Paralpi – Walytja (Family)

$1,200.00

My name is Richard Nelson. I was born in Perth. My mother is from Western Australia, and my father is from Mparntwe. He has been traveling around a long time, all the way through South Australia, and Western Australia, living with different family along the way. My family extends right across the country.

I moved to Mimili, where some of my father’s family is from, and met my wife Sheena, twenty years ago. I’ve been sitting down in Mimili ever since. I have lots of family here. All my brothers (in law) – work in land management, but I work at the art centre. I work there every day. When I paint, I paint the country around Paralpi, which is a beautiful place close to Mimili where we often camp out. When there’s lots of rain, the river runs out there and there’s rockholes to take the kids swimming to. I like painting, it’s good for me, and I like to sit down quietly with my wife Sheena who is also an artist. We often camp out at Victory Well or Sandy Bore and paint the country out there, and that’s what I share in this canvas: our family spending time out at Paralpi, on our country, being well and looking after each other.

Richard Nelson is one of Mimili Maku Arts’ senior art workers. Whilst he usually focusses on keeping supplies up and ready for all other members of the art centre, he also creates his own artwork. Richard’s family lines extend from Boorloo (Perth), through Mparntwe (Alice Springs) to Kurdnatta (Port Augusta) – pathways and connections he celebrates and depicts in his artwork.