 Stanley.jpg)
Tjariya is a Pitjantjatjara woman, born in Wingellina in 1939.
Until recently, she went by her birth name Nungalka, but has changed to Tjariya following a death in the community.
She lives and works in Ernabella and has two daughters, one of which is also a very good artist (Renita).
Tjariya has been involved in the art centre for a long time and has mastered several different mediums.
Her first drawings, collected by Charles Mountford in the 1940s, are in the collection of the National Museum of Australia. Initially she assisted making floor rugs, painting moccasins and knitting jumpers, the first enterprise undertaken by the Ernabella craft room.
In the 1970’s she learnt batik from Daisy Baker following her visit to Indonesia, and has developed into one of Ernabella’s most accomplished batik artists.
She has also taught herself weaving with grass and raffia (tjanpi) and crocheting mukata (beanies) with the sheep wool that she still hand spins.
More recently she has also developed as a painter and ceramic designer, and uses these mediums to tell tjukurpa (creation stories) of her country and family, or uses designs of the landscape such as tjukula (rockholes) and flowers. Tjariya is a stalwart of the community and the heart of the art centre.
Her traditional knowledge is strong and deep and she is also a ngankari (traditional healer).
She is an excellent story teller, and delights in telling stories of when she was a young girl growing up at the Ernabella mission.
Her grandson Ngunytjima has also recently joined the art centre in the ceramics studio, and is fast becoming an accomplished potter, indicating that creative talent runs deep in Tjariya’s family.
Tjariya is a strong matriarchal figure in the art centre. In July 2012 she will be exhibiting in Singapore..
Tjariya is a Pitjantjatjara woman, born in Wingellina in 1939.
Until recently, she went by her birth name Nungalka, but has changed to Tjariya following a death in the community.
She lives and works in Ernabella and has two daughters, one of which is also a very good artist (Renita).
Tjariya has been involved in the art centre for a long time and has mastered several different mediums.
Her first drawings, collected by Charles Mountford in the 1940s, are in the collection of the National Museum of Australia. Initially she assisted making floor rugs, painting moccasins and knitting jumpers, the first enterprise undertaken by the Ernabella craft room.
In the 1970’s she learnt batik from Daisy Baker following her visit to Indonesia, and has developed into one of Ernabella’s most accomplished batik artists.
She has also taught herself weaving with grass and raffia (tjanpi) and crocheting mukata (beanies) with the sheep wool that she still hand spins.
More recently she has also developed as a painter and ceramic designer, and uses these mediums to tell tjukurpa (creation stories) of her country and family, or uses designs of the landscape such as tjukula (rockholes) and flowers. Tjariya is a stalwart of the community and the heart of the art centre.
Her traditional knowledge is strong and deep and she is also a ngankari (traditional healer).
She is an excellent story teller, and delights in telling stories of when she was a young girl growing up at the Ernabella mission.
Her grandson Ngunytjima has also recently joined the art centre in the ceramics studio, and is fast becoming an accomplished potter, indicating that creative talent runs deep in Tjariya’s family.
Tjariya is a strong matriarchal figure in the art centre. In July 2012 she will be exhibiting in Singapore..