Bush Plum Dreaming | 100h x 50w | RK507
Not stretched or framed | Acrylic on primed linen
Gracie Morton Pwerle (c.1956-2024) was a senior Alyawarr artist from Utopia in Central Australia, NT. She is the daughter of Myrtle Petyarre who was the sister of famous artists Gloria and Kathleen Petyarre. There was a rich artistic tradition that ran through Gracie’s family, as well as the Utopia community, not only were her Aunties world famous Artists but her sisters, Mary, Rita and Elizabeth, are also artists as well.
Gracie's career began in the 1970's with the Utopia Women's Batik Group and on canvas in the late 1980's during the “A Summer Project”, where acrylic paints and canvas were introduced to the women of Utopia.
Gracie was a senior traditional custodian of the Arnwekety (Bush Plum) Dreaming, and in accordance with traditional law she is responsible for ensuring the Dreaming, customs and traditions associated with the Bush Plum are upheld and passed down to others. This responsibility was passed down to Gracie from her father and aunt. The Bush Plum is a highly nutritious small fruit with black seeds, rich in vitamin C, that can be eaten raw or cooked. Growing in a great profusion of flower and fruit throughout the winter months, the women, accompanied by the children, collect the Bush Plums, while at the same time reconfirming their connection to the land. The flourish of colour that distinguishes the Bush Plum after the fall of rain, is quickly transformed with the long hot summer months. Dried and separated, the seed and husk are scattered over the vast sun baked landscape by the hot summer wind.
Her primary subject in her artwork is Arnwekety (Bush Plum) dreaming and through her artwork she depicts the changing seasonal influences on the plant. Gracie's delicate dotting and colour variation used an aerial perspective to portray the seasonal changes of the Bush Plum, a plant of great significance to the women of Gracie's traditional country, Mosquito Bore. Her style of painting was somewhat minimalist and she used a very delicate dotting technique and traditional colours.
Gracie’s works have been represented in galleries and private collections throughout Australia and around the world.
