through marriage.

Barbara's work is unique within the Art Centre. Her colour palette, defined shapes and decorative detailing, sees her work reveal a distinctive graphic look. Though contemporary in her approach her work is always informed by the traditional stories learnt from her elders as a child.

 

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