Janie Napangardi Williams, Watiya-warnu Jukurrpa (Seed Dreaming), 61x30cm

• Aboriginal Artist - Janie Napangardi Williams
• Community - Yuendumu
• Aboriginal Art Centre - Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation
• Catalogue number - 1336/22
• 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 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.

Janie Napangardi Williams was born in 1974, in Yuendumu, a remote Aboriginal community located 290 km north-west of Alice Springs in the NT of Australia. Her biological mother passed away when she was very young. She was brought up by Mary Napangardi Butcher’s Dad, Jack Japanangka Butcher (Dec) and his sister Daisy Napanangka Nelson (Dec), both respected artists of the Yuendumu community. Janie attended the local school, and has three siblings - Joey, Maggie and Graham.

Janie has been painting with Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation, an Aboriginal owned and governed art centre located in Yuendumu, since 2007. When young she would often visit the art centre and watch her adopted family paint and would listen to their stories. Janie paints her father’s and her Grandfather’s Ngarlidirdi Jukurrpa (Witchetty Grub Dreaming), from north of Mt Dennison. These stories relate directly to her land, its features and the plants and animals that inhabit it. They have been passed down to her by her parents and their parents before them for millennial. Janie uses traditional iconology and an unrestricted palette to depict her traditional culture.

Janie is a single parent raising three children. She currently lives in Willowra, a remote Aboriginal community located 220 km north-west of Alice Springs and 200 km from Yuendumu. Whenever she can, she continues to visit Yuendumu, painting alongside her family and friends.