Artwork Story
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.
