MB061878
Women Collecting Ntyemeny (Ruby Saltbush) MB061878-Shirley Dixon Kemarre
Shirley Dixon Kemarre
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c. 1970's
Language Group:Arrernte (Aranda)
Country:Angootuna, Utopia Region, North East of Alice Springs, Northern Territory
Medium:Acrylic on Canvas and Linen
Subjects:Ntyemeny (Ruby Saltbush), Awelye (Women's Ceremony) for Ngkweyang (Kurrajong Seed), Imuna (Bush Food), Yerrampe (Honey Ant) Dreaming, Camping, Women Collecting Imuna (Bush Food) and Ntyemeny (Ruby Saltbush), Women Collecting Ntyemeny (Ruby Saltbush),
Shirley began painting for Mbantua Gallery in 1999, following in the footsteps of her mother, Elsie Dixon, and many talented members of her extended family who are skilled dot painters. Raised at Alcoota, Shirley is the eldest of five sisters: Thelma, Elizabeth, Maureen and Dianne Dixon.
Shirley paints the stories passed down from both her father's and mother's countries. Like her mother, she speaks the Arrernte language, but she is also fluent in Alyawarre. She was married to George Club Petyarre (deceased), the son of Lena Pwerle, and together they have two sons.
Shirley paints a scene depicting life in her country, Angootuna.
At the top of the painting, women can be seen outside their humpy, a small temporary shelter traditionally used by Aboriginal people, preparing a fire for cooking.
At the bottom left, women can be seen using an axe to collect sugarbag (native honey) found in tree hollows. Sugarbag is the bush honey of Australian native bees.
At the bottom right of the scene, women are once again shown sitting around a fire, this time preparing to cook the goanna they have hunted.
MB061878