Judy Watson Tea Towel

Cotton Tea Towel featuring artwork by Judy Watson from Warlukurlangu Artists. Packaged with information about the artist and artwork

Established in 1985 Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation is a not-for-profit organisation that is 100% Aboriginal-owned by its artists from the remote desert communities of Yuendumu and Nyirripi in Central Australia.

The country associated with this Jukurrpa (Dreaming) is Mina Mina, a place far to the west of Yuendumu. It is significant to Napangardi and Napanangka women, the custodians of the Jukurrpa that created the area.

So, the Jukurrpa story tells of the journey of a group of women of all ages who travelled to the east gathering food, collecting Ngalyipi (snake vine) and performing ceremonies as they travelled. The women began their journey at Mina Mina where the Karla-ngu (digging sticks) emerged from the ground. Taking these implements, the women travelled east creating Janyinki and other sites. And their journey took them far to the east beyond the boundaries of Walpiri country. The Ngalyipi vine grows up the trunks and limbs of the Kurrkara (Desert Oak) Trees.

Ngalyipi is a vine sacred to Napangardi and Napanangka women and has many uses. These uses include as a ceremonial wrap, as a strap to carry Parrajas (wooden bowls) laden with bush tucker and a a tourniquet for headaches.