Alpar Seed Story by Maggie Bird Mpetyane

Alpar is the Anmatyerre word for the rat-tail goosefoot or green crumbweed plant (Dysphania kalpari). This small herb produces small clustered flowers that form long spikes, resembling that of a rat tail, as well as small black shiny seeds. These seeds are high in protein and low in fibre. Due to the sticky nature of this plant, the seeds are not shed as soon as they mature, making them available much later in the season than most other plants. In the olden days, the women of Ilkawerne country would collect these seeds, sometimes soak them in water until swollen or cooked in hot coals, and then grind them into a powder that was used for making damper (bread). This practice is not as habitual now, however, the story is continually taught to the younger ones, and ceremonies are carried out to ensure its productivity. 

Artist

Name: Maggie Bird
Skin name: Mpetyane
Language group: Anmatyerre
Country: Ilkawerne
Lives: Utopia, Central Australia

• This painting comes unstretched and rolled in a tube. See our Custom Stretching page for stretching options.
• Size of painting: Approx 30cm x 30cm
• Border: Approx 6cm strip of black canvas border; enough required for wrapping around a 2cm or 3cm deep stretcher frame which is the popular choice for framing Aboriginal art.
• Material: Synthetic polymer on canvas
• This painting comes with a Certificate of Authenticity

This painting is shipped unstretched and rolled in a tube, with free delivery worldwide.

We want everyone to be able to enjoy Australian Aboriginal art and so we absorb the cost of shipping both domestically and internationally 🖤

Dispatch

We will send this painting the same day of purchase if possible, otherwise the next business day.

You will receive an email confirmation with tracking details after dispatch.

Free Domestic Express

We ship all of our domestic orders via Australia Post Express (or courier for larger paintings) which usually takes between 1-3 business days for delivery. This includes tracking.

Free International Air

All of our international orders are shipped via Australia Post Air but during the current climate, we are sending orders over $800 via courier. Both options include tracking.

Delivery times vary depending on the destination and you may use this Australia Post link to estimate your delivery time. The dispatch post code is 3081. 

Catalogue: SP0326

Have your new painting arrive ready to hang (Australian deliveries). We work with a framer to get your artwork stretched and delivered ready to hang so you don't have to worry about anything. 

Choose the applicable size from our Custom Stretching page and simply add to cart.