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IRRUNYTJU ARTS Irrunytju Arts was founded by 2001 by anangu living at Irrunytju. Irrunytju has a population of approximately 120-180. Many of the artists of the region lead semi nomadic lives of their desert ancestors moving to mission settlements in the 40's and 50's in response to the governmnet's assimilation policy of the mission era and the terrible years of drought. This occurred to the east at Ernabella in South Australia and to the west at Warburton in Western Australia. The community is located 720km south-west of Alice Springs and 12km south-west of the remote 'Surveyor's Corner', or tri-border of Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory. The anangu people of Irrunytju are of the Pitjantjatjara and Ngaanyatjarra language groups. The community was established and incorporated in 1976. It is located on the site of a disused nickel and chrysoprase mine. A desire to return to country was critically important to community elders after the hardship of living on country that was not their own at the Ernabella and Warburton mission settlements. Many of the community elders were born in their parents' country and travelled with them in their early years, following the traditional journeys of their creation ancestors.
.jpg) Painting at Irrunytju Art Centre Named after a nearby rock-hole, Irrunytju is one of several communities flanked by ancient hills and rock formations which are associated with tjukurpa (dreamings) of their country. The art that has emerged from Irrunytju communicates tjukurpa in a highly innovative, contemporary mode, often incorporating vibrant colours and dynamic forms. The artists often travel through the country of their ancestors, their birthplaces, areas their parents took them around when they were young. On some trips they collect plants for bush medicine, dye for raffia, grass for baskets and seeds for jewellery. Artists like Yannima Tommy Watson, Wingu Tingima, Carol Manjgatja Golding, Alkawari Dawson, Anmanari Brown and Patju Presley have achieved great success through group and solo shows in private and public galleries, both nationally and internationally. The Irrunytju Art Centre which is community owned and operated, provides materials, marketing, professional development and administrative support to over 30 artists. The community contributes to the running of the centre through the Community Development Employment Program (CDEP) and volunteers. The art centre is a vibrant and bustling hive of creative activity on a daily basis. There is a core group of senior women who attend the centre regularly, filling the space with colour, stories, song and laughter.
 Sunset at Irrunytju It is with a combination of vigour, humour and sincerity that the Irrunytju artists come together to communicate their tjukurpa stories to others, and pass it on to their young families. Dreamings common to the area and painted by Irrunytju artists include the Minyma Tjuta Tjukurpa ( Seven Sisters), Minyma Kutjara (Two Sisters), Kalaya Wati Tjukurpa (Emu Man Dreaming), Wati Kutjara tjukurpa (Water-snake Men Dreaming),Tjukurpa Malupa (True Dreaming), Wati Paninka Tjukurpa (Hawk Man Dreaming), Tjala Tjukurpa (Honey Ant Dreaming), Wati Kipara Tjukurpa (Bush Turkey Dreaming), Wati Kutjara (Two Water-Snake Men), and Kungkarrakalpa or Minyma Tjuta Tjukurpa (Many Sisters Dreaming).
Arts Co-ordinator at Irrunytju is Fabian Conti: 08 8956 2884 |
