Description
Size: 40 cm x 40 cm (16 x 16 inches)
Fabric: wool (front) and cotton (back)
Artist: Yaritji Heffernan
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.
*
Design Story:
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.
About the BWA chainstitch (gabba) 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 and their community.
CARE INSTRUCTIONS: These cushion covers feel great and are fabulously hardwearing – we can vouch for that.
Do not put place/use in direct sunlight or colors may fade. To clean – dry cleaning recommended. It is possible with careful hand-wash in warm water using a wool detergent. Creases can be ironed out on a wool (low) steam setting.
