This is my country where I go hunting to collect plants to make bush medicine for my family.
Name: Rita Pitjara Beasley
Language: Alyawarre
Community: Ampilatwatja
Biography:
Rita Beasley was married to Murphy Teece, who was also an artist. Rita lives at Ampilatwatja with her extended family. Rita has been painting for many years. She enjoys painting and feels it important for the community. Her artworks show special hunting and gathering grounds, all of which are connected to the dreaming of that country.
Rita's vibrant palette, shifting patterns of pointillism, depiction of plant, geography and light, comes from Rita's intimate affinity with her country.
Rita's older sister is the very well respected artist Nancy Pitjara Frank.
"This is my Father's country.
I paint this place, it is our hunting place. I always go with my daughters and their children, I show them this place and teach them about the swampy country. We hunt for goannas, bush potato, bush tomato and after the big rain the bush medicine is picked and the roots are dug up to be used.
It is important as my mother taught me this and now I teach my family."
Rita Pitjara Beasley – Anpatyirreyel Iwerr (Following a Track) These are tracks I follow along my country when I go hunting for bush medicine
Julieanne Ngwarraye Morton – Alpeyt Alpeyt (Flowers Blooming) Walking across my land to look for bush flowers and goanna. I bring home to make medicine for my family and cook the goanna for dinner. Goanna Read more…
Valerie Kemarre Lewis – My Mothers Country My mothers country is flowers, trees and mountains. I love to paint them. We see springs, the water from the springs is like rainwater, fresh and clean. We Read more…