![]() | Born: 1976 Language Group: Alywarre Country: Arawerre (Soapy Bore), Utopia Region, North East of Alice Springs Medium: Acrylic on Canvas Subjects: Bush Tucker, Irreyakwerre (Bush Onion), Bush Medicine, Country, Bush Flowers |
Joycie was born in Alice Springs in 1976 and started painting when she was nineteen. Her mother is Betty Mills Pwerle. Cindy Morton is her sister and Nikita Inkamala is her daughter. Joycie and Nikita began painting for Mbantua Gallery in 2017. Joycie's husband is Eric Inkamala, who is also an artist, and they have five daughters and two sons. Joycie has many dreamings that passed down from her grandmother, big Betty Kemarre who was involved in the Utopia Women's Batik Group. Joycie said she learnt everything from her grandmother, hunting, bush tucker, dreamings, bush medicine and painting. Joycie is living at Soapy Bore in Utopia and Stirling outstaion near Ti Tree with her family.
There are many sacred Dreamtime stories that belong to Joycie's country of which play a significant part in her ceremonies and culture. One of her main Dreamings is the story of Bush Medicine which she has depicted in this painting.
Joycie paints flowers and leaves of the bush medicine plant. There are different types of bush medicine in the Central Desert. Joycie says "We grind leaves, flowers and seeds then boil in oil." It is then used as an ointment. Joycie also says "Good for sore skin, itchy, pain... anything! Also we boil them in water and drink. Good for kidney, flu etc. It lowers blood pressure too. Yeah, really good one!"
Joycie also paints different bush medicine flowers (swirl design) that the kangaroos like to eat. Dot work represents Joycie's country.