Noreen Hudson, Tjuritja (West MacDonnell Ranges, NT), 47.5x21cm

• Aboriginal Artist - Noreen Hudson
• Community - Hermannsburg
• Aboriginal Art Centre - Iltja Ntjarra / Many Hands Art Centre
• Catalogue number - WAC17-17
• Materials - Watercolours on watercolour paper  
• Painted Size(cm) - H21 W47.5
• Postage variants - Artwork posted flat and unframed
• Orientation - As Displayed

Landscape of Tjuritja (West MacDonnell Ranges) in the Northern Territory

Noreen is a Western Arrarnta woman from the Hermannsburg Community. Noreen’s grandmother was Albert Namatjira’s sister. Her father was artist Gerhardt Inkamala and her brother was Linberg Inkamala. Her father used to paint the sunrise, sunset, Kangaroos, and emus. Her family used to paint with Albert Namatjira. During School Holidays Noreen and her family would travel to the little town of Alice Springs and play with their cousins Lenie Namatjira, Gloria Pannka and other Namatjira family members. The children used to watch the adults paint. Noreen also remembers white people coming to see Albert Namatjira and buying paintings off him.

Noreen’s description of the artists in her family: Our Uncle is Adolf Inkamala, he was a watercolour artist. Vanessa Inkamala’s (artist at Iltja Ntjarra) father was Edmund Inkamala. Our young uncle was Russell Inkamala, Sophia Inkamala’s (artist at Iltja Ntjarra) father was Clifford Inkamala. They all were watercolour artists from the same mum & dad. They all learnt how to paint from their uncle Albert.

Noreen is a senior potter and has enjoyed a prosperous career with the Hermannsburg Potters. Her artworks belong to many prominent art collections including the NGV collection in Victoria. Noreen is an emerging watercolour artist and is improving her landscape painting skills as she paints alongside the Namatjira family at Iltja Ntjarra Art Centre. Her sisters Clara Inkamala and Kathleen France also paint at the art centre sharing stories and ideas with her.

Iltja Ntjarra / Many Hands Art Centre is proudly Aboriginal owned and directed. It is the home of the Namatjira watercolour artists. The Art Centre was established by Ngurratjuta/Pmara Ntjarra Aboriginal Corporation and started operating in 2004, as a not-for-profit Art Centre to provide a place for Arrernte Artists to come together to paint, share and learn new techniques and ideas. The Art Centre is strongly committed to improving economic participation of Aboriginal people and maintaining cultural heritage.

Iltja Ntjarra has a special focus on supporting the ‘Hermannsburg School’ style watercolour artists, who continue to paint in the tradition of their grandfather and relative, Albert Namatjira, arguably one of Australia’s most famous artists of the 20^th century. Albert Namatjira taught his children to follow in his unique style, who have since passed this knowledge on to their children, which has resonated in a legacy of watercolour artists in the Central Desert region. By continuing his legacy, these artists sustain an important piece of living history.

Iltja Ntjarra is proud of its ethical work practices and aims to return the greatest possible percentage of sales to the artist.

In June 2016, Iltja Ntjarra Aboriginal Corporation (ICN 8426) was newly incorporated by the Arrernte Artists associated with the Art Centre and in August 2016, the Ngurratjuta/Pmara Ntjarra Aboriginal Corporation transferred the not-for-profit Art Centre business to Iltja Ntjarra Aboriginal Corporation.

Iltja Ntjarra acknowledges the role of Ngurratjuta/Pmara Ntjarra Aboriginal Corporation to the establishment and development of the Art Centre and thanks it for its ongoing support.

The things that are most important to us are:

• The watercolour painting style
• The watercolour painting style
• To welcome all landscape artists to paint with us
• To welcome and encourage youth to paint with us
• To pass down stories about our country and culture
• To teach about the legacy of the Hermannsburg School of Watercolour art movement
• To tell stories of learning from our grandfather and relative Albert Namatjira
• To support and keep culture strong
• To promote the effective and ethical sale of artworks
• To provide increased economic benefit directly to the artists through sales, professional development, exhibitions and marketing

Test courtesy, Iltja Ntjarra / Many Hands Art Centre