This is a photograph of Ikuntji ladies in a line following a path leading to rock art and carvings. I took this photograph because it shows the significance of people showing their respect to country.
Kungka kotara ngangyi graveyard tjama. (Two ladies visitng the graveyard of their grandfather).
Taken on a trip to country in 2016 the photograph encapsulates the intimacy of the artist’s wife, Maisie Jugadai, in the foreground and Kelly Dixon. Both of them asked for this photo to be taken by Jeffrey.
Garrard was a ranger through the Central Land Council and visited on his journeys many rock art sites across the Western Desert.
This painted rock art was to him a record of thousands of years of continuous occupation of the site at Muruntji – Cleland Hills.
Doreen is collecting the firewood at Muruntji – Cleland Hills. She is setting up the camp with the other ladies and preparing the necessities for the night. Jeffrey captures the everyday of the camping trips, the familiarity on country and the beauty of this desert oak dominated landscape.
This photograph was a finalist in the Moreton Bay Region Art Awards in 2016.
Maisie and Doreen at Cleland Hills. Jeffrey took this photo on a bush trip, during which seeds were collected and time on country was spent to share stories.
This photo was taken at Muruntji – Cleland Hills and shows the devil woman, the ancestral spirit of the country.
Daphne was passed down the right to paint the Yalka Tjukurrpa at Karrkurutinytja (Bush onion dreaming at Lake Macdonald) from her grandmother, Narputta Nangala Jugadai. Narputta, who was a founding member of Ikuntji art centre and a prolific painter, was born close to this sight.
Daphne says,
“My grandmother, Narputta used to make that painting. She told me that story. I used to work here (Ikuntji Women’s Centre) as a cook. I came to learn here. I saw my grandma painting. I learnt from her. She told me that story…Yalka…Bush food…For a long time those old ladies have been looking for Yalka, digging for Yalka, taking the fruit, cooking it in the fire. We cook them just a little bit, like Maku (witchetty grub). I have been looking for that Yalka with my grandmother.”
Yalka Tjukurrpa, as told by Narputta,
“Creek bed at Karrkurutinytja. Two old women, two Nungurrayi, came across from Pulpa and started Gathering bush onions, putting them into coolamons. They went on a journey west. They approached a group of men and watched them, whilst hiding in the bushed at Pimarrpa (Soakage near Kiwirrkura). There was another lady, Alkiljarra Nakamarra, who came along on their tracks. She saw them where they had gathered bush onions. She became upset that they’d gathered them all up and there were none left. The Nakamarra started walking and came across the creek, where she started collecing mungilpa (a staple seed food for the Pintupi people). She came across two Tjangalas (Mungilnga and Tiwilgna). Next to them was a rockhole and Atjakalya Nakamarra, who was making damper for them. Mungilnga had the smaller damper. The two Tjangalas ate their damper then she flew off and became a rock there at Kurultu.”
Daphne was passed down the right to paint the Yalka Tjukurrpa at Karrkurutinytja (Bush onion dreaming at Lake Macdonald) from her grandmother, Narputta Nangala Jugadai. Narputta, who was a founding member of Ikuntji art centre and a prolific painter, was born close to this sight.
Daphne says,
“My grandmother, Narputta used to make that painting. She told me that story. I used to work here (Ikuntji Women’s Centre) as a cook. I came to learn here. I saw my grandma painting. I learnt from her. She told me that story…Yalka…Bush food…For a long time those old ladies have been looking for Yalka, digging for Yalka, taking the fruit, cooking it in the fire. We cook them just a little bit, like Maku (witchetty grub). I have been looking for that Yalka with my grandmother.”
Yalka Tjukurrpa, as told by Narputta,
“Creek bed at Karrkurutinytja. Two old women, two Nungurrayi, came across from Pulpa and started Gathering bush onions, putting them into coolamons. They went on a journey west. They approached a group of men and watched them, whilst hiding in the bushed at Pimarrpa (Soakage near Kiwirrkura). There was another lady, Alkiljarra Nakamarra, who came along on their tracks. She saw them where they had gathered bush onions. She became upset that they’d gathered them all up and there were none left. The Nakamarra started walking and came across the creek, where she started collecing mungilpa (a staple seed food for the Pintupi people). She came across two Tjangalas (Mungilnga and Tiwilgna). Next to them was a rockhole and Atjakalya Nakamarra, who was making damper for them. Mungilnga had the smaller damper. The two Tjangalas ate their damper then she flew off and became a rock there at Kurultu.”
This photo shows a portrait of Albie Jack wearing a T-shirt with his own design. Jeffrey intimately captures this proud moment.