About the Artists
Our vibrant and dynamic artists are from the Utopia region; a large remote area of Central Australia which, until recently, had no government funded art centre. As a result of their pioneering efforts, they have one of the strongest and richest art histories.
PAST EXHIBITION
27 Aug - 31 Oct 2021
This year, our annual Desert Dots exhibition showcases the work of Central Australia's talented and long-time dot artist, Josepha Petrick Kemarre.
No longer available
It's a warm, sunny day in Central Australia and Josepha spreads out comfortably on her porch, on pillows stacked over her canvas to get a good angle with her paint applicator bottle. She knows she'll be there awhile but it doesn't stop her smiling. Painting makes her happy, she says, and she hopes people will like her artwork.
Josepha's Bush Berries paintings are meticulously crafted, dot by dot, layer by layer, until the black canvas is completely filled and she is satisfied every dot has its place and purpose in the finished artwork.
Dotwork is an important method used by Josepha to capture the ripening journey of angkwerrpme; a special edible bush berry sacred to her people.
Angkwerrpme berries belong to a mistletoe that is often found growing on the native Witchetty bush. It is one of few varieties of mistletoe that produce edible berries and so it is important to know which one; to know its shape and colourings, its flowers and its life cycle.
The Dreamtime teaches about the transformation of these berries and when they are ready to eat, where they are found and how to collect them.
It is after good rain when these berries will begin to grow and they will change to shades of yellow, red and orange before finally a dark blueish purple. This is when they are ready to eat.
