Aboriginal Fine Art

Aboriginal Fine Arts Gallery

Janet Long Nakamarra

Spent many years as resident artist at
Aboriginal Fine Arts Gallery, Darwin NT.

Janet Long Nakamarra

Born: 1960
Region: Tanami Desert
Community Centre: Willowra
Country: Wantapari
Language Bloc: Ngarrkic
Language: Warlpiri
Medium/ Form: Acrylic paint on canvas or linen

Subjects and Themes:
Women's bush tucker, Fire, Love story, Body paint design.

Collections:
Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Australian Embassy, New York
Berndt Museum of Anthropology, University of Western Australia.

Exhibitions:
Individual Exhibitions:
1999, a one-person exhibition, Sydney's Chifley Square.
2002, TOAAC Gallery, Brisbane, QLD, Solo exhibition.
2005, Ngapa Dreaming - Water, Cooee Art, Sydney.

Group Exhibitions:
1998, Parker Gallery, Sydney
1998, "Out Of Australia" Exhibition, Lui Hai-Su National Art Museum, Shanghai, China.
1998, Aboriginal Art Galleries, Melbourne
1998, Aboriginal Desert Art Gallery, Alice Springs
1999, Jinta Desert Art Gallery, Sydney
1999, United Nations, New York, USA
2001, Landesmuseum fur Natur und Mensch, Oldenburg - Nacht derMuseen,-Brit's Art &
Promotion Quellenhof-Dorint Hotel, Aachen - EU-Australia Coal Conference -
Brit's Art & Promotion,
2002, Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum, Koln - Brit's Art & Promotion "Jinta Jungu" ,
Museum fur Naturkunde, Zentralinstitut der Humbold-Universitat zu Berlin,
Berlin - Brit's Art & Promotion, Leere & Vision, Herford - Brit's Art &
Promotion art - communication, Vodafone, Ratingen,

Select Bibliography:
Johnson, V., 1994, The Dictionary of Western Desert Artists, Craftsman House,
East Roseville, New South Wales. (C)

Women's Walpiri Voices, Aboriginal Development Institute Alice Springs,

Birnberg & Kreczmanski, Aboriginal Artists dictionary of biographies, JB Publishing, (C).

Maryanne Hollow, 1999, Indigenous Art of the Dreamtime. United Nations Exhibition catalogue.

� Discovery Media, Documentation Pty Ltd, and the Australian
Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies

Janet with her daughters, Narrelle and Katrina

Notes:
Born at Anningie Station, north-west of Alice-Springs NT. In 1975 1 left
school and got a job as a Literacy work producing books in my Language
Warlpiri. 1 worked at the School for 13 years. In 1990 1 did a course through
Batchelor College in the N'I' where I graduated and received a certificate
for grade I teaching, then in 1992, I did grade 2 teaching in the classroom
achieving to be come a teacher Linguist.

During my working experience I was working with my elders doing a book
about their life, which we called Warlpiri Women's Voices, there were 2
other ladies working on the book. It took us 6 weeks to finish, transcribing
from the tapes and translating into both Language Warlpiri and English.
When the book was finish myself and the other 2 ladies went to Sydney to
launch the book.

In 1989, 1 started to paint my stories and dreamings, I sat with my mother
and my 2 aunties, they showed me how to paint my dreamings and stories.
I was also working as a interpreter for the elders for land claims.
In 1990, 1 was appointed as a councellor for Batchelor College helping
remote students for their abstudy and helping trainee Literacy workers
in the Literature production centre with their annual reports.

In 1999 1 had my solo exhibtion in Sydney, Chifley Plaza. I have also
painted a cello with Malcolm Jagamarra, (my brother) for the Melbourne
International Chamber Music Competition Inc. I went to New York to exhibit
my paintings which was good experience for my future.

Over the last 5 years I have worked extensively with both the Department of
Health and the Law Courts as an interpreter as I speak a number of languages.
I am currently studying law in NSW.