The mimpu or deep wooden water carrying bowl is a traditional woman’s vessel designed especially for transporting water. It usually carved from a knot or scar on the trunk of a desert bloodwood or a curved root section of the river red gum tree.
Contemporary artists use walka, patterns burnt into the wood with wire heated on a wood fire. These relate Tjukurpa, stories about the Tjukuritja (Creation Ancestors) and the activities which shaped the land, the people and their law. Many of the details of Tjukurpa are restricted to senior custodians so it is not possible to describe the full story behind the walka.
Deandra James’ walka on this mimpu is strikingly minimalist, featuring the ‘u’ shaped figures of seated women.
Deandra (Joyce) James is a young Pitjantjatjara woman who was born in the Western Australian town of Laverton and taken to Kaltukatjara (Docker River) when she was a baby. She now lives in Warakurna where she is working as a teacher with the Ngaatjatjarra Lands School. She started wood carving by assisting Dianne Golding and her late grandmother Tjukapati James with the making of ‘walking sticks’ which require days of hard work cutting and smoothing the wood to bring out the beauty of the two toned wood grain. Deandra also loves going hunting with her family and especially enjoys tjala, or sweet honey ants.
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.
