Katrina Nampijinpa Brown, Watiya-warnu Jukurrpa (Seed Dreaming), 30x30cm

• Aboriginal Artist - Katrina Nampijinpa Brown
• Community - Yuendumu  
• Aboriginal Art Centre - Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation
• Art centre catalogue number - 2323/23
• Materials - Acrylic on pre-stretched canvas  
• Size(cm) - H30.5 W30.5 D3.5  
• Postage variants - Artwork posted stretched and ready to hang
• Orientation - Painted from all sides and OK to hang as wished

This painting tells the story of a Jangala ‘watiya-warnu’ (Acacia tenuissima) ancestor who travelled south from a small hill called Ngurlupurranyangu to Yamunturrngu (Mount Liebig). As he travelled he picked the ‘watiya-warnu’ seeds and placed them in ‘parrajas’ (food carriers), one of which he carried on his head. Watiya-warnu is a seed bearing tree that grows in open spinifex or mulga country. When people returned to their camp after collecting the seeds they would make large windbreaks for shelter and winnow the seed in the late afternoon. Immature ‘watiya-warnu’ seed is ground into a paste and can be used to treat upset stomachs. The associated ‘watiya-warnu’ ceremony involves the preparation of a large ground painting. This Jukurrpa belongs to Nampijinpa/Nangala women and Jampijinpa/Jangala men. In contemporary Warlpiri paintings traditional iconography is used to represent the Jukurrpa, particular sites and other elements. In paintings of this Dreaming ‘U’ shapes are often depicting women collecting the ‘watiya-warnu’ seeds. Oval shapes represent the ‘parrajas’ where they carry the seeds and strait lines beside them frequently portrait digging sticks.

Katrina Nampjinpa Brown was born on 28 March 1949 in Yuendumu, a remote Aboriginal community 290 km northwest of Alice Springs in NT of Australia. She has two sisters, Peggy and Violet Brown, and one brother, Johnny Brown. Her parents have both passed away. Katrina has five children and a number of grandchildren.

Katrina attended school in Yuendumu. After going to school, she worked in the Yuendumu clinic. Today Katrina paints at Warlukurlangu and likes to go hunting for fun. She likes to hunt for 'ngarlkirdi' (witchetty grubs) and 'yunkaranyi' (honey ants), both of which can be found around Yuendumu.

Katrina paints 'ngapa Jukurrpa' (water Dreaming), 'yunkaranyi Jukurrpa' (honey ant Dreaming), 'watiyawarnu Jukurrpa' (seed Dreaming), and 'warlukurlangu Jukurrpa' (fire country Dreaming). These Dreamings are located to the west of Yuendumu. The fire country Dreaming was also painted by her father.