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Gimme Shelter : A survey show from the artists of Fitzroy Valley

Past exhibition
21 April - 25 May 2016
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Open a larger version of the following image in a popup: Sonia Kurarra, Martuwarra

Sonia Kurarra Australia, Walmajarri, b. 1952

Martuwarra
acrylic on canvas
150 x 150 cm
831167
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Sonia was born by a billlabong at Noonkanbah community. Her parents were Walmajarri whose movements led them to live by the Fitzroy River. Sonia has lived most her life at...
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Sonia was born by a billlabong at Noonkanbah community. Her parents were Walmajarri whose movements led them to live by the Fitzroy River. Sonia has lived most her life at Noonkanbah. A compulsive artist, Sonia for a long time was a teacher's aid at the local school were she facilitated art making with the children. Illustrative of her attachment to the country where she grew up, an intimate life with the river, Sonia's art is a saturation of river country motifs, be it parlka (barramundi), brim, tortoise, stingray, pandanus trees or the water itself. "Martuwarra is my river country; this painting is all about the Fitzroy River which flows down through Noonkanbah where I live. All kinds of fish live in the water, we catch big mob of fish here. I like Parlka (barrumundi). We catch catfish and brim here too. Nganku (shark), Wirritunany (swordfish) and stingray also live here. These fish live in these waters long after the flood has gone. Also this painting is about barrumundi swimming on the surface of the water, you can also see the Wakiri (pandanus tree) and rocks all around. When the barrumundi get tired they go back into the rock holes. These rock holes hold all the Parlka (barrumundi) that live in the river. Kalputu (water snakes) also live in these rock holes and swim all around the Palma (creeks) and all around the Wakiri that grows in the river."
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