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1966
Language Group:Eastern Arrernte (Aranda)
Country:Santa Teresa, South East of Alice Springs, Northern Territory
Medium:Acrylic on Canvas, Linen and Paper, Decorative Craft
Subjects:Women Collecting Imuna (Bush Food), Women Collecting Tyape Atnyematye (Witchetty Grubs), Women Collecting Yerrampe (Honey Ant), Merne Arrwerneng (Wild Passionfruit), Merne Alangkwe (Bush Banana), Women's Ceremonial Dancing, Women Collecting Merne Awe
Marie Ryder grew up at Santa Teresa (Ltyentye Apurte) community, 80kms southeast of Alice Springs with her eight younger brothers and sisters. Her mother is Therese Ryder, a highly respected illustrative and landscape artist. Marie is married to Kevin Bird Mpetyane (grandson of Ada Bird Petyarre) and lives happily with their children in Kevin's country in the Utopia Region, North East of Alice Springs. Marie also has another two children from her first marriage.
Marie first put paint to canvas when she was in her early 20's. As a child, she watched her mother painting, observing her techniques and from this developed her own style. Her paintings are a celebration of the bush foods from Central Australia. They are highly representational using rich colours to depict her country.
Her work is held in many private collections both interstate and overseas. Her work has also been represented in many group exhibitions.
Marie paints women collecting the Tyape Atnyematye, known as witchetty grubs. Tyape means edible grub and atnyematye distinguishes it as coming from the witchetty bush.
Witchetty grubs are a most important food source. The aboriginal people dig at the base of the witchetty bush until they strike a root. Any swollen roots are levered up as it is a good sign there is a witchetty grub inside. Care is taken when breaking open the root so that the witchetty grub is not injured. If it is, the grub is usually eaten immediately. If not, the grubs are normally lightly roasted in coals before being consumed.
Women, represented by 'U' motifs, can carry with them their digging sticks and coolamons (carved wooden bowls) which are typical instruments used for collecting many bush foods.
