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Artwork Story
Betty paints Bush Medicine. There are different types of bush medicine in the Central Desert. In the 'olden days' the leaves and the seeds of this plant were gathered, ground and mixed with animal fat (today a commercial oil is used) and it is then used as an ointment or boiled in water for medicinal use.
1957
Language Group:Alyawarre
Country:Irrultja, Utopia Region, North East of Alice Springs, Northern Territory
Medium:Acrylic on Canvas
Subjects:Bush Medicine, Country
Betty Morton Pwerle was born in 1957 at MacDonald Downs Station and is an Alyawarre artist from Irrultja in Central Australia. She paints the important Bush Medicine story passed down to her by her father, sharing cultural knowledge through her artwork.
Betty began painting for Mbantua Gallery in 2021 after visiting the gallery with her daughter Joycie Morton and granddaughter Nakita Inkamala, who are both highly regarded artists. After seeing their work, Betty expressed her wish to begin painting and has since become a valued member of the Mbantua artist family.
Working with acrylic on canvas, Betty's paintings depict Bush Medicine and Country. Her artworks continue a strong family tradition, with both Joycie and Nakita also painting the Bush Medicine story and sharing this important cultural knowledge.
Betty lives in Ampilatwatja surrounded by her sons, daughters and grandchildren, continuing to paint and share the stories passed down through her family.
Location: Mbantua Alice Gallery
