Purkitji by Marie Mudgedell Nakamarra
Purkitji by Marie Mudgedell Nakamarra
Marie Mudgedell Nakamarra
30 x 43cm
Glass
Signed Marie Mudgedell
636/04
Marie has depicted some country north of Balgo and near Purkitji (Sturt Creek). This glass piece tells the story of people collecting kirrang (bush honey) from the hollows of tree trunks. Once a suitable tree is found the trunk is chopped open to allow the honey to pour out.
Balgo art is known for its vibrant colour and bold compositions, and these qualities have transferred effectively to the medium of glass. Warlayirti Artist Balgo is the first Indigenous art centre to work in fused coloured glass. For the artists working with the coloured glass, frit and rod, is like creating glass ‘paintings’.
These works show their skills as artists as they effortlessly move into the medium of glass and create works of exceptional quality. Each glass work is catalogued, has its unique catalogued number and the artist’s name engraved on the underside.
Selected glass works have been successfully exhibited at the Fremantle Art Centre, Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne, Framed Gallery, Darwin, Galerie DAD, France.
Marie was born at Sturt Creek Station and later moved to Ruby Plains with her family. Her mother, Mati (Bridget) Mudgedell’s country was near Yagga Yagga, Ngarti people’s country. Her father was from Sturt Creek, a place called Killi Killi. Marie left her family to attend the school at Old Balgo Mission. Marie comes from a large painting family, her brother Brian and sister Patsy are also accomplished painters.
It was at Balgo that Marie started painting her Tjukurrpa (creation stories and lore) and the Country around Purkitji.
Marie has been involved with the local school’s Wakala Language Centre producing Tjukurrpa stories for the children in traditional language. A strong law woman, Marie takes the young girls through ceremony; is a respected storyteller and is knowledgeable about bush medicines. Marie paints Yawulyu – an annual women’s ceremony and gathering which is a creation story from a long time ago. It is a special women’s ceremony where many women come together from all different tribes and language groups to share their songs and dance. Marie also paints about the traditional birthing process, and the rituals and joy surrounding new life.
Marie is a highly talented linguist in both Ngardi and Kukatja languages. Marie is one of the last speakers of Ngarti, she and her husband are working on a Ngardi dictionary to ensure the language is not forgotten.