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1966
Language Group:Eastern Arrernte (Aranda)
Country:Santa Teresa, South East of Alice Springs, Northern Territory
Medium:Acrylic on Canvas, Linen and Paper, Decorative Craft
Subjects:Women Collecting Imuna (Bush Food), Merne Pmerlpe (Quandongs), Owls, Merne Arrwerneng (Wild Passionfruit), Merne Alangkwe (Bush Banana), Merne Yerrampe (Honey Ants), Women Collecting Merne Awele Awele (Wild Tomatoes), Merne Atwakeye (Wild Orange), Me
Marie Ryder grew up at Santa Teresa (Ltyentye Apurte) community, 80kms southeast of Alice Springs with her eight younger brothers and sisters. Her mother is Therese Ryder, a highly respected illustrative and landscape artist. Marie is married to Kevin Bird Mpetyane (grandson of Ada Bird Petyarre) and lives happily with their children in Kevin's country in the Utopia Region, North East of Alice Springs. Marie also has another two children from her first marriage.
Marie first put paint to canvas when she was in her early 20's. As a child, she watched her mother painting, observing her techniques and from this developed her own style. Her paintings are a celebration of the bush foods from Central Australia. They are highly representational using rich colours to depict her country.
Her work is held in many private collections both interstate and overseas. Her work has also been represented in many group exhibitions.
Marie paints Merne Pmerlpe, known as the quandong or native peach. Marie also refers to these as bush berries. Merne means food in Marie's language and Pmerlpe is the quandong. The pmerlpe is a traditional staple food, sought after for its fleshy fruit. The quandong is bright red when ripe and highly nutritious; its vitamin C content is twice as high as that of an orange. In traditional Aboriginal life, these fruits were also collected, pounded and made into cakes. The inside of the quandong has a large pitted stone or seed which is often used for marbles or making jewellery.
