1959
Language Group:Anmatyerre
Country:Alhalkere, Utopia Region, North East of Alice Springs, Northern Territory
Medium:Acrylic on Canvas and Linen, Wood Carving
Subjects:Atnwelarre (Pencil Yam) and Kame (Seed), Kame (Pencil Yam Seed), Awelye (Women's Ceremony) for Atnwelarre (Pencil Yam) and Anwekety (Conkerberry), Awelye (Women's Ceremony), Atham-areny Story, Ceremonial Woman, Echidna, Emu Dreaming, Kangaroo, Owl
Josie Kunoth Petyarre was born in 1959 and is an Anmatyerre artist from Alhalkere Country in the Utopia region. She was involved in the Utopia women's batik movement during the 1980s before beginning to paint for Mbantua Gallery in 2005.
Josie comes from a respected family of Utopia artists. Her mother was the late renowned artist Polly Ngale, and she was surrounded by the artistic knowledge of her sisters, aunties and community from a young age. This connection has influenced her own artistic practice and understanding of Country.
Working in acrylic on canvas and linen, as well as wood sculpture, Josie paints Atnwelarre (Pencil Yam), Kame (Pencil Yam Seed), Anwekety (Conkerberry), Emu Dreaming, Awelye (Women's Ceremony) and colourful scenes of life in Utopia. Her works reflect the stories passed down from her father's Alhalkere Country.
Josie continues to live in Utopia with her husband, Dinny Kunoth Kemarre, their children and extended family. She has travelled to share her artwork in exhibitions across Australia, including Perth, Melbourne and Darwin.
Josie paints Awelye (Women's Ceremonial and Body Paint Designs) for Atnwelarre (Pencil Yam) and Anwekety (Conkerberry).
The Dreamtime stories surrounding the Atnwelarre (Pencil Yam) plant belongs to Alhalkere country in the Utopia Region, northeast of Alice Springs. The Atnwelarre is a trailing herb or creeper, sometimes covering large areas, with bright green leaves, yellow flowers and long skinny yams (swollen roots). These are an important food source which can be eaten raw or cooked in hot sand and ashes.
Anwekety (Conkerberry) is a fruit that looks very similar to a plum and is often referred to in English by Josie as a 'bush plum'. In the Dreamtime, winds blew from all directions, carrying the Anwekety seed over Josie's ancestors' land. The first Anwekety of the Dreamings then grew, bore fruit and dropped more seeds. Many winds blew the seeds all over the Dreaming lands.
Linear designs represent Awelye. These 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. The women sing the songs associated with their Awelye as each woman takes her turn to be 'painted-up'. Women perform Awelye ceremonies to demonstrate respect for their country and the total well-being and health of their community.
