Tjanpi Desert Weavers

Corinna Shepherd making Tjanpi papa (dog) for Revealed 22. 2021. Image by Jade Brockley. Image courtesy of Tjanpi Desert Weavers.

Tjanpi Desert Weavers is a social enterprise of the Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (NPY) Women’s Council that enables women living in the remote Central and Western desert regions to earn an income from fibre art. Emerging artists from Western Australian Communities Warakurna, Mantamaru (Jameson) and Papulankutja (Blackstone) are participating in Revealed 2022, representing the larger Tjanpi Community of over 400 women. The artists’ work showcases the abundant diversity and innovation in the arts from some of the most isolated parts of Western Australia. The woven fibre art created in Western Australia, has its own distinctive flourish, unique to the Ngaanyatjarra Lands.

ARTISTS

Ruth Bates Charlotte Golding Narelle Holland Joyce James Nikisha Mitchell Lucy Nelson Polly Jackson Butler Pawuya Winifred Reid Dorothy Richards Corrina Shepherd Dolores Simms Jennifer Ward Roshanna Williamson Antoinette Williamson

NGAANYATJARRA, PITJANTJATJARA, YANKUNYTJATJARA PEOPLE MANTAMARU / JAMESON AND PAPULANKUTJA / BLACKSTONE PARTICIPATING WESTERN AUSTRALIAN COMMUNITIES WARAKURNA,

RUTH BATES

LIVES AND WORKS Warakurna LANGUAGE GROUP / PEOPLE Ngaanyatjarra

Ruth is an artist belonging to the Ngaanyatjarra language and cultural group and lives in Warakurna. Ruth was born in the bush in between Patjarr and Wanarn in Western Australia. She grew up near Wiluna then moved to Warburton where she attended school. Ruth then went to high school in Perth before returning to the Ngaanyatjarra Lands. Ruth now lives in Warakurna Community in WA with her family and makes lovely large baskets and wonderful character-filled sculptures. Ruth enjoys making Tjanpi because “it is a nice thing to do for relaxing”.

Ruth Bates

Papa Pirni! (Many Dogs!), 2021 Tjanpi (grass) acrylic wool, raffia 19 x 68 x 38 cm

$330 REV22-149

Ruth Bates

Papa Pirni! (Many Dogs!), 2021 Tjanpi (grass) acrylic wool, raffia 22 x 64 x 38 cm

$200 REV22-150

CHARLOTTE GOLDING

LIVES AND WORKS Warakurna LANGUAGE GROUP / PEOPLE Ngaanyatjarra

Charlotte is an emerging artist belonging to the Ngaanyatjarra cultural group and is from the remote community of Warakurna. Charlotte is the daughter of Joyce James and granddaughter of Dianne Ungukalpi Golding, both of whom are strong Tjanpi artists. Charlotte took part in an artwork created for Tension[s] 2020, an exhibition held at the Tamworth Triennial Regional Gallery. Pitja Nyawa Kulila Pampula (Come, Look, Listen, Touch) was an interactive artwork made by three generations of women in Charlotte's family, which has been touring nationally for over 3 years. In 2021, Charlotte relocated to Perth to complete her high school studies.

Charlotte Golding

Papa Pirni! (Many Dogs!), 2021 Tjanpi (grass) acrylic wool, raffia 26 x 44 x 36 cm

$330 REV22-145

NARELLE HOLLAND

LIVES AND WORKS Mantamaru | Jameson

Narelle is a long standing Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (NPY) Women's Council member and has been a director in past years representing the communities in the Ngaanyatjarra lands. She is a generous and gentle woman who is an important cultural leader in her community. Narelle lives in Blackstone Community with her family. She is a strong weaver and sculptor whose creations incorporate a lot of colour and texture.

Narelle Holland

Papa Pirni! (Many Dogs!), 2021 Tjanpi (grass) acrylic wool, raffia 22 x 64 x 34 cm

$280 REV22-142

JOYCE JAMES

LIVES AND WORKS Warakurna LANGUAGE GROUP / PEOPLE Ngaanyatjarra

Joyce is an artist belonging to the Ngaanyatjarra language group and lives in the community of Warakurna. Joyce grew up watching her grandmothers, Tjuakpati James and Mrs Newberry, making Tjanpi. She is now married to the son of senior Tjanpi artist Dianne Golding and has been making Tjanpi sculptures since 2018.

Joyce has a natural talent for sculptural works and she loves making Tjanpi artworks because when she is busy creating, she feels calm and relaxed. Joyce is teaching her daughter Charlotte to make sculptural works, continuing the family tradition.

Joyce James

Papa Pirni! (Many Dogs!), 2021 Tjanpi (grass) acrylic wool, raffia 20 x 60 x 40 cm

$380 REV22-135

Joyce James

Papa Pirni! (Many Dogs!), 2021 Tjanpi (grass) acrylic wool, raffia 20 x 80 x 20 cm

$330 REV22-136

Joyce James

Papa Pirni! (Many Dogs!), 2021 Tjanpi (grass) acrylic wool, raffia 15 x 75 x 15 cm

$380 REV22-138 Joyce James

Papa Pirni! (Many Dogs!), 2021 Tjanpi (grass) acrylic wool, raffia 41 x 48 x 20 cm

$295 REV22-143

Joyce James

Papa Pirni! (Many Dogs!), 2021 Tjanpi (grass) acrylic wool, raffia 48 x 12 x 40 cm

$295 REV22-144

NIKISHA MITCHELL

LIVES AND WORKS Mantamaru | Jameson LANGUAGE GROUP / PEOPLE Ngaanyatjarra

Nikisha is an artist belonging to the Ngaanyatjarra language and cultural group and lives in the remote community of Mantamaru (Jameson). Nikisha started making Tjanpi in 2019, after attending a skills development workshop in Mantamaru. Nikisha is a young artist whose expressive use of colour has marked her as a budding Tjanpi superstar.

Nikisha Mitchell

Papa Pirni! (Many Dogs!), 2021 Tjanpi (grass) acrylic wool, raffia 21 x 67 x 37 cm

$280 REV22-141

LUCY NELSON

LIVES AND WORKS Warakurna LANGUAGE GROUP / PEOPLE Ngaanyatjarra

Lucy is an artist belonging to the Ngaanyatjarra language and cultural groups and lives in the remote Community of Warakurna. Lucy started weaving in late 2015 at a Warakurna Tjanpi Desert Weavers skills workshop, learning different techniques from senior Warakurna artists. Since then, Lucy has focused upon making small central desert animals such as ninus (bilbies).

Lucy Nelson

Papa Pirni! (Many Dogs!), 2021 Tjanpi (grass) acrylic wool, raffia 11 x 62 x 29 cm

$230 REV22-146

POLLY JACKSON BUTLER PAWUYA

LIVES AND WORKS Warakurna LANGUAGE GROUP / PEOPLE Ngaanyatjarra

Polly lives and works in the remote Warakurna Community. Her fibre artwork is characterised by tight wrapping of brightly coloured wool and fine, embroidery-like stitching. She has exhibited her work at exhibitions across Australia, including the Ellenbrook Gallery in Perth, Nomad Gallery in Darwin and Araluen Arts Centre in Alice Springs. In addition to her fibre artwork, Polly is a wellrespected painter, represented by Warakurna Artists and has exhibited numerous times in this medium. Polly has two paintings held in the national collection at the National Museum of Australia, Making Culture Strong and Tjanpi.

Polly Jackson Butler Pawuya

Papa Pirni! (Many Dogs!), 2021 Tjanpi (grass) acrylic wool, raffia 20 x 70 x 30 cm

$280 REV22-134

WINIFRED REID

LIVES AND WORKS Warakurna LANGUAGE GROUP / PEOPLE Ngaanyatjarra

Winifred is an artist belonging to the Ngaanyatjarra cultural group and lives in the remote community of Warakurna. Primarily working with traditional Tjanpi materials, including wool, raffia and Minarri grass, Winifred’s works focus on depicting local desert animals and traditional artefact shapes. Winifred has developed a distinctive aesthetic with her sculptural works – grassy and strong with fluid shapes. One of her favourite things about making Tjanpi is being able to go out onto Country for grass collecting, hunting and other bush trips. Winifred is also an accomplished painter represented by Warakurna Artists and punu artist (wood carver) represented by Maruku Arts.

Winifred Reid

Papa Pirni! (Many Dogs!), 2021 Tjanpi (grass) acrylic wool, raffia 25 x 60 x 30 cm

$280 REV22-137

DOROTHY RICHARDS

LIVES AND WORKS Mantamaru | Jameson

Dorothy grew up in the Warburton Mission and now lives in Jameson. Dorothy makes fantastical and wild sculptural work, notably colourful and character-filled tjilkamarta (echidna). Dorothy was elected as an Ngaanyatjarra, Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara lands (NYP) Women's Council Director in 2019 and is a warm, caring, strong leader for women across the Ngaanyatjarra Lands.

Dorothy Richards

Papa Pirni! (Many Dogs!), 2021 Tjanpi (grass) acrylic wool, raffia 15 x 36 x 18 cm

$200 REV22-151

CORRINA SHEPHERD

LIVES AND WORKS Warakurna LANGUAGE GROUP / PEOPLE Ngaanyatjarra

Corrina is an artist belonging to the Ngaanyatjarra language and cultural group and lives in the remote Community of Warakurna. Corrina incorporates minarri (grass), wool and raffia to create both baskets and sculptures. Her baskets are characterised by tight raffia stitching over minarri coils, whilst her sculptures are often embellished with variegate-coloured wool.

Corrina Shepherd

Papa Pirni! (Many Dogs!), 2021 Tjanpi (grass) acrylic wool, raffia 30 x 70 x 30 cm

$295 REV22-148

DOLORES SIMMS

LIVES AND WORKS Mantamaru | Jameson

Dolores lives in Western Australia, travelling between the Warburton and Mantamaru Communities in the Ngaanyatjarra Lands. She attended her first Tjanpi weaving workshop in Mantamaru in 2019. She used to watch her sister Ingrid weaving Tjanpi and is excited to be learning herself now. Dolores says she likes making Tjanpi because it makes her feel happy, she enjoys learning new things, and she likes having something creative to do when she is by herself.

Dolores Simms

Papa Pirni! (Many Dogs!), 2021 Tjanpi (grass) acrylic wool, raffia 43 x 63 x 31 cm

$295 REV22-139

JENNIFER MINTAYA WARD CONNELLY

LIVES AND WORKS Papulankutja | Blackstone

Jennifer was born at Mulga Park, near Amata in South Australia. She has studied in Alice Springs, and lived throughout Communities in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) and Ngaanyatjarra Lands, working for media and making artwork. Jennifer now lives in Kalka, South Australia and has attended numerous Tjanpi workshops in Kalka and Wingellina, neighboring communities on either side of South and Western Australia.

Jennifer Ward

Papa Pirni! (Many Dogs!), 2021 Tjanpi (grass) acrylic wool, raffia 11 x 61 x 32 cm

$410 REV22-152

ROSHANNA ELIZABETH YINGA WILLIAMSON

LIVES AND WORKS Warakurna LANGUAGE GROUP / PEOPLE Ngaanyatjarra and Pitjantjatjara

Roshanna is an artist belonging to the Ngaanyatjarra and Pitjantjatjara language and cultural groups and lives in the remote community of Warakurna. Roshanna started Tjanpi in 2010, and taught herself by watching other Tjanpi Artists. Roshanna's repertoire includes both baskets and sculptures, and she particularly enjoys making Tjitji (children) sculptures and papas (dogs).

Roshanna Williamson

Papa Pirni! (Many Dogs!), 2021 Tjanpi (grass) acrylic wool, raffia 25 x 60 x 30 cm

$280 REV22-147

ANTOINETTE WILLIAMSON

LIVES AND WORKS Mantamaru | Jameson

Antoinette is an emerging artist who recently joined the Young Women Weaving Project and proudly produced her first artwork using a recycled powdered milk tin lid, which — as few people have a fridge — is the way milk keeps in communities. Antoinette is a talented emerging artist who shows a natural skill in sculptural work, evident in the artworks she produced while attending skills development workshops in Mantamaru throughout 2021. Antoinette is a quiet and studious artist and has developed a sculptural style of her own using incredibly neat stitching. Antoinette has Tjanpi artists within her family including those from the McLean and Simms families.

Antoinette Williamson

Papa Pirni! (Many Dogs!), 2021 Tjanpi (grass) acrylic wool, raffia 18 x 60 x 32 cm

$215 REV22-140