Water Dreamingby Rosie Nangala Fleming

Rosie Nangala Fleming was born in approximately 1930. Like many other Aboriginal families living in the Central and Western deserts at the time, she lived a traditional lifestyle travelling regularly with her family visiting sacred places and other kin. Rosie comes from the country around Yuendumu Community and is a senior Warlpiri woman.

In the late 1940’s with her late husband she relocated to Yuendumu Community once a Baptist missionary settlement was set up. In the 1970’s she established the Warlpiri Women’s Museum with the assistance of Mrs Fleming, a Baptist missionary. The Museum is a keeping place for ceremonial objects and a place for women to meet. She became the president of the Museum and was the administrator for many years.

As a craftsman Rosie would make artifacts, seed necklaces and mats and these were sold through the Centre of Aboriginal Artists in Alice Springs. When Warlukurlangu – Artists of Yuendumu was established in 1985 Rosie took her hand to painting on canvas with acrylic paints. She commenced painting in 1988 and was one of the first women to paint for the art centre. She was also specially commissioned to create a painting for Telecom.

Rosie depicts both her mother and fathers Jukurrpa (Dreaming) stories through her art. She received Ngapa (Water) Dreaming and butterfly from her mother and Warlukurlangu (Fire) and Yankirri (Emu) Dreaming from her father. These sacred Dreaming stories relate directly to her traditional country and its features and animals.

Central Art is very excited to now be able to feature Rosie’s artworks through our website. Rosie has been a part of several ground exhibitions over the years around Australia and in France and her paintings can be found in several collections worldwide.

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