Iwantja Community is located on the eastern side of the Anangu
Pitjantjatjara Lands, 8 km west of the Stuart Highway in the
far north of South Australia, on a rocky ridge called Indulkana.
Although Indulkana is regarded as a Pitjantjatjara community,
the majority of people at Indulkana refer to themselves as
Yankunytjatjara, which is a group having its origins in the
eastern section of the Lands. The community consists of approximately
200-250 people with a small number of people occupying outlying
homelands.
The first contemporary art work from Indulkana
were lino prints. The technique was introduced to the community
in 1952 by Rod Foster, a community adviser to Indulkana and
Adrian Marrie. Their understanding of Aboriginal culture was
most helpful in providing information on the instigation and
development of this ‘new’ medium.
Indulkana people are adept at carving and decorating
punu, wooden artefacts. Lino carving is similar in technique
and people readily took to the style, first printing in monotone
and then bursting into colour.
Indulkana Arts Association started in the 1970s.
Initially used for secondary student's art lessons, the building
used was so crowded at times that the teacher had to mark spots
on the floor in the morning to make sure they all had room!
Skills were learnt and the beginnings of a clear
identity formed. People did traditional wood carving (punu),
batik, patchwork, dying, painting and around the early eighties
linoblock printing started. Over 100 prints and many drawings
from that time are in the South Australian Museum. They are
mainly monochrome using dreaming symbols. Later, artists had
some connection with Studio One in Canberra and three women
went there to work with their printers. Some multicoloured prints
were developed then.
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Iwantja Arts and Crafts moved into the Family Centre
in January 1995. The centre is known for its large range
of colourful limited edition prints created on-site. Originally
lino printers, the artists more recently diversified their
print making to include woodblocks, collagraphs, etchings,
and monotypes, adapting contemporary media to reflect
traditional values. Artists also create acrylic paintings
on linen as well as jewellery and woodwork. |
Iwantja Arts and Crafts centre |
Work by Iwantja artists is available on our Indulkana
Paintings pages. Artists include Maisie King, Suzie Prince,
Dianne Robinson, Whiskey Tjukangku, Lippsie Whiskey, Trisha
Singer, Julie Yatjitja and Alec Baker.
The Iwantja Community Gallery (housed within the
art centre) stocks a wide range of local art and craft and showcases
work from other APY Lands’ art centres and artists. The
Gallery is opposite the Community School and welcomes visitors.
Indulkana Community and Iwantja Arts
