Mary Nabraula and Allan James
Mary began to learn painting at an early age, initially from her mother and aunties. She first learned her own Dreaming stories from her parents and relatives, then began painting traditional, iconic representations of her Country and Dreaming stories.
Mary’s father, Jack Yaula Jagamara Long, was also a well known artist. Her mother, Ruby Wana Nalyiri was an artist too, and taught her from a young age.
She was invited to join the painting group at Willowra Art Centre, where she further developed her skills, and was included in several group exhibitions. She progressed steadily over several years and became a solo artist, gradually selling and exhibiting her works locally in Alice Springs. Since that time she has been selling to local galleries and collectors within Australia and overseas.
Her main Dreaming story is the Damper Seed Dreaming, which she depicts in various forms and stages, usually expressing seasonal imagery including damper seeds, damper seed bush, leaves and flowers.
She has also painted Bush Berries Dreaming and Frog Dreaming. The latter is her auntie’s dreaming story, and she has encouraged Mary to depict these delightful images of tiny desert frogs (although Mary refers to her aunt to tell the Frog Dreaming stories herself).
Allan originates from the Torres Strait Islands. He grew up with his uncle, Ronnie Cooper, in the “top end”, Northern Territory, around Katherine and Darwin. His uncle showed him his Country in NW Arnhem Land, where he also met extended family and relatives from his uncle’s clan. (Muran) He became interested in this country, and learned to paint his images of that country, watching the old people paint, and being taught by them.
This is a combination of Mary’s Damper Seed Dreaming, (in a seasonal context,(growth from the roots) using some of Allan’s iconography, depicting water and irrigation.
Title: This is Damper Seed Dreaming (acrylic on canvas)
Artist: Mary Nabraula and Allan James
Price (AU):
$450.00
Last Updated: Thursday, 16 May 2024 02:22
Mary began to learn painting at an early age, initially from her mother and aunties. She first learned her own Dreaming stories from her parents and relatives, then began painting traditional, iconic representations of her Country and Dreaming stories.
Mary’s father, Jack Yaula Jagamara Long, was also a well known artist. Her mother, Ruby Wana Nalyiri was an artist too, and taught her from a young age.
She was invited to join the painting group at Willowra Art Centre, where she further developed her skills, and was included in several group exhibitions. She progressed steadily over several years and became a solo artist, gradually selling and exhibiting her works locally in Alice Springs. Since that time she has been selling to local galleries and collectors within Australia and overseas.
Her main Dreaming story is the Damper Seed Dreaming, which she depicts in various forms and stages, usually expressing seasonal imagery including damper seeds, damper seed bush, leaves and flowers.
She has also painted Bush Berries Dreaming and Frog Dreaming. The latter is her auntie’s dreaming story, and she has encouraged Mary to depict these delightful images of tiny desert frogs (although Mary refers to her aunt to tell the Frog Dreaming stories herself).
Allan originates from the Torres Strait Islands. He grew up with his uncle, Ronnie Cooper, in the “top end”, Northern Territory, around Katherine and Darwin. His uncle showed him his Country in NW Arnhem Land, where he also met extended family and relatives from his uncle’s clan. (Muran) He became interested in this country, and learned to paint his images of that country, watching the old people paint, and being taught by them.
This is a combination of Mary’s Damper Seed Dreaming, (in a seasonal context,(growth from the roots) using some of Allan’s iconography, depicting water and irrigation.
