Vibrant new paintings and ceramics by 14 artists of Ernabella Arts in the APY Lands (north western south Australia) feature in the exhibition Minyma Ku Tjukurpa (Women’s Lore) at Everywhen Art in November.

Known for its high-quality, innovative paintings and ceramics, Ernabella Arts is Australia’s longest continually running art centre having been established as an art and craft room in 1948. At least three generations of artists have learned from their elders in this room, sharing their stories in art with an ever-evolving individuality.

Senior artist Carlene Thompson depicts, in both ceramics and paintings, her famous quirky Mamu (creatures) and Kalaya Tjukurpa (Emu Dreaming). Another senior painter, Atipalku Intjalki confidently lays down the designs of her father’s country and educator Katrina Tjitayi’s canvases resonate with layers of brilliant colour.

Younger generation artist Lynette Lewis’s detailed paintings shimmer in fine line, while her sister Michelle Lewis’s sweeping lines of luminous colour depict her father’s ‘quiet’ (empty) country as she simultaneously traces the underlying paths of tjala (honey ants). The play of light on water flowing over the salt pans of Mt Connor, an important site for the Seven Sisters creation story, is the subject of Janice Stanley’s luminous works, while Tjulyata Kulyuru’s fine-lined rhythmic canvases depict the all-important waterholes of her country.

A selection of striking hand built ceramics by five leading ceramists also feature in the display.

Join us for the opening on Saturday November 16 from 2 pm with refreshments and a Curator’s Floor Talk by Everywhen’s curators Susan McCulloch OAM and Emily McCulloch Childs – both of whom have had long and close associations with Ernabella Arts since the 1960s. Most recent was a visit to Ernabella Arts in August to select works for this show.