My Mother's Awelye (Women's Ceremony) Story

Born:

1965

Language Group:

Anmatyerre

Country:

Ahalpere, Utopia Region, North East of Alice Springs, Northern Territory

Medium:

Acrylic on Canvas and Linen

Subjects:

My Mother's Awelye (Women's Ceremony) Story, Ahakeye (Bush Plum) Dreaming, Awelye (Women's Ceremony)

Dora Mpetyane was born in 1965 and is an Anmatyerre artist from Ahalpere Country in the Utopia region of Central Australia. She began painting for Mbantua Gallery in 2003 and continues a strong family tradition of sharing stories through art.

The daughter of the late Minnie Pwerle, Dora comes from a highly respected Utopia artistic family. Her sister, Betty Mpetyane (deceased), was a well-known artist who also painted stories passed down through their family, while her older sister Barbara Weir (deceased) was a celebrated artist whose innovative works made a significant contribution to contemporary Aboriginal art.

Before moving into acrylic painting, Dora was involved in the Utopia women's batik movement alongside more than eighty other women from the region. Her batik works were included in Utopia - A Picture Story, an important collection documenting the early development of Utopia art.

Working with acrylic on canvas and linen, Dora paints My Mother’s Story, Ahakeye (Bush Plum) and Awelye (Women’s Ceremony). Through her artwork, she continues to honour the stories, teachings and artistic influences passed down through her family.