![]() | Born: 1984 Language Group: Anmatyerre Country: Ilkawerne, Utopia Region, North East of Alice Springs Medium: Acrylic on Canvas and Linen Subjects: Awelye (Women's Ceremony and Body Paint Designs) for Ahakeye (Bush Plum), Alpar (Rat-tail Plant) and Ntang Artety (Mulga Seed) |
Alvira is the daughter of artists Paddy Bird (deceased) and Eileen Bird. She lives in Alice Springs and Mulga Bore with her husband and children. Her grandmother is the late Ada Bird Petyarre, a highly respected senior artist from Utopia.
Collections
Mbantua Gallery Permanent Collection, Alice Springs
Exhibitions
2000 | Combined Exhibition, Mbantua Gallery, Alice Springs, N.T |
Linear designs in Alvira's painting represent Awelye (Women's Ceremony and Body Paint Designs) for Ahakeye (Bush Plum), Alpar (Rat-tail plant) and Ntang Artety (Mulga Seed). These designs are painted onto the chest, breasts, arms and thighs. Powders ground from red and yellow ochre (clays), charcoal and ash are used as body paint and applied with a flat stick with soft padding. The women sing the songs associated with their Awelye as each woman takes her turn to be 'painted-up'.
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