Margarina Napanangka Miller, Lukarrara Jukurrpa, 122x61cm

• Aboriginal Artist - Margarina Napanangka Miller
• Community - Mt Allen
• Aboriginal Art Centre - Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation  
• Catalogue number - 890/23
• Materials - Acrylic on linen
• Size(cm) - H122 W61 D2  
• Postage variants - Artwork posted unstretched and rolled for safe shipping
• Orientation - Painted from all sides and OK to hang as wished

This Jukurrpa belongs to women of the Nakamarra/Napurrurla subsections and to Jakamarra/Jupurrurla men. This Dreaming is associated with a place called Jaralypari, north of Yuendumu. Lukarrara (desert fringe-rush [Fimbristylis oxystachya & Fimbristylis eremophila]) is a grass with an edible seed. The seeds are traditionally ground on a large stone (‘ngatinyanu’) with a smaller stone (‘ngalikirri’) to make flour. This flour is mixed with water (‘ngapa’) to make damper cakes which are cooked and eaten. In Warlpiri traditional paintings iconography is used to represent the Jukurrpa, particular sites and other elements. Large concentric circles often represent the site of Jaralypari and also the seed bearing grass Lukurrara. ‘U’ shapes can depict the Karnta (women) collecting ‘lukarrara’ and straight lines are frequently used to portray seeds that fall down to the ground and are also collected by women using their ‘parrajas’ (wooden food carriers) and ‘karlangu’ (digging sticks).

Margarina Napangka Miller was born in Darwin the closest hospital to Lajamanu, an Aboriginal community in semi-arid country on the edge of the Tanami Desert, halfway between Darwin and Alice Springs. She grew up in Lajamanu and attended the local school before going to Yirara high school in Alice Springs. She is the daughter of Liddy Nampijinpa Miller and Johnny Japangardi Miller. When Margarina was twelve years old her parents separated and her Mum stayed in Lajamanu and her father moved to Yuendumu, a remote Aboriginal community located 290 km north-west of Alice Springs in the NT of Australia. When Margarina finished school she went to live in Lajamanu but would often visit her father in Yuendumu. On one such trip she met and married Stephen Wilson, where they now permanently live. She is a devoted mother to her three children, 2 sons and 1 daughter. For a number of years she worked full time at the local Aboriginal Childcare Centre, Kurdu Kurdu Kurlangu where she was a valued staff member. She also worked at the primary school as Assistant Teacher for a few years. She has been painting with Warlukurlangu Artists Art Corporation, an Aboriginal owned and governed art centre located in Yuendumu, since 1999. She used to listen to mother’s stories and her mother’s father’s story as she watched her Mum paint. Her father also past down his father’s stories. Her Aunty, Coral Napangardi Gallagher, her father’s little sister, also paints with Warlukurlangu Artist, and it was she who taught her to paint her father’s stories. Margarina paints her Wanakiji Jukurrpa (Bush Tomato Dreaming) and Yarla Jukurrpa (Bush Potato Dreaming) stories that relate to Mount Theo country where her grandfather’s dreaming is. When Margarina is not painting she enjoys going out bush to visit her traditional country and to hunt. She also enjoys cleaning and making her home look nice.

All paintings come with a certificate of authenticity provided by the community-run Aboriginal Art Centre, not us, which is the gold standard for ethical purchasing and documentation.

We take great pride in offering high-quality, authentic Aboriginal Art pieces to you and in addition to our 120-day returns(they don't come back), we are pleased to offer a lifetime money-back authenticity guarantee to all customers who purchase Aboriginal Art from us, both past and present.

This guarantee covers any disrepute or wrongdoing in association with the authenticity of any Aboriginal artwork ever sold by ART ARK®. We understand that purchasing authentic Aboriginal Art is important to you, and we want to provide you with peace of mind in knowing that you are getting what you expect.

We take the authenticity of Aboriginal Art seriously and are committed to providing you with high-quality and genuine works of art. If at any time you have any concerns whatsoever about the authenticity of any art piece, please do not hesitate to contact us and we will investigate further. If we find any wrongdoing or disrepute in regards to the provenance or authenticity of any artwork sold by us we will promptly provide a full refund to you at any time in the future, be it in one year, or in ten!

Please find more information on authenticity here: https://artark.com.au/pages/aboriginal-art-authenticity

All of our Desert Paintings, with the exception of the Stretched Desert Paintings Collection, are sent rolled.

Sending paintings rolled is the best option for their safe arrival and allows us to include free shipping, provide timely service, and maintain consistent and transparent pricing relating to the prices set by each Aboriginal Art centre.

The size of the painting listed relates to the painted surface. There is also a painted edge(2cm) and additional canvas for stretching.

A local framer will easily stretch the work for you at a nominal cost. Framers are everywhere and there is likely one just up the road. We recommend choosing one with good reviews and if you call ahead you will generally get a better-quoted price than if you turn up, painting in hand.

Please find further details and examples relating to framing here: https://artark.com.au/pages/how-to-frame-your-aboriginal-art