Walya Mitchell is from Warburton but comes to stay with family in Warakurna. Thre Wati Nyiinyii (finch men) Nyiinyii minyman (finch woment) travelled through from Kunamarra to a special place past Karilwara to build wiltjas (shelters). This place is in the Gibson Desert nature reserve. It is pila (spinifex) country.
Elaine is a painter from Papulankutja (Blackstone) who now resides at Wanarn Aged Care. Elaine paints tjukurrpa from her country of Papulankutja, which includes songlines for associated tjukurrpa of Wati Kutjarra and Lirru – carpet python dreaming.
Warakurna Artists works closely with Wanarn Aged Care Facility to conduct painting sessions with elderly patients. This program nurtures artists who have arguably contributed largely to one of the most significant art movements in Australia. The joyous communal activity has a myriad of positive benefits such as reliving boredom and frustration. Health staff report that this diversional therapy helps to reduce patient’s drug intake and the old people rejoice in sharing and passing on their important Tjukurrpa with their families who visit them when the workshops are conducted. Warakurna Artists is a positive and powerful example of Aboriginal businesses managed and governed by artists and community elders ensuring the wealth of talent and economic returns are retained in the community.
Elaine is a painter from Papulankutja (Blackstone) who now resides at Wanarn Aged Care. Elaine paints tjukurrpa from her country of Papulankutja, which includes songlines for associated tjukurrpa of Wati Kutjarra and Lirru – carpet python dreaming.
Warakurna Artists works closely with Wanarn Aged Care Facility to conduct painting sessions with elderly patients. This program nurtures artists who have contributed largely to one of the most significant art movements in Australia. The joyous communal activity has a myriad of positive benefits such as reliving boredom and frustration. Health staff report that this diversional therapy helps to reduce patient’s drug intake and the old people rejoice in sharing and passing on their important Tjukurrpa with their families who visit them when the workshops are conducted. Warakurna Artists is a positive and powerful example of Aboriginal businesses managed and governed by artists and community elders ensuring the wealth of talent and economic returns are retained in the community.
Joyce McLean’s painting depicts country of Lapaku, the rockhole where she was born. Lapaku is an important site nestled along the Rawlinson Ranges – about 50kms west of Warakurna..
Joyce McLean’s painting depicts country of Lapaku, the rockhole where she was born. Lapaku is an important site nestled along the Rawlinson Ranges – about 50kms west of Warakurna..
This painting depicts the tjukurrpa story about the tingarri men, women and children traveling from rock hole to rock hole. The tingarri people travelled north through Wirrintjunku, Pukaritjarra, Tarkal, Nyun and Kirritji as they move toward Tjukurla.
Mr Ward’s works can be read as visual histories, as well as maps of his country. Mr Ward is a well-respected artist and senior desert man based in Warakurna, Ngaanyatjarra Lands WA.
The tingarri* people, men, women and children travelled north through Wirrintjunku, Pukaritjarra, Tarkal, Nyun and Kirritji as they move toward Tjukurla. Tingarri Song Cycle depicting the route of dreamtime people who travelled from the sea near Port Hedland to the northern part of the central desert. It also refers to the route and to the dreamtime people who followed that route.
Tjakura rockhole is in the tali (sandhill) country on the east side of Patjarr. It is a deep rockhole with cool water, not too far away. This is the home to Tjakura, the great desert skink, a short yellow edible lizard.Lunkarta (Blue Toung lizard) and Tjakura (great desert skink) had a big fight there and killed each other. They are buried there under the sand. Other rockholes associated with the Tjakura Tjukuurpa are Kutuntjarra, Pulpapulpatjar, Mirtu, Malpurritti, Ngari, Nyuntul and Pukarlu.
Tjukurrpa – Physical feature or part of the countryside associated with a dreamtime story; Character from a dreamtime story.
Tjukurrpa – Physical feature or part of the countryside associated with a dreamtime story; Character from a dreamtime story. (From Ngaanyatjarra and Ngaatjatjarra to English Dictionary, IAD Press)
This shows the layered landscape of Alyawarr, Central Australia. Knowing your country is an important part of living in a remote community like Ampilatwatja.
Knowing when and where to go hunting and gathering, knowing where there is ‘soakage’ (where you can dig for water), travelling with family for ceremonies, and maintaining a connection with the land.
“This is my country, my view of country.”
The community of Ampilatwatja made a conscious decision not to paint altyerr (dreaming stories). The artists paint their country where those stories sit.
Tjala or honey ants live in nests about a metre underground beneath mulga trees, and they are a highly favoured food source. The tjala tunnels that lead down to the ants’ nests are called nyinantu, and the larvae are called ipilyka-ipilyka. After the rain when the ground is soft the women go digging for tjala by looking for the drill holes under the trees. They then use shovels and crowbars to dig down following the tunnels to find the tjala inside. Anangu suck the delicious rich honey-like liquid from the distended abdomen of the tjala. The story of the tjala is told across the Northern Territory into South Australia and is an important link between Anangu mythology and inter-dependence on the environment.