THE COLOURS OF MINA MINA

Betsy Napangardi Lewis and Judy Napangardi Watson are senior Walrpiri women and custodians of an important dreaming site called Mina Mina, west of Yuendumu. Their paintings depict the constellation of Jukurrpa (dreaming) stories surrounding this sacred site. During the Dreaming women of the Napangardi and Napanangka sub-sections danced Yawulyu (sacred dances) and digging sticks rose up out of the ground. The focal point of many of the paintings is a rockhole sacred to women and an important dancing place and some of the paintigs depict the hair skirts worn by the dancing women. This is a really big Jukurrpa beginning in the east near the WA border and travelling south and west into Pitjantjara country in South Australia.

Both women are represented by Warlukurlangu Artists at Yuendumu, where they have been painting for a number of years. Judy Napangardi Watson's work has featured in numerous group exhibitions since 1990, both nationally and internationally, and she is referenced in a number of publications. Betsy Napangardi Lewis began painting in 1999, and has also shown in a number of group exhibitions, both in Australia and the USA. Their brilliantly detailed and richly coloured paintings are on exhibition at RAFT ARTSPACE in Parap. This is the first time the women have exhibited as a duo, and both artists will be in attendance at the opening at RAFT ARTSPACE on Friday June 20 at 6pm.