Date of Birth: 
01.07.40
Language: 
Walmajarri
Country: 
Karnanganyjawurtu

I was born in Karnanganyjawutu then went to Japingka to live with my grandfather and grandmother until I was older. Then we left for Wili which is the country for the Jukula mob. We picked up the rest of the mob and left to go to Puluwala, walking in the moonlight night because it was so hot. After leaving Puluwala we walked to Purrpun and camped with my grandfather Walkarr and grandmother Jawili. Then they sent Mawukura Jimmy Nerrimah to go ahead to Kurugnal. We followed later and made camp at Lumpu Lumpu whilst waiting for the rest of the people to arrive.
 
The workers from Cherrabun Station saw a bushfire at Yapulu and thought there must be bushmen there. The police tracked them there at Yapulu, chained them up and took them into Cherrabun Station. They workers were frightened of the police. We camped one night at Cherrabun and then went into town to the police station. Following this, we went back to Cherrabun Station to work.
 
My father passed away at Cherrabun Station and then my mother and I went on to Jubilee Station, across the Fitzroy river. From there I went to the Mission School in Fitzroy Crossing. I stayed there until one Christmas I didn’t want to go back. I went to Jubilee Station instead and learnt how to work, cleaning the manager’s house. We had Saturdays and Sundays off. One Monday my promised husband came from GoGo Station to pick me up and we went to live at GoGo and then Bayulu Community.
 
GROUP EXHIBITONS

2012

Mangkaja Arts 21 Year Anniversary
Wirrinyiya ngaragngarag birra ngamoo ngamoo

Tandanya, Adelaide, SA

2011

Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair

DAAF, Darwin

2009

Mangkaja Artists 60x60

Randell Lane Fine Art, WA

2009

Celebrating Country: Kinship and Culture

Seymour College, Glen Osmond, SA

2009

Shalom Gamarada

Caspary Conference Centre, University of NSW

2009

Emerging and Re-emerging

Outstation, Darwin, NT

2009

Senior Artists from Fitzroy Crossing

Suzanne O’Connell Gallery, Brisbane, QLD

2008

Shalom Gamarada

Caspary Conference Centre, University of NSW

2008

Mangkaja Arts

A P Bond Art Dealer, Adelaide, SA

2008

Bendi Lango

The Indigenous Scholarship Fund, Sydney and Fireworks Gallery, Brisbane, QLD

2007

Palya Art in Melbourne

The Barn, Melbourne, VIC

2007

Bendi Lango

The Indigenous Scholarship Fund, Sydney and Fireworks Gallery, Brisbane, QLD

2006

Depth and Diversion

Cullity Gallery University of Western Australia

2005

Women’s Show

Gallery Gondwana, Alice Springs, NT

2005

Mangkaja Group Show

Raft Artspace, Darwin, NT

2004

This is Still My Country:10 years on

Perth International Arts Festival, Artplace, WA

2004/05

Colour Power: Aboriginal Art Post 1984

National Gallery of Victoria

2003

Jila, Jumu, Jiwari & Wirrkuja

Cullity Gallery, University of Western Australia

2001

Mangkaja Arts Ten Year Anniversary

Tandanya, Adelaide, SA

2001

Ngurrara Canvas

National Gallery of Australia, ACT

2000

17th Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award

National Tour

1999

Ngurrara

Japingka Gallery, Fremantle, WA

1998

Group Show

Rebecca Hossack Gallery, London

1996

Minyarti Wangki Ngajukura Ngurrarajangka
[This is the word from my Country]

Indigenart Gallery, Perth, WA

1996

Group Show

Fremantle Art Centre, WA

1996

Group Show

Hogarth Gallery, Sydney, NSW

1995

Kimberley Art

Melbourne, VIC

1995

Group Show

Australian Perspectives Gallery, Brisbane, QLD

1995

Mangkaja: Old Mangkaja, New Prints

Australian Print Workshop Gallery Melbourne, VIC

1994

Ngajakurra Ngurrara Minyarti,
[This Is My Country]

Festival Of Perth Exhibition, Artplace, WA

 

Painting Themes: 
Karnanganyjawurtu jila (permanent waterhole)
Food and bush plants from the Great Sandy Desert
Fish from the river around Fitzroy Crossing
Pirtil Billabong Puluwala jumu (soak water)
Collections: 
National Gallery of Australia
National Gallery of Victoria
Holmes a Court Collection
Perth Telstra Collection
Museum & Art Gallery of the Northern Territory
Fitzroy Crossing High School
Exhibitions: 
2008: Fitzroy Valley Education Centre – reception counter design
2012: Mangkaja Arts 21 Year Anniversary Wirrinyiya ngaragngarag birra ngamoo ngamoo - Tandanya, Adelaide, SA
2011: Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair - DAAF, Darwin
Gallery: 
63/09, ‘Wili Jumu’, 90x90cm, Acrylic on canvas
129/09, ‘Big Mob of Flowers’, 60x90cm, Acrylic on canvas
239/09, ‘The Nut’, 90x60cm, Acrylic on canvas
262/06 ‘Japirnka Jila’, 90x120cm, Acrylic on canvas
470/10, ‘Bush onion (jurnta)’, 90x120cm, Acrylic on canvas
611/08, ‘Karlaka wild honey’, 90x90cm, Acrylic on canvas
755/08, ‘Jilji in Willy My Grandfathers Country’, 90x90cm, Acrylic on canvas
795/10, ‘Pinti Lake’, 120x90, Acrylic on canvas
1339/08, ‘Wili’, 90x120cm, Acrylic on canvas