Amata Artists of northern South Australia

The artists whose biographies are given on this page are from the Amata community, working with their community art centre Tjala Arts (formerly Minymaku Arts).

These Amata artists are all represented by paintings in our Web site Paintings Gallery.

Ruby Williamson

Born c1940 Language Pitjantjatjara Birthplace: In the bush near Amata Dreaming: Tinka – Sand Goanna Ruby is a senior law woman and her skills are based in fostering law and culture, storytelling, hunting, punu (wooden carving), dancing and painting.

Ruby was born west of Amata in the bush. Ruby and her family came to Amata when she was a young girl, most likely around the time Amata was established in the 1960s.

Even though Ruby has only been painting since 2000, she is already receiving attention and acclaim for her contemporary style. She is regarded as one of Amata's most significant emerging artists.

Exhibitions:

Ngayuku Tjukurpa - My Dreaming (solo show), Art Mob, Hobart, April 2003
Nganampa Tjukula - Our rock holes, Helen Maxwell Gallery, Canberra, March 2003
Desert Mob, Araluen Galleries, Alice Springs, September 2002
Irititja Munu Kuwaritja Tjukurpa (Stories from the past and present) Tandanya, Adelaide, June 2000

Awards:
Tandanya/Arts SA Aboriginal Artists’ Fellowship Award, December 2002

Langaliki Derose

Birth date: 1950 Birthplace: Amata Language: Pitjantjatjara Dreaming: Ili - Wild Fig (father's dreaming), malu (mother's dreaming) Langaliki is well respected in the community and is a skilled carver, painter and public speaker.

As a young girl Langaliki learnt to make batik, hook rugs and weave at Ernabella, where her family originally lived. Langaliki moved to Amata with her family when she was in her teens and continued producing batik. She has been involved in exhibitions, various skills workshops and meetings over the past few years.

Exhibitions

Nganampa Tjukurpa - Our stories; Melbourne, October 2003
Minymaku Arts - Exhibition of Fabrics; Moore College of Art & Design, Philadelphia, USA, September 2003
Desert Mob; Araluen Galleries, Alice Spring 2003
Desert Mob; Araluen Galleries, September 2002
Mina Wala - fresh, like water from a spring; Araluen Galleries, Alice Springs, December 2002

Betty Kutunga Munti

Birth date: 1942 Birthplace: Umpukulu Language: Pitjantjatjara Dreaming: Tinka - Sand Goanna Betty is from Tjurma Homelands and paints with Tjurma Arts and Crafts centre as well as the women at Minymaku Arts

She has been a practicing artist for many years and is always experimenting with ideas and traditional stories from her dreamtime. Not only is Betty a skilled painter, but also adept in Batik fabric production.

Exhibitions
Nganampa tjukurpa - Our stories; Melbourne, October 2003
Desert Mob; Araluen Galleries, Alice Springs, September 2002
Desert Visions - Works of Minymaku Arts; Adelaide Fringe, Synagogue Place, Adelaide, February - March 2002
WOMAD; Singapore, August 2001
Minyamaku Arts - Exhibition of Fabrics; Moore College of Art & Design, Philadelphia, USA, September 2003

Gail Napangati

Birth date: 1970 Language: Luritja; Pitjantjatjara Birthplace: Papunya Dreaming: Woman's story from grandmother's country Gail has been painting at Minymaku Arts for about three years. She came to Amata with her husband and family. The theme of many of her paintings is her grandmother's story of two women

Her approach to walka (design) differs from most of that demonstrated in the Amata area, and probably reflects the traditional design of her original country.

Exhibitions
Nganampa tjukurpa - Our stories; Melbourne, October 2003
Desert Mob; Araluen Galleries, Alice Spring 2003
Kapi Wala Nganampa - Our water holes; On Shore Art, Newtown, Geelong, June 2003
PY on Paper; Works on paper from Ananguku Arts and Crafts artist, Indigenart, Perth, June 2003

Naomi Kantjuri

Birth date: 1944 Language: Pitjantjatjara Birthplace: Victory Downs Dreaming: Ili - wild fig (her father's dreaming) and Malu - kangaroo (her mother's dreaming) Naomi is a prolific painter who has been working at Minymaku Arts since 2001.

An excellent hunter, basket maker and wood carver, Naomi took to painting with remarkable ease. Her knowledge of the Tjurkurrpa stories of the area is prolific and whilst she is a new and emerging artist her technique is well developed.

Exhibitions:
Nganampa tjukurpa - Our stories; Melbourne, October 2003
Desert Mob; Araluen Galleries, Alice Spring 2003
Ngura-Tjanpi Desert Spinifex Country; works by Ananguku Arts and Crafts artists, Raintree Gallery, Darwin, 16 May, 2003
Ananguku Arts and Crafts; Arterial Gallery, Adelaide, May 2003.

Sonia David

Birth date: 1963 Language: Pitjantjatjara, Walpiri and Arrente Birthplace: Alice Springs Sonia was brought up with Arrente and Luritji people, but she received Walpiri dreamings from her mother's sister.

She has been a practising artist for many years and is always experimenting with ideas and traditional stories from her different family backgrounds.

Exhibitions
Mina Wala, Araluen Galleries, Alice Springs, December 2002
Irititja Munu Kuwaritja Tjukurpa, Tandanya, Adelaide, SA. June 2002
Limited Edition prints of Minymaku, Mossenson Gallery, November 2002
Desert Mob, Araluen Galleries, Alice Springs, September 2001
Desert Mob, Araluen Galleries, Alice Springs, September 2000
Desert Mob, Araluen Galleries, Alice Springs, September 1999

 

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