Nellie Roberts Tjawina, Irrunytju minyma, 91x91cm

• Aboriginal Artist - Nellie Roberts Tjawina
• Community - Wingellina
• Aboriginal Art Centre - Ninuku Arts
• Catalogue number - 19/1
• Materials - Acrylic on canvas  
• Size(cm) - H91 W91 D2  
• Postage variants - Artwork posted un-stretched and rolled for safe shipping
• Orientation - Painted from all sides and OK to hang as wished

Nellie Roberts is a senior artist from Wingellina. She was born out bush in Katajulu, near Blackstone. She grew up in a Mission Home in Warburton after she lost her father and mother as a baby. Nellie was educated by the nuns in the mission. When she was still in school her brother brought her to Ernabella, but she didn't feel really happy there and went back to Warburton. Later she moved to Amata and had her first husband there. After her husband left she stayed behind and raised her 3 children. In the seventies, when the mining started at Wingellina she moved there with her children. She started painting with Amanda Dent and has been painting ever since. Her husband's homeland is Katala, but her paintings depict Iljupa, her country.

Ninuku Arts is a wholly-Indigenous owned and governed Art Centre which supports artists from two communities - Pipalyatjara and Kalka. Each have populations of around 100-150 Anangu and the majority are Pitjantjatjara speakers – Anangu simply means ‘people’ in Pitjantjatjara. Both communities are located in the far north-western corner of South Australia, near the tri-state border of South Australia, Western Australia and Northern Territory. The two communities, fourteen kilometres apart, are surrounded by the rolling, rocky hills of the Tomkinson Ranges and are part of the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands. Both Kalka and Pipalyatjara are peaceful places. This is a result of strong governance, cultural engagement and pride among local Anangu. 

The Art Centre itself is located in Kalka and is housed in a mud-brick building (the only one in the Lands), which was built as an office in the early 1980’s by Anangu and white staff, and has since been extended to accommodate the growing number of artists keen to paint. A silver bullet caravan (formerly a mobile health unit) is also located on site, and has become a place for some artists to paint, mostly during the winter months while the morning sun warms the deck. Despite being the most remote art centre on the APY Lands, having limited working space and access to services, Ninuku Arts has continued to grow in success with each year. The artist’s commitment to both the art centre and painting is unflappable. The art centre prides itself on its inclusivity (providing opportunities for all generations) and embracing individuality in artists.