Kurrkara Jukurrpaby Maisie Nungarrayi Ward

This painting tells the story of the Kurrkara (Desert Oak) tree, commonly found in many part of the Central Australian desert. The Desert Oak tree is the shade tree where the women in this painting sat down to rest at Mina Mina, which is an important ceremonial place belonging to the Japanangka and Japangardi men and the Napanangka and Napangardi women. Mina Mina and the associated land are to the west of Yuendumu in sandhill country. Napanangka and Napangardi women are seen collecting Jintiparnta (Edible Fungus). Ancestral women travelled from here to the north. There are water soakages and a claypan at Mina Mina and it is here that women danced and performed various ceremonies. At a result digging sticks rose up out of the ground and it is these implements that women carried with them on their long journeys.

Artist:Maisie Nungarrayi Ward
Title:Kurrkara Jukurrpa
ID:1540-14NY
Medium:Acrylic on Canvas
Size:30 x 30 cm
Region:Papunya, Central Australia

Artist

Maisie Nungarrayi Ward grew up in Papunya Community in Central Australia. She now resides in Nyirripi Community with her partner. She began painting with Warlukurlangu Artist in 2014 and paints her father's Dreaming Kurrkara Jukurrpa or Desert Oak Dreaming. This Dreamtime story has been passed down the generations of Maisie's family.

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