MB052653
1976
Language Group:Alyawarre
Country:Arawerre (Soapy Bore), Utopia Region, North East of Alice Springs, Northern Territory
Medium:Acrylic on Canvas and Linen
Subjects:Iy-lenky-la (Small Earth Worm), Women's Dreaming, Awelye (Women's Ceremony), Tharrkarr (Sweet Honey Grevillea), Sugarbag (Native Honey), Women Collecting Imuna (Bush Food)
Jilly has been painting since approximately 2003 and comes from a large extended family of artists including sisters Sandra and Rhonda Jones who have a natural artistic ability like Jilly. Jilly learnt to paint and gained knowledge of her stories from the older women in her community, including her mother artist Gypsy Jones.
Jilly was born at Old MacDonald Downs Station in the northern reaches of the Utopia region, and spent many years growing up in that area. She attended Soapy Bore School just south as well as Yirrara College in Alice Springs, some 250km away from her home. Jilly continues to live in the Utopia region with her extended family.
Jilly paints the story of small earthworms found in her country. Pronounced 'Iy-lenky-la' in Jilly's language, this creature is represented by the concentric circle designs. She, Iy-lenky-la, is asleep in the centre and then unwinds herself around and around. Iy-lenky-la is special to Jilly as the story belongs to the women of her country, Arawerre.