MB061878
Women Collecting Ntyemeny (Ruby Saltbush) MB061878-Shirley Dixon Kemarre
Shirley Dixon Kemarre
$465.00
or make 4 interest-free payments of
$52.50 AUD
fortnightly with
More info
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.
In the top left of the painting, women can be seen inside their humpy, small temporary shelters traditionally used by Aboriginal people, watching ceremony that is going on. In the ceremony, men can be seen 'painted up' and dancing around a fire. Linear 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. Ceremonies are performed to demonstrate respect for country and the total well-being and health of their community.
A water hole can be seen in the centre of the painting and below that, women can be seen in various stages of collecting bush foods. They can be seen carrying with them their digging sticks and coolamons (carved wooden bowls) which are typical instruments used for collecting many bush foods.
MB061878