The drawings for this work were created using water dispersed charcoal sprayed directly by mouth, over a stencil. The object chosen for the stencil is one of Jack’s own heat rocks – fired river clay balls previously made to create traditional earth ovens.
The drawings for this work were created using water dispersed charcoal sprayed directly by mouth, over a stencil. The object chosen for the stencil is one of Jack’s own heat rocks – fired river clay balls previously made to create traditional earth ovens.
The drawings for this work were created using water dispersed charcoal sprayed directly by mouth, over a stencil. The object chosen for the stencil is one of Jack’s own heat rocks – fired river clay balls previously made to create traditional earth ovens.
The drawings for this work were created using water dispersed charcoal sprayed directly by mouth, over a stencil. The object chosen for the stencil is one of Jack’s own heat rocks – fired river clay balls previously made to create traditional earth ovens.
The drawings for this work were created using water dispersed charcoal sprayed directly by mouth, over a stencil. The object chosen for the stencil is one of Jack’s own heat rocks – fired river clay balls previously made to create traditional earth ovens.
The drawings for this work were created using water dispersed charcoal sprayed directly by mouth, over a stencil. The object chosen for the stencil is one of Jack’s own heat rocks – fired river clay balls previously made to create traditional earth ovens.
Centre – In the beginning there was nothing . A wedge-tailed eagle named Bunjil covered large boulders with dirt and people were created. He went back up into the sky and while looking down he decided to create things that made the land look beautiful. Top left- An old lady dragging a digging stick wakes the rainbow serpent who follows the old lady while creating the river. Top right – The long neck turtle, the totem of my tribe the Yorta Yorta people from Echuca and surrounding areas. Bottom left – Po-bonk (bunyma bapalwa) is a small mischievous and very thirst frog who’s greed results in all of the water in the creeks, lakes and rivers being depleted, resulting in the other animals working together to see it returned. Bottom right – The 3 rivers the Campaspe (Yalka), Goulburn (Koninner) and Murray (Dungala) with tribes. Representing home country.
This painting illustrates elements from the Wagilag Sisters’ Creation story. Ngambi are the stone spear heads that the sisters collected at Ngilipitji on their way to Mirarrmina.
The Wagilag Sisters’ Story is primarily an account of how in the distant past the two Wagilag Sisters came out of the southern interior and came across the countryside to the Liyagalawumirr waterhole at Mirarrmina. There the younger sister profaned the pool of the great Python by accidently allowing her blood to fall into the waterhole. Because of this the women and the children were swallowed by the Olive Python, Wititj, along with all the water from the waterhole. The other snakes heard about this and demanded Wititj spit out the sisters. Wititj vomited the women out, along with the water, creating the first monsoon rains.
This painting is of a conch shell and the “U” shapes are oysters. The rrark (cross hatching) is representing water.
As part of Evonne’s family tradition To make these intricate table mats, artists collect the young leaves from the Pandanus Spiralis palm tree. They then strip the leaves of thorns and into thin strips before they are boiled with tree roots or leaves that are used to make natural dye. is lit over the conch shell and the smoke from this fire is used in a smoking ceremony. This ceremony has cleansing properties.
The long necked turtle is a dreaming totem for the freshwater people, the Ganalbingu, whose country includes the World Heritage listed, Arafura Wetlands in Central Arnhem Land, Northern Territory
The Yolngu (people) of Arnhem Land originate from a spiritual source, fixed in a particular place in their land or the sea. These ‘Spiritual Reservoirs’ are often in the form of special waterholes made by Wangga (Creator Beings), long ago close to the beginning of time. These creator beings moved across the country side, shaping the land and implanting in each tract of country, the spiritual life force for the people who were to own it.
These creator spirits took many forms. When they gave the land to each group they also gave songs, dances, ceremony, the associated laws and language. The Creation story for Ganalbingu people took place near the middle section of the Glyde River where it becomes the Goyder River. Their land, Ngaliyindi, sits astride the Arafura Swamp in Central Arnhem Land. Some of their major Creative Beings include Banda (freshwater long neck turtle) and Yalman (water lilies).