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1959
Language Group:Anmatyerre
Country:Alhalkere, Utopia Region, North East of Alice Springs, Northern Territory
Medium:Acrylic on Canvas and Linen, Wood Carving
Subjects:Atnwelarre (Pencil Yam) and Kame (Seed), Kame (Pencil Yam Seed), Awelye (Women's Ceremony) for Atnwelarre (Pencil Yam) and Anwekety (Conkerberry), Awelye (Women's Ceremony), Atham-areny Story, Ceremonial Woman, Echidna, Emu Dreaming, Kangaroo, Owl
Josie was involved in the 1980's batik movement that established the women artists of Utopia. In 2005 she began painting for Mbantua Gallery and paints Dreamtime stories passed down to her from her father's country, Alhalkere, as well as colourful depictions of life at Utopia.
Josie's mother, renowned artist Polly Ngale, sisters and aunties are all Utopia artists and the years spent watching them provided inspiration to her. Like most members of her community, Josie speaks little English but is very enthusiastic about painting and sees it as a means of language and expression of her stories and culture.
Having lived in a number of communities within Utopia over the years, including Homestead, Boundary Bore and Apungalingum, Josie is no stranger to travel and has proudly travelled to Perth, Melbourne and Darwin for her artwork. Josie continues to live out in Utopia with her husband, Dinny Kunoth Kemarre, their children and their extended family.
Josie paints Awelye (Women's Ceremonial and Body Paint Designs) for Atnwelarre (Pencil Yam) and Anwekety (Conkerberry).
The Dreamtime stories surrounding the Atnwelarre (Pencil Yam) plant belongs to Alhalkere country in the Utopia Region, northeast of Alice Springs. The Atnwelarre is a trailing herb or creeper, sometimes covering large areas, with bright green leaves, yellow flowers and long skinny yams (swollen roots). These are an important food source which can be eaten raw or cooked in hot sand and ashes.
Anwekety (Conkerberry) is a fruit that looks very similar to a plum and is often referred to in English by Josie as a 'bush plum'. In the Dreamtime, winds blew from all directions, carrying the Anwekety seed over Josie's ancestors' land. The first Anwekety of the Dreamings then grew, bore fruit and dropped more seeds. Many winds blew the seeds all over the Dreaming lands.
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.
