Aboriginal Artists Series – Part 3

I have one update before continuing the Artist Series—One of our favorite Aboriginal artists Nambooka had a new fabric design unveiled at the Houston Market in October, 2015.  It is called Mirram Mirram AKA (Kangaroo Ground) and comes in three colorways. We show one of the colors below.

 

By the way, this week we are a vendor at the San Mateo Sew, Craft and Quilt Show.  Please stop by and visit us at Booths 315 & 316 from Thurs. 2-18 through Sat. 2-20 where you will see June’s designs as well as over 100 other M&S Textiles Australia’s Aboriginal cotton fabric.

My first artist this week is June Bird. Born in 1958 in Utopia, both of her parents Ada Bird and Lindsy Bird are renowned artists.  June learned painting from her parents.  Her art works are available in Alice Springs, Northern Territory art galleries, as well as many private collections.  June is fluent in her native Aboriginal language Anmatyere.

June’s pattern “Body Painting” comes from Dreaming Bush Plum which was passed down from her parents.  Aboriginal body painting is an ancient traditional art form.  The type of body painting varies with the tribe and the area they live in Australia. “Awelye” or body paintings, decoration and personal adornment carry deep spiritual significance.  These body paintings must conform to the respected historical patterns and the people are not free to change their appearance.

The fabric “Bush Plum and Waterhole” depicts an important part of the women’s role in traditional Aboriginal cultures.  They gather bush foods like beans, apples, tomatoes and cherries.  The foods are placed in a wooden bowl called coolamani. Yams are also collected by digging into the soil with digging sticks. The design is of the fallen bush plums on the ground with walking paths all around for the collectors.  The women often eat plums while make dough for their tasty breads.