My Mother's Country

Barbara's Aboriginal grandfather, known as Quartpot Akemarr, came from a region called Atnwengerrp, and it is this country that is depicted in her paintings titled "My Mother's Country". In the background of the paintings, Barbara often depicts the abandoned campsites that the people made as they trekked across the country in search of food or the coolamons used by the women to collect the fruit and berries. It may also show the forms of a woman's body that are adorned with paint for the women's ceremonies. Overlaying these representations is a complex array of dotwork that depicts the type of bush-tucker found across the land. This includes the bush yam, potato, berry, plum, banana and the ever important grass seed that was vital to the people's survival. This edible grass seed, from a particular type of grass, was collected by the people and then cleaned and ground into a paste to form a type of bush damper. The grass seed was quite abundant across the land in the time of Barbara's Grandfather and Mother. Today, most of the grass seed is eaten by the rabbits and bullock.

Grass Seed Dreaming

This Dreaming tells the story of the grass seed that is part of the bush tucker found in the region of Utopia. This seed is collected, crushed to a fine powder and is then used to make a bread, very similar to damper. The people of Utopia were still using this seed as late as the 1950's. During that time the seed grew in abundance but as the years passed there were very few good seeds to be found due to bullocks roaming the land and eating the grasses. The people then began to eat a substitute that the white man provided, and today very few Aboriginal people collect these seeds. 

Bush Medicine Dreaming

"Bush Medicine Dreaming" depicts the leaves of a special plant that is used to aid in the healing process. The leaves are collected and then boiled to extract the resin. Following this, the resin is mixed with kangaroo fat collected from the kangaroo's stomach. This creates a paste that can be stored for up to six months in bush conditions. This medicine is used to heal cuts, wounds, bites, rashes and as an insect repellent. The dreaming that is the basis for Gloria Petyarre's paintings comes from the important ceremonies and traditions held by the people of Atnwengerrp. Each painting titled 'Bush Medicine Dreaming' shows different aspects from the process and its important links with the land.

Mountain Devil Dreaming 

"Mountain Devil Dreaming" tells the story of a very small lizard like creature that has the ability to change colour according to the landscape. This makes it very hard for predators to see it, as not only does the colour change but the actual pattern on the skin changes. The lizard also camouflages itself by carrying ochre particles on its back. This sacred lizard carries a Dreamtime story that is passed on from generation to generation and the swag like lump on its back represents the Dreamtime.

Body Paint (Awelye - Atnwengerrp')

Awelye is depicted by a series of lines painted in varying widths and colours. These patterns represent the lines painted on the top half of women's bodies during ceremonies in Minnie Pwerle's country of Atnwengerrp.

Mina Mina Dreaming


This depicts a major women's ceremonial site known as Mina Mina, near Lake McKay in the Tanami Desert. During the Jukurrpa, ancestral women of the Napagardi and Napanangka subsection groups gathered to collect ceremonial digging sticks, kuturu that emerged from the ground. They then proceeded east, performing rituals of song and dance, to the place known as Jankinyi. A large belt of eucalyptus trees Casuarina decaisneana now stand where these digging sticks once were. The striking design of white dotting depicts the encrustations of salt around the dry claypans of Mina Mina, etched with the tracks of the women.

The Tingari Cycle

The Tingari cycle painting represents an aspect of the Tingari creation event. The Tingari travelled over vast stretches of the country, performing rituals and creating and shaping particular sites. The Tingari Men were usually followed by Tingari Women and accompanied by novices, and their travels and adventures are enshrined in a number of song cycles. These creation stories form part of the teachings of post-initiatory youths at the same time providing the basis for contemporary customs. Since events associated with the Tingari Cycle are of a secret nature no further details are given.

Tjintilkara

Byron and Angelina, painting as a husband and wife combination, have oriented themselves both around the canvas and around the country around where each was born. Tjintilkara in the far east of Spinifex country through which the Minyma Tjuta (Seven Sisters) story passes has provided the physical linkage with Byron painting Paupiya, Pirarpii, Tjutapilyuru, Muyuu, Karlyarnga, Darki, Tjuntalla and Tjundurn, whilst Angelina painted the country around Wongarbii, Kurnkurn (where Punurpa the lizard lives), Waru warta, Karnka, Tjulutja, Taruntjara and Mingga.

Yarlirritja

This is a major Spinifex painting based at Yarlirritja in the western sector of the Spinifex lands. At Yarlirritja, the Minyma Tjuta (Seven Sisters) first gathered white ochre and painted themselves up and began to sing. Because the songs were not supposed to be heard by men, Nyirru, the old man who pursues the sisters, was strongly affected when he happened to chance by the group of sisters performing. Hiding in the darkness Nyirru was drawn in and thus began his pursuit and the path of this major Western Desert story. The painting also shows the Irtarra trees prominent in the area where both the sisters and Nyirru were camped.

Kalkarli

Ian has painted the story of an old Minyma (Woman) who was travelling with a large group of dogs through the countryside around Kalkarli. The dogs are shown lined up near the bottom of the painting and the Woman can be seen camping near the main site at Kalkarli. He has also painted the surrounding sites of Kurpanya, Aluyunya, Unkitjii, Tjillingka, Kurlpitjara, Punyutjara, Bantatjinpii, Katatjada and Pinkatjaanya. Ian pointed out that there are many rocks in the area that collect water although they don't have names as rockholes. These rocks are the dogs belonging to the old woman who were all killed.

Gerome has painted the soak country at Irlbillii near where he was born. He grew up in this area travelling around between Irlbillii and Miramiratjara. These two very important Spinifex sites are soaks with permanent water located in the central area of Sandhill County that dominates most of the Spinifex area. Gerome was careful to explain that a very powerful Wanampi (Water Snake) lives here and that is why when people come in to drink they must approach very carefully and in an obvious manner (settling the snake down with smoke) and that is also why wherever one digs at Irlbillii, water rises to the surface.