On the main road from Irrunytju to Warakurna there is a short cut road to Papulankutja where we all like to collect our tjanpi for weaving. There is tall wire that marks this place. We know this place well and when we want to make a tjanpi basket or a sculpture we take the Toyota, a shovel for digging up the tjanpi grass and bags to carry the tjanpi in. The kids come with us too and maybe there are some fresh kampurara (desert raisins).
Born in Amata on the APY Lands, Diane Dawson belongs to the Pitantjatjara language group and comes from a family of well-known Irrunytju artists. Her mother, Alkawari Dawson painted Kalaya Wati Tjukurpa (Emu Man creation story) which relates to the country of her birth and her father, Nyakul Dawson was a highly regarded cultural man, artist and ngangkari (traditional healer). Diane is a passionate and versatile artist who explores a variety of styles including traditional tjukurpa (ancestral creation stories) passed down by her parents. Diane has recently been exploring landscapes in her own contemporary style, capturing the country around Irrunytju community through synthetic polymer paint, watercolour and sculpture.
Desert Mob is presented annually in Mparntwe | Alice Springs on Arrernte Country.
On behalf of Desart’s staff and art centre members, the Executive Committee humbly and respectfully acknowledge the Arrernte Apmereke Artweye (Traditional Owners) and Kwertengerle (Traditional Managers) of Mparntwe.
Desart respectfully advises Aboriginal readers that this website may contain names, images and artworks of people who have passed away.
