Tommy Mitchell (Dec)

Tommy Mitchell’s country is Ngaturn and Walu. He now lives in Warakurna with his family. He began to paint with Warakurna Artists in mid 2005 and has rapidly become one of its senior emerging artists. Tommy’s paintings depict tjukurrpa (dreaming) from his father’s and mother’s country. His paintings are about the stories he was told from childhood. Tommy often speaks about his experiences of travelling around tali country (sandhills) with his family, ‘We lived in the bush, there was no hospital and no clothes and we were naked and it was cold. I hunted marlu, rabbit, tirnka (small goanna) and pussycat, it was good meat. We also collected tjarnmarta (bush onions), maku (bardi grubs) and kampurarrpa (bush raisins)’. When Tommy was small he went for a holiday and visited his cousin Peter Lewis. Both men now live in Warakurna with their families and both paint for Warakurna Artists. Tommy Mitchell is a senior law man, participating in traditional ceremony and is instrumental in passing on his tjukurrpa to his family. Tommy began painting in 2005. Tommy is also a well known carver, making many traditional weapons still used in ceremony. He has also participated in projects such as Tjukurl, a tradtional dance and song project performed in the 2007 Perth International Arts Festival. Warakurna is a remote community situated in the Ngaanyatjarra lands on the Great Central Road, Western Australia, near the Northern Territory border, approximately 330km from Uluru. The township of approximately 180 people is located next to the Giles meteorological weather station, and nestled amongst the spectacular Rawlinson Ranges. Warakurna has a long history of artistic expression and early in 2004 the community was assisted by Ngaanyatjarra Regional Arts to develop its own art centre. After many months of planning and hard work, Warakurna Artists Aboriginal Corporation was established. In March 2005, it was opened amid much enthusiasm and excitement. The art centre is the newest such development in the Ngaanyatjarra region and is fully owned and governed by Aboriginal people. It also represents artists from the nearby communities, of Tjukurla and Wanarn. Warakurna Artists is an energetic, creative and happy place, where men and women, young and old, paint and share tjukurrpa (dreaming stories) and contemporary tales. The paintings are vibrant and diverse, reflecting each artist’s unique style, stories and connection to country. Passing on these important stories to young people is a critical means of keeping culture strong and vital. Warakurna Artists facilitates the production and sale of the artists’ art and craft. All paintings are catalogued, with each record containing a photograph of the work, the story it conveys and associated information about the artist. The paintings are available for sale through reputable galleries.