Tjanpi tjulpu (bird) sculpture, Betty Muffler, Iwantja

• Artist - Betty Muffler
• Community - Iwantja
• Art Centre/Community organisation - Tjanpi Desert Weavers
• Catalogue number - 3756/15WA
• Materials - Grass raffia and wool
• Size(cm) - H34 L31 W12

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. 

Betty was born in country near Watarru on the Emu country side (Yilaku) and grew up in the bush with her mother, father and brother. They all moved to Indulkana when the community was set up where she married a man from Iwantja. She has two sons and a daughter in Iwantja and family in Coober Pedy that she visits regularly. She is the proud grandmother of many grandchildren.
Betty started paintng for Iwantja Art centre and she works on large scale canvases that are exhibited throughout Australia as well as making beautiful baskets for Tjanpi. She attended Law and Culture events hosted by NPYWC many years ago and watched other women making Tjanpi. She was keen to learn and has always liked to make large baskets as well as sculptures of papas.
Bey is a highly respected Ngangkari (traditional healer) and has worked in hospitals in Adelaide, Coober Pedy, Whyalla and Alice Springs

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)

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.

We happily provide free registered post on all of our paintings within Australia and $30 for international postage. A $15 premium is applicable for the safe packing and postage of our 3D items.