The Artists
Maureen Thompson Murrarngulu
Area: Wunubarri (Mt Young)
Tribe: Walingandu
Community: Ngukurr
Language: Mara
Painting top: Spring Country
Painting bottom: Witchety Grub
Maureen was born Nutwood Downs Station. She says she ran around the station 'as a naked Picaninny'. When her father passed away they spent time in the bush and walked to St Vidgeon’s and then to Limmen Bight Country, sometimes traveling by canoe down the Roper River.
Maureen started painting after watching Willie Gudabi and his wife Moima paint. Maureen is now a senior member of Ngukurr Arts.
Maureen Thompson's two paintings below are called Spring Country and Witchety Grub.
Evelyn Pultara
Region: Utopia NT
Language: Anmatyerre
Painting: Bush Yams
Evelyn Pultara was born with bush yam (pencil yam) as her 'totem'. It has been an abundant source of food and water for the Anmatyerre people for countless years. It is a slender twining plant with yellow pea flowers and edible tubers. As her totem, it is Evelyn's responsibility to pay homage to it through song and dance in ceremony - and now in art.
The Yams are collected by digging deep into the soil using sharp digging utensils either made from carved wood or more commonly today, with a crow bar.
Evelyn Pultara's painting below is called Bush Yam.
Amy Johnson Jirwulurr
Area: Kimberley/Marrurru & Ngukurr
Tribe: Wagilak
Language: Ritharrangu
Painting: Running Spring Water
Amy Johnson Jirwulurr is known for her naïve depictions of the plant and animal life found in the local land and billabong regions. Her genius lies in her innocent depictions which are enhanced with her choice of bright colour opposites. Her work often combines derivative bark painting and figurative styles similar to those by her famous husband, Sambo Burra Burra.
Her deep love and appreciation of her homeland and an awareness of the intricate cycles of plant and animal life is clearly shown in her work.
Amy Johnson's painting below is called Running Spring Water.
Dianne Robinson
Place of Birth: Alice Springs
Language: Yankunytjatjara and Pitjantjatjara
Skin: Nyuniwa
Home: Indulkana
Painting: Putipula
Diane was born in Alice Springs. She began work as an artist a few years ago at Iwanja Arts. She learnt how to paint from her peers and relatives.
“I like to paint wild bush flowers in all their bright colours. Tjukurpa (dreaming) designs are good to paint. I want to keep painting here at Indulkana where my family is.”
Dianne Robinson's painting below is called Putipula.
Area: Wunubarri (Mt Young)
Tribe: Walingandu
Community: Ngukurr
Language: Mara
Painting top: Spring Country
Painting bottom: Witchety Grub
Maureen was born Nutwood Downs Station. She says she ran around the station 'as a naked Picaninny'. When her father passed away they spent time in the bush and walked to St Vidgeon’s and then to Limmen Bight Country, sometimes traveling by canoe down the Roper River.
Maureen started painting after watching Willie Gudabi and his wife Moima paint. Maureen is now a senior member of Ngukurr Arts.
Maureen Thompson's two paintings below are called Spring Country and Witchety Grub.
Evelyn Pultara
Region: Utopia NT
Language: Anmatyerre
Painting: Bush Yams
Evelyn Pultara was born with bush yam (pencil yam) as her 'totem'. It has been an abundant source of food and water for the Anmatyerre people for countless years. It is a slender twining plant with yellow pea flowers and edible tubers. As her totem, it is Evelyn's responsibility to pay homage to it through song and dance in ceremony - and now in art.
The Yams are collected by digging deep into the soil using sharp digging utensils either made from carved wood or more commonly today, with a crow bar.
Evelyn Pultara's painting below is called Bush Yam.
Amy Johnson Jirwulurr
Area: Kimberley/Marrurru & Ngukurr
Tribe: Wagilak
Language: Ritharrangu
Painting: Running Spring Water
Amy Johnson Jirwulurr is known for her naïve depictions of the plant and animal life found in the local land and billabong regions. Her genius lies in her innocent depictions which are enhanced with her choice of bright colour opposites. Her work often combines derivative bark painting and figurative styles similar to those by her famous husband, Sambo Burra Burra.
Her deep love and appreciation of her homeland and an awareness of the intricate cycles of plant and animal life is clearly shown in her work.
Amy Johnson's painting below is called Running Spring Water.
Dianne Robinson
Place of Birth: Alice Springs
Language: Yankunytjatjara and Pitjantjatjara
Skin: Nyuniwa
Home: Indulkana
Painting: Putipula
Diane was born in Alice Springs. She began work as an artist a few years ago at Iwanja Arts. She learnt how to paint from her peers and relatives.
“I like to paint wild bush flowers in all their bright colours. Tjukurpa (dreaming) designs are good to paint. I want to keep painting here at Indulkana where my family is.”
Dianne Robinson's painting below is called Putipula.