Details of Eileen Yaritja Stevens
About
Eileen was born in the bush at Makiri, Tjala Minyma Tjukurpa (Honeyant Women's sacred place) c.1919. Her father was a Yangkunytjatjara man and her mother a Pitjantjatjara woman. When Eileen was a young woman, she worked at Ernabella mission milking goats. "I was a hard worker at the mission, but it was good." Her husband also worked at Ernabella, chopping trees for building projects. Later, they came to Nyapari, Eileen's husband's country. Eileen passed away in Februray 2008, she was 89 and still singing and painting with passion and energy.
Located about 100kms south of Uluru, Nyapari is set at the base of the majestic Mann Ranges in the heart of country traditionally owned by the Pitjantjatjara people. These ranges known to Anangu as Murputja, Likening the mountains to the bony ridge of a person's spine, are the source of many waterholes and traditional camping places. The homelands of Kanpi, Nyapari, Angatja, Umpukulu and Tjankanu have grown from these seasonal camping places into permanent settlements. Over fifty artist from Murputja joined together with family members living in taditional country 180kms to the south at Watarru and created Tjungu Palya (Good Together).
Tjungu Palya is 100% owned and managed by Aboriginal people ensuring the wealth of talent and economic returns are retained in the community. Tjungu Palya promotes cultural integrity and the ethical sales of authentic art.
THEMES
Piltati - Wanampi (Rainbow Serpent) Creation Story
Makiri - Honey Ant Women's Creation Story
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2007 Minyma Kutju, Viven Anderson Gallery, Melbourne, VIC
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2011 Tjungu Palya 2011, Short St Gallery, Broome WA
2011 Green, Outstation Gallery, Darwin, NT
2011 Strong Women Strong Painting Strong Culture, Sims Dickson Collection, Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre, NSW
2010 Partnerships, Marshall Arts, Adelaide, SA
2010 Tjukurpa Pulkatjara: The Power of the Law', South Australia Museum, Adelaide, SA
2010 Raft Launch, Raft Artspace, Alice Springs, NT
2009 Masterstroke, Randell Lane Fine Art, Perth, WA
2009 Celebrating Country: Kinship and Culture, Seymour College exhibition, Adelaide, SA
2009 Tjukurpa Wirunya Kanyini, Aboriginal and Pacific Arts, Sydney, NSW
2009 Kulini Ngura - Knowing Country, Short St Gallery, Broome, WA
2009 Wanapiku Munu Kalayaku Ngura, Chapman Gallery, Canberra, ACT
2008 Expresssions of Cultural Connections: Evolution of Aboriginal Artists, The American Club, ReDot Gallery, Singapore
2008 Manta Nyangatja Pitjanjatjara, Short St Gallery, Broome, WA
2008 Iwara Mantangka - Land Lines, Randell Lane Fine Art, Perth, WA
2008 The Ecologies Projet, Monash University Museum of Art, Melbourne, VIC
2008 Tjungu Palyaku Warka Nyuwana, ReDot Gallery, Singapore
2008 Tjukurpa Kutjupa Kutjupa Tjuta, Aboriginal and Pacific Arts, Sydney, NSW
2008 Anangu Backyards - Stories for Children, Adelaide Festival Centre, Adelaide, SA
2008 Tjukurpa Kunpa, Marshall Arts, Adelaide, SA
2008 Women's Show, Viven Anderson Gallery, Melbourne, VIC
2007 Nganampa Nguraku Tjukurpa, Aboriginal and Pacific Arts, Sydney, NSW
2007 Womens Show, Viven Anderson Gallery, Melbourne, NSW
2007 Desert Master Class, South Asutralian Museum
2007 Skin to Skin, Tuggeranong Arts Centre, CAnberra
2007 Piltati, Marshall Arts, Adelaide, SA
2007 Our Mob, Adelaide Festival Centre, Adelaide, SA
2007 Red Dirt Country, Museum of Modern Art, Spoleto, Itlay
2007 Spring Art, Loreto School, Adelaide, SA
2007 Celebration, Chapman Gallery, Canberra, ACT
2007 Uwankara Ngura Palya, Randell Lane Fine Art, Perth
2007 Desert Mob, Araluen Gallery, Alice Springs, ACT
2006 Nganampa Tjukurpa Nganampa Ngura, Marshall Arts, Adelaide, SA
2006 Minyma Kutjara Kutjara, Viven Anderson Gallery, Melbourne, VIC
2006 Tjukurpa Manatja, Randell LAne Fine Art, Perth, WA
2006 Our Mob, Adelaide Festival Centre, Adelaide, SA
2006 Desert Mob, Araluen Gallery, Alice Springs, ACT
2006 Anangu Backyard, Adelaide Festival Centre, Adelaide, SA
2006 Womens Show, Viven Anderson Gallery, Melbourne, VIC
2005 Desert Mob, Araluen Gallery, Alice Springs, ACT
2005 Art from APY Lands, Marshall Arts, Adelaide, SA
2005 Nganampa Ngura, Aboriginal and Pacific Arts, Sydney, NSW
2005 Womens Show, Viven Anderson Gallery, Melbourne, VIC
2005 New Work from the APY Lands, South Australian Museum, Adelaide, SA
2004 Summer Salon, Viven Anderson Gallery, Melbourne, VIC
COLLECTIONS
National GAllery of Victoria
Ian Berbdt Collection
Art Gallery of Western Australia
Art Gallery of South Australia
The Merenda Collection
The Marshall Collection
National Gallery of Australia
Araluen Gallery Northern Territory
Kaplan-Levi Collection, Seattle, USA
BIBILIOGRAPHIES
2010 Tjukurpa Pulkatjara - The Power of the Law, exhibition catalogue, Ananguku Arts Wakefield Press, p. 30, 31.
2010 Nunn, Louise, 'Bush Artists Take The World By Storm', The Advertiser, March 8
2009 IAD Press, Jukurpa Diary
2008 McCulloch's Contemporary Aboriginal Art - The Complete Guide, p. 126, 128
2008 IAD Press, Jukurpa Diary
2008 Life Force, Contemporary Aboriginal Art is making waves globally - by Carmel Dwyer. Harpers Bazarr, March 2008.
2007 Asian Art News, Nov / Dec. A voyage Into the Land by Dr Christine Nicholls
2007 Publication - Eileen Yaritja Stevens, Minyma Kutju - One Women, Dr Christine Nicholls, Viven Anderson.
2007 The New McCulloch's Encyclopedia of Australian Art, Two images reproduced (in Aboriginal & Artists) page 14 & 58
2006 IAD Press, Tjukurpa Calander, Wati Kutjara Nyinanyi, NOV
2006 Review. Tjukurpa Mantatja exhibition. The West Australian Today section by Steven Bevis, 6th Nov
2006 Review. Tjukurpa Mantatja exhibition. Western Suburbs Weekly, Old Tales to draw on. 7th Nov
2006 Review. Tjukurpa mantantja exhibition. Perth Voice, 4th Nov, by Fiona Williams
2006 IAD Press, Tjukurpa Diary, Wati Kutjara Nyinanyi, March
2006 Review. Desert Mob 2006 exhibition. The desert tainted brush by Nicholas Rothwell. The Australian, 11 Sep 2006
2005 Review. Desert Mob 2005 exhibition. Lines shimmer into shapes by Nicholas Rothwell. The Asutralian, 13 Sep 2005
