1957
Deceased:2023
Language Group:Anmatyerre
Country:Ahalpere, Utopia Region, North East of Alice Springs, Northern Territory
Medium:Acrylic on Canvas and Linen, Batik on Silk
Subjects:My Mother's Story, Ahakeye (Bush Plum) Dreaming, Anwekety (Conkerberry)
Betty was involved with the Batik work at Utopia and had been painting for a long time. She is represented in the Holmes à Court Collection and her work is represented in the catalogue 'Utopia - A Picture Story'.
Betty painted 'My Mother's Story', awelye (women's ceremonial body paint designs) for the ancestral dreamtime stories of the anemangkerr (bush melon or tomato) which belonged to her mother's country, Atnwengerrp, in the Utopia Region. Betty inherited the permission to paint the design by her mother, the late Minnie Pwerle.
Betty travelled to Adelaide with Julia Murray and Jenny Green and had painted for Rodney Gooch, DACOU Gallery Adelaide and Mbantua Gallery. Betty was sister to Barbara Weir.
Betty paints the Awelye (Women's Ceremonial Body Paint Designs) for the ancestral dreamtime stories of the Anemangkerr (Bush Melon or Tomato) which belong to her mother's country, Atnwengerrp, in the Utopia Region. Betty inherited the permission to paint this design by her mother, renowned Aboriginal artist Minnie Pwerle (deceased).
Linear designs represent Awelye. 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'. Women perform Awelye ceremonies to demonstrate respect for their country and the total well-being and health of their community.