Tjanpi basket, Valerie Bennett, Docker River (22-23cm)

• Artist - Valerie Bennett
• Community - Docker River
• Art Centre/Community organisation - Tjanpi Desert Weavers
• Catalogue number - 226/12
• Materials - Woven Basket -
• Size(cm) - Diameter 22-23cm Height 6-7cm

Tjanpi (meaning ‘dry grass’) evolved from a series of basket weaving workshops held on remote communities in the Western Desert by the Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunyjatjara Womens’ Council in 1995. Building on traditons of using fibre for medicinal, ceremonial and daily purposes, women took easily to making coiled baskets. These new-found skills were shared with relations on neighboring communities and weaving quickly spread. Today there are over 400 women across 28 communities making baskets and sculptures out of grass and working with fibre in this way is firmly embedded in Western and Central Desert culture. While out collectng desert grasses for their fibre art women visit sacred sites and traditional homelands, hunt and gather food for their families and teach their children about country. Tjanpi Desert Weavers is Aboriginal owned and is directed by an Aboriginal executive. It is an arts business but also a social enterprise that provides numerous social and cultural benefits and services to weavers and their families. Tjanpi’s philosophy is to keep culture strong, maintain links with country and provide meaningful employment to the keepers and teachers of the desert weaving business.

Made from a combination of native desert grasses, seeds and feathers, commercially bought raffia (sometimes dyed with native plants), string and wool, Tjanpi artworks are unique, innovative and constantly evolving. Some baskets and sculptures contain raffia which is purchased in Australia, imported from Madagascar. Natural hanks of raffia can sometimes be dyed with commercial dyes and less often with natural dyes. Most popular grass used in artworks is Minarri (greybeard grass, Amphipogon caricirus)

Valerie was born in Kaltukatjara Community (Docker River, NT) and traveled with her family through the Pitjantjatjara and Ngaanyatjarra Lands when she was young. Her family on her father's side came from near Pukatja (Ernabella, SA) and Pipalyatjara (SA), and family on her mother's side are from Warakurna . She went to school in Docker River, and later worked as the cleaner there. Valerie is married with four children: Belinda, Jo-Anne, Elwin and Chrise, and one grandson, Ismael. She began weaving in 2008.

We realise that it's not always easy buying artworks sight unseen but we are so confident that you're going to absolutely love them when they turn up that if for any reason you change your mind or you're not feeling the feng shui you can return them within 14 days for a full refund.

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