Wipana Jimmy

My Country | 94h x 95w | RK126

Not framed or stretched | Acrylic on primed linen

Wipana Minyintiri Jimmy (c.1931-2019) was born in the bush at Makiri rockhole in the Western Desert, west of Fregon. Her mother’s country is Watarru and her father’s place is Aparatjara. She grew up at the mission at Ernabella and remembers her school days fondly. She is the cousin of Jimmy Baker through his mother's side. She is the mother of established and recognised artists Anne Dixon Nangala, Beryl and Imatjala.

Later she moved to Fregon with her family, where she married and brought up her children. From Fregon, Wipana moved with her young family to Watarru, where she helped to establish Watarru as a permanent community.

Wipana's family moved to the church mission at Ernabella when she was about 8 years old and she continued living there during most of her formative years. It was at the Ernabella art centre that Wipana first became involved in art. She was taught basket weaving and batik. Eventually, Wipana moved to Fregon where she worked in the art centre until the mid 1980s. During that time she played a key role in teaching the younger folk, including her niece Kay Baker, batik, basket weaving and painting.

In 1985, at around the same time that her cousin led the move to Kanpi, Wipana was part of a group that moved to an area at the base of Mount Lindsay and established Watarru. She lived at Watarru, where she was an integral part of her community, including taking a leading role in the Watarru Land Management Program. Her role included taking children out and showing them bush tucker and natural, bush medicines.

Please Note: This Artist has passed away and out of respect for Aboriginal culture, we have removed any photos of this Artist holding her artworks from our website.