Sunday, July 28, 2013

UTOPIA

Bush Medicine, Jeannie Petyarre, Utopia Central Australia, Acrylic on Canvas.
This is my new painting, bought at Kuranda on our recent trip.
By Australian Indigenous artist Jeannie Petyarre, it is not art from North Queensland, but art of the Central Desert...

Jeannie lives at Utopia, located about 300kms north-east of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory of Australia.
Her works have been exhibited in many group exhibitions, and are held in many collections, including the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra.
She is a highly respected artist within her community, promoting her culture, country, seasons and ceremonies via her paintings.  

 Jeannie's Aunt is the late, very famous Emily Kame Kngwarreye, my absolute favourite of Australia's indigenous artists.
(I could never afford one of her paintings!!)

The women of Utopia paint in contemporary acrylics, abstract works which reference the fruits, flowers, and colours of the desert.
Born in 1950, Jeannie began painting in 1988 when a group of women in the area began producing Batik work in desert designs on silk and cotton.
Encouraged by her aunt, she moved on to modern acrylics, painting the traditional stories of her family which refer to Bush Medicine, Yams and Wildflowers.

 The Central Desert art movement is a contemporary descendant of the ancient forms of indigenous art, sand-painting on the desert floor, and body art practice.

 Can't wait to have my new painting mounted, and up on the wall in the Cardinal nest...

and while in Kuranda, we went to the Butterfly House.
This is moi, festooned in butterfies, encouraging them by wearing my new top from Ottawa...

Well, that was a first, I've never had butterflies perch on me before..






Hope your week flutters along nicely.

 We are off on another little jaunt, very soon...

 XXXX


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25 comments:

  1. RosemaryJuly 28, 2013 at 2:39 AM

    Dear Patricia - I just adore your painting - when I first saw it in the small it reminded me of a paisley design, but when I clicked and saw it in the large, of course it isn't anything like paisley. I wonder how you will have it frame? Our garden is full of butterflies at the moment, the heat seems to have hatched them all out.
    Happy jaunting when you next fly or flutter from the Cardinal's nest.

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  2. PatriciaJuly 28, 2013 at 3:10 AM

    Rosemary, I'm so glad you like the painting - your are the first to admire it! I love it of course, and the work seems to shimmer when viewed up on a wall, capturing some of the effect of the red desert. Enjoy your butterflies!

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  3. valerietilsten59.blogspot.comJuly 28, 2013 at 6:05 AM

    Hello Patricia,
    I love your painting. Once framed and on the wall, it will be a super topic for conversation. The Aborigines do some great work.
    What about that,! The butterflies were drawn to your lovely butterfly blouse.
    I dont know what has happened here.. but for the last two years , we have less and less butterflies. I used to get quite a few.
    Happy travels to your next destination.
    look forward to hearing all about it.
    val x x

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    1. PatriciaJuly 30, 2013 at 2:55 AM

      Hello Val, glad you like my painting, I have wanted one of the central desert paintings for many years, and this one seemed to be just right for me!
      Maybe those butterflies are trained - it was strange how they landed on people, and they seemed to like light colours. xx

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    2. The Silver BunnyAugust 1, 2013 at 1:45 AM

      It is the same in France, our butterflies are disappearing too and the authorities are getting worried. One flew into my room at the beach the other day and I was amazed by it. There were so many of them in the summer when I was growing up !

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  4. kristieinbcJuly 28, 2013 at 6:37 AM

    What a wonderful and interesting painting! It is the first time I have had a glimpse of Australian Indigenous artwork. It is very different than the Canadian West Coast Native American artwork, but that isn't surprising given the difference in the surroundings.

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    1. PatriciaJuly 30, 2013 at 2:58 AM

      Yes, Kristie, it is indeed different - I have seen a little of the Weest Coast American art, and it has its own power and special qualities. I am also a big fan of Emily Carr. The indigenous Australian art from other parts of the country is quite different too. There is a lot of variety, and it is constantly developing in the contemporary market.

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  5. DarlaJuly 28, 2013 at 5:29 PM

    What an amazing piece of art. I enlarged the photo so I could get a really good look. I like the fact that it is painted on a black base. It has so much movement and yet the small individual elements that make up the work are so like one another.

    Going to go look again.

    Darla

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    1. PatriciaJuly 30, 2013 at 3:00 AM

      Glad you like it Darla, and yes the black base does make quite a difference to these works. The small elements are essentially what they look like - leaves or petals - but the overall effect is something else, which I think has the quality of the changing colours and shimmer of the desert.

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  6. metteJuly 28, 2013 at 9:22 PM

    I too am at awe seeing your new painting. It is so " different ".
    Please show it again once you have had it framed ( a very challenging job )!

    Your butterfly top is ever so cute ( liking butterflies myself too ).
    A few years ago, my older daughter took part in an international conference in her field of science at Alice Springs.
    She told me that the place is in the middle of nowhere, but yet her stay over in Australia was very satisfying; she got to see a whole new different world!

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    1. PatriciaJuly 30, 2013 at 3:02 AM

      Yes Mette I will show it again when it is up on the wall. I am considering which framer I will take it to. I am so interested that you daughter has been to Alice Springs - I have never been there! Apparently it is indeed something of another world and I hope to go some time in the future.

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  7. Fifi July 29, 2013 at 6:00 PM

    Patricia, I love your new painting. Aboriginal art is one of my favourite genres especially pointillism - however I am yet to acquire a piece. Bush Medicine is such a fitting name for the piece and I am sure it will be a lovely reminder of your holiday xxx

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    1. PatriciaJuly 30, 2013 at 3:04 AM

      Hi Fifi, glad you like it, and I hope you acquire a piece you love some day. I have been in awe of the colourful pointillism of Emily K for years, but noone else comes close to her vision, imo! Bush Medicine is a good name, I agree, and should look great on the wall - asap. xxx

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  8. sandaJuly 30, 2013 at 4:44 PM

    Hi Patricia,
    I am a bit behind in reading blogs, and am seeing that most interesting piece of art you acquired. Such nice flow, movement and colors. Butterfly houses are such fun. Gorgeous little creatures (or should I say insect?)

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    1. PatriciaJuly 30, 2013 at 7:44 PM

      Thank you Sanda,I think the painting and I will be very happy together. It was my first experience in a Butterfly house - and I really liked it!

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  9. Jenny WoolfJuly 31, 2013 at 12:55 AM

    Fabulous butterflies. I like the way that the art really does reflect the colour and dryness of the desert. Gives a little insight into what it is like to have your roots there.

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    1. PatriciaJuly 31, 2013 at 2:43 AM

      I love those big bright butterflies!
      To produce that art, I think it has to come from someone who has a deep connection to the area. Hopefully the art will endure despite the intrusion of the commercial world!

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  10. Jenny WoolfJuly 31, 2013 at 12:56 AM

    ...but I always feel a bit sad to see butterflies mounted.

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    1. PatriciaJuly 31, 2013 at 2:45 AM

      I too - I rather hoped those displays were quite old, when it was the done thing.

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  11. The Silver BunnyAugust 1, 2013 at 1:41 AM

    That painting is extremely beautiful; it exudes a sort of calm energy. You are really going to enjoy it !xx

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    1. PatriciaAugust 1, 2013 at 4:01 AM

      I am excited about my new painting, and it is off to the framers on Saturday. Hope they are kind to it! xx

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  12. Rustic Vintage CountryAugust 2, 2013 at 1:29 AM

    I do so much like your painting and it'll look spectacular when mounted. x

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  13. PatriciaAugust 2, 2013 at 3:45 AM

    Glad you like it Suzy, I can't wait to get it up on the wall.x

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  14. KathyAugust 6, 2013 at 1:44 PM

    I love the intricacy and vibrant colours of your new painting, Patricia. You must post a picture of it when it's framed and in situ. As for the butterflies - wow!

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  15. PatriciaAugust 7, 2013 at 2:46 AM

    Glad you like the painting Perpetua - I am still trying to decide where to take it for framing. I suppose the brilliant butterflies indicate how nature here is very vibrant in hue!

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