This Sandhill in Ntaria my house. I was sitting down in the house. That’s my house, orange one. Playing card, eating ngkurpla (bush tobacco), waiting for pottery bus with my neighbour Judith. Talking about making pots or something.
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.
Inpinpa (Yellow Bird) These little yellow birds live all around this country.
West Wind – Thurrkaarra These mountains are Urruna Tjinya and I grew up in this Country. This Country is Urruna Tjinya but you call it James Ranges. Everytime we go hunting in Urruna for goanna, Read more…
Down by the creek Two little kids swimming in the water. My grandson Anthony and his wife standing by the car watching kids swimming.