1955
Language Group:Anmatyerre
Country:Ilkawerne (El-go-an-na) , Utopia Region, North East of Alice Springs, Northern Territory
Medium:Acrylic on Canvas and Linen, Batik on Silk
Subjects:Alpar (Rat-Tail Plant) Story, Ahakeye (Bush Plum) Dreaming, Ahakeye (Bush Plum) at Aremela Rockhole, Awelye (Women's Ceremony), Waterhole in my Country, Women Collecting Ahakeye (Bush Plum)
June Bird Ngale is the daughter of Ada Bird Petyarre and Tommy Bird Mpetyane (both dec). She lives with her husband and children in the Utopia Region in Central Australia.
June worked in batik during the 1980's and her work is part of the prestigious Robert Holmes à Court Collection. Her style of painting reflects a strong influence from her mother's paintings.
Artist: June Bird Ngale
Size: 120 x 60cm
Title: Women Collecting Ahakeye (Bush Plum)
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Year Painted: 2022
Women Collecting Ahakeye (Bush Plum)
June paints women collecting the Ahakeye. This a very important story for June that belongs to her country, Ilkawerne (El-go-an-na) . The ahakeye, called bush plum in English by June, is also known as the native currant or citrus. This shrub produces small white flowers, deep green citrus-like leaves and the ahakeye, which are black when ripe and very small. This fruit is favoured for its sweet taste and can be reconstituted in water if dry.
Women, represented by 'U' motifs, can carry with them their digging sticks and coolamons (carved wooden bowls) which are typical instruments used for collecting many bush foods.
