Arnkerrth is one Dreaming on my country. My mother’s Dreaming. She’s been painting the Mountain Devil for a long time. The Mountain Devil moves all around Alhalker and Anangker. She’s carrying her swag on her back.
It’s the body paint for Arnkerrth awely (women’s ceremonies). My sisters and I. One country. All sisters doing Arnkerrth. Body painting. Like this. With those lines. We put the paint on our arms. On our skin. On our canvas, too. My body and Arnkerrth body. Together. Arnkerrth artep-side and underbelly side. Up there is his back. The marks on his back side. And down there is the underbelly side. Next to awely on our bodies. Awely on our front and marks on our back, too. We sisters and Arnkerrth. We’re owners for Arnkerrth.
Amaroo old station. That’s where I was born. Where I grew up. I used to go to Utopia Homestead school when I was a young girl. A long time ago. My father was working doing station work. Mustering for tucker. No money. We moved all over. Queensland and Northern Territory side. Argadargada Station, Waite River Station, Lake Nash, Mount Skinner. Everywhere. My father’s working. We went and sat down all the ladies and young girls. We were sitting down at Waite River and Argadargada for a long time. Hunting in the Eugene River. My family were learning me. Learning to ride horse too. Atnangker country we used to go with my aunties. Gloria, Kathleen, Violet. I was watching them doing painting. Making canvas and batik. We were working there at Utopia Homestead all together. When I was young. Batik first then painting now.
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.
