Description

Composition: Hand dyed wool and cotton
Size: 61 x 91 cm (24 x 36 inches)

Features:

• Hand embroidered/chain-stitched
• All natural fibres – embroidered wool on cotton canvas
• Fair Trade certified
• Limited edition – individually numbered
• Certificate of Authenticity supplied with each kilim
• Royalties paid to the artist/family on every sale
• Hard wearing
• Back has non-slip surface
• Each kilim has flap on the rear for ease of hanging with dowel/rod
• Matching cushion covers are also available

Chain-stitched kilims are a traditional rug/soft furnishings making technique from Kashmir. As people sat on the floor they were both homewares and decoration. As many artworks are painted on the ground or 3D surfaces/bodies most of the images do not have a set orientation so can also be hung portrait or landscape if preferred.

The artist: Yaritji Heffernan is a ‘bush baby,’ born in Mulga Park station near Ernabella. She has fond memories of growing up at the Ernabella misison school, where she lived as a child with many of the women now painting in Adelaide. Her parents were both Pitjantjatjara, her father was from Angkatja and her mother was from Umutju. Yaritji married an Arrente man near Alice Springs in the Northern Territory and can speak a little Arrente and Amatyerre as well as Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjara. Yarijti is a skilled artist who first learned to paint ‘walka wiru’ design-based works in the Ernabella craft room in the seventies. As well as painting, she made batik silks, tapestries, hooked floor rugs, oil paintings and ceramics. She remembers winning 1st and 2nd prize at the Alice Springs show for her artworks as a young woman. More recently through the NPY Women’s Council, Yaritji learned to weave tjanpi (baskets), mukata (beanies) and hand paint seed necklaces. She has facilitated arts workshops in Darwin and Adelaide. She often works with the APY Art Centre Collective in Adelaide.

About the design: Two Women
This painting is about two women with their families. They both have three children. They are all staying at this beautiful big rock hole. On this day it was raining and there was a really bright beautiful rainbow. These two women and their children stayed at this rock hole while it was raining.

CARE INSTRUCTIONS:
Do not put place/use in direct sunlight or colors may fade. To clean – dry cleaning recommended. Can be ironed on a wool steam setting.

About the Better World Arts chainstitch kilim products
These beautiful, unique textiles are a cross-cultural collaboration combining Aboriginal designs and traditional Kashmiri rug-making techniques. Chain stitched, using hand dyed wool, each is a completely handmade piece. A more empowering way to work, this brings many direct benefits to the artists’ and their community. Control and ownership of intellectual property are also maintained. Purchase of these products guarantees a direct return to the Aboriginal artist’s family and their community.