Bessie Nakamarra Sims, Ngapa Jukurrpa (Water Dreaming) - Wapurtali, 61x46cm

• Artist - Bessie Nakamarra Sims
• Community - Yuendumu
• Art Centre/Community organisation - Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation
• Catalogue number - 852/10
• Materials - Acrylic on canvas
• Size(cm) - H61 W46 D2
• Postage variants - Artwork is posted un-stretched and rolled for safe shipping.
• Orientation - Painted from all sides and OK to hang as wished

This Ngapa Jukurrpa (water Dreaming) comes from Wapurtali (Mt. Singleton) west of Yuendumu. The custodians of this Jukurrpa are women and men of the Nakamarra/Napurrula and Jakamarra/Jupurrurla subsection. A ‘marlu’ (kangaroo) was cooked at a place called Jalkirri. The smoke from the fire formed ‘milpirri’ (cumulonimbus clouds) and it began to rain. A giant storm formed and travelled from the south over Mikanji where it rained so hard it created a hole in the ground which became a soakage. At Mirrawarri a bird picked up the storm and carried it on its wings to the west until it became too heavy for it and it had to drop it on the ground. In Warlpiri paintings traditional iconography is used to represent the Jukurrpa, particular sites and other elements. Short dashes are often used to represent Mungkurdu (cumulus & stratocumulus clouds), and longer, flowing lines represent ‘ngawarra’ (flooded waters). Small circles are used to depict ‘mulju’ (water soakages) and river beds.

" I like painting cause it's my Dreaming - Bush Carrot, Yam Dreaming…From my father and grandfather's side. I like to teach kids my Dreaming. I want everyone to know my Dreaming from all over the world. I know and they can know…" Bessie Nakamarra Sims was born in the bush in the 1930s and lived for many years before coming into contact with white people at Mt. Doreen Station, west of Yuendumu. She lived in Yuendumu, a remote Aboriginal community located 290 kms north-west of Alice Springs in the NT of Australia, where she died in 2012. Bessie was the wife of Paddy Japaljarri Sims (dec), a renowned artist both nationally and internationally who painted with Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation for a long time, an Aboriginal owned and governed art centre located in Yuendumu. Bessie did not live in her famous husband’s shadow, for her own work has long been widely admired and collected. Bessie has seven children and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Bessie was one of the most valued members of the Warlukurlangu Artists Community. She painted consistently with Warlukurlangu Artists since the centre was first established in 1985 and has exhibited both nationally and internationally in Group Exhibitions since 1986.She painted her Jukurrpa stories, Dreamings which relate directly to her land, its features and the plants and animals that inhabit it. Besides painting Bessie was an active member of Yuendumu Night patrol which helps keep Yuendumu a safe community. In her spare time she used to loved hunting for wardapi (goanna) and bush tucker such as yarla (bush potato) and yakajirri (bush tomato).