c. 1958
Language Group:Alyawarre
Country:Ngkwarlerlaneme and Arnkawenyerr, Utopia Region, North East of Alice Springs, Northern Territory
Medium:Acrylic on Canvas, Linen and Wood, Batik on Silk, Wood Carving
Subjects:Alhepalh (Acacia Shrub), Country, Ilyarnayt (Acacia Flower), Imuna (Bush Food), Rainbow Dreaming, Bush Flowers, Women Collecting Alhepalh (Acacia Shrub), Bird
Janice comes from a strong family of artists working in painting, carving and batik. Her husband, Wally Clarke Pwerle, is a respected painter and carver. Her work is represented in the collections of Holmes à Court, National Gallery of Australia and the National Gallery of Victoria. Janice participated in the 'Utopia Paintings, the First Works on Canvas, A Summer Project' and 'Utopia - A Picture Story' an exhibition of 88 works of silk.
The designs in this painting are inspired by the Alhepalh, a sparsely branched shrub that is found abundantly near Janice's home in the Utopia region in Central Australia. Alhepalh produces small soft coated brown seeds that the women would once collect, grind into a paste and cook into damper (bread) making it a most important food source. This practice however is not habitual now due to ready made bread.