Description

Details

• Type: Screenprint
• Edition: 99
• Paper: Magnani Pescia Buff
• Size: 460 x 660 mm (image), 760 x 560 mm (paper)
• Print Studio: Basil Hall Editions Darwin, 2003

Story

The artists has depicted Miriwoong people dancing ceremony, Wanga, at her family’s traditional country Goodim, near Keep River National Park, close to both the Western Australia and Northern Territory borders. Wanga is performed to the music and beat of the digeridoo and clapsticks and is performed in celebration as well as during young men’s initiation ceremonies. Miriwoong people still perform these ceremonies.

Artist Biography: Peggy Griffiths

Born on Newry Station to Dinah Dingle and Frank Moore, Peggy lived and learned about her family and bush life. “I grew up on Newry Station and learnt my culture from the old people.  I saw my old people being taken away from the camp with chains around their necks and I was hidden once when Welfare came so that they would not take me away. I learned to dance all the traditional dances and I have taught  all my children and grandchildren these dances.  I went to school at the Kimberley Research School and later at Beagle Bay Mission before I got married at 16 to my promised husband Alan Griffiths. We have been together ever since.”

Peggy began working with Waringarri Aboriginal Arts in 1985, carving and painting boab nuts and boomerangs. She progressed to painting on canvas and working with limited edition prints.  She is the first indigenous artist to win the prestigious Fremantle Print Award.  Committed to keeping the stories of her grandfather, Charlie Mailman, alive and maintaining her connection to culture Peggy and her husband Alan were often found painting side by side.  They were also key performers and teachers of traditional dance for their community.  Today Peggy is a highly respected senior artist at Waringarri Aboriginal Arts, teaching other artists as well as contributing to leadership of Waringarri Aboriginal Arts in a Director role. Peggy has 5 children, 27 grandchildren and a growing number of great grandchildren.

“What is important to me is to carry on my grandfather and my mother’s stories. It is important to show my younger generation what I have learned about our stories and our culture.  When I paint my mind has an idea and I do that to show people how I see things.”

Peggy became one of the founding artists of Waringarri Arts and has been a chairperson and representative of the art centre for nearly two decades.

Read more and watch a short interview with Peggy here.

Awards

2020    Cultural Adornment and Wearable Art Award – National Indigenous Fashion Awards,
2016    Fellowship, Department of Culture and the Arts, WA
2014    Kimberley Art Award
1995    Fremantle Print Award

This print was produced in collaboration with the artist and Waringarri Arts.

The artist was paid royalties in full at the time the print was editioned.

Collections

ARTBANK AUSTRALIA
AUSTRALIAN EQUITY – KERRY STOKES COLLECTION
CHURCH GALLERY ART ANGELS
CITY OF SOUTH PERTH COLLECTION, WA
EDITH COWAN UNIVERSITY, WA
FREMANTLE ARTS COLLECTION, WA
ART GALLERY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA, WA
HOLMES A COURT COLLECTION, PERTH, WA
KIMBERLEY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION COLLECTION
KLUGE RUHE ABORIGINALART COLLECTION, VIRGINIA, USA
NATIONAL GALLERY OF AUSTRALIA, ACT
OCHRE HEALTH CENTRE – BUSH MEDICINE WALL, WA
PARLIAMENT HOUSE COLLECTION CANBERRA, ACT
PARLIAMENT HOUSE COLLECTION PERTH, WA
ROYAL PERTH HOSPITAL COLLECTION, WA
UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY COLLECTION SYDNEY NSW
UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG COLLECTION, NSW
WESFARMERS COLLECTION, WA
AIATSIS Australian Institute of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Studies Collection, ACT
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING, GOVERNMENT OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA, WA
AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER STUDIES, CANBERRA, ACT
BENDIGO ART GALLERY, VIC
ZHONGFU GROUP COLLECTION, CHINA