SA Aboriginal Artists

IT seems that the majority of the artwork we see in this subject is from the more famous Kimberly Region (which undoubtedly produces excellent work). I am not debating the quality of the work. Not at all. My point is, how often do you see artwork from South Australia? Being a South Australian myself, I decided to persue some SA Aboriginal work. There happened to be an incredibly helpful volume in the library (see bibliography).

Roly Mintuma.

Born in Fergon. He is both Pitjanjara and Yankunytjatara. Mintuma and others from his community are self taught; "I knew nothing. we didn't know anything. We learnt by practising, lots of us were learning. They started paying us for it" (Pring,1998).

A classic example of hard work and preseverance paying off.

Reg Dodd.

Bubbler

Reg is from Marree where he took this photograph (incidentally it is 60km from my hometown but I have never seen this place). This photo has connections to the Dreamtime stories of the Arbana people. He was told the story when he was a child and often repeats it to others because the site is quite the tourist attraction; "It' has a Dreaming story of how it was created. One of the hunters dug out and caught a snake and pulled it out. Its the Snake dreaming" (p64 Pring 1998).

He photographs other signifigant sites and even had an exhibition at Tandanya. However, he only mentions this briefly and does not state which year this occured; "One photo in my exhibition at Tandanya was a sunset over Marree taken from the verandah of my house. It highlights the beauty of the area and some of the sunsets we get there. It's out the front door. It's a natural beauty we're part of" (p64 Pring 1998).

While this is quite an acheivement it sadly pales in comparison to the work of Everard Prayta from Ceduna. Everard was paralysed in a car accident. As a result he learnt to paint by holding the paintbrush in his mouth.

He took up painting when he was 30 after becoming a quadraplegic. Initially he was quite disheartened and un motivated. He had given up. Admitting himself that he was a "hard case" (p40 Pring 1998). A nurse at the hospital that where he permanantly resides suggested he try painting. He eventually gave in and was impressed by his results; "It took me a while to learn. I seem to be getting better all the time. I can see I'm improving all the time. It makes me feel good" (p40 Pring 1998).

His work demonstrates a force of will that is amazing. I would never be able to find the strength to be able to take up such a hobby after becoming a quadraplegic. Although, it appears to be quite fulfilling and it gives Prayta a reason to get out of bed in the morning; "I did sleep. I was fed up with myself and just laid there. Now I look forward until i get up and get stuck into painting" (p40 Pring 1998).

Prayta was even given a scholarship from the Foot and Mouth Painters Association in Sydney.

Reference
 Pring, A, Aboriginal Artists in South Australia, (Hyde Park Press pty Ltd,  South Australia, 1998).