Storm Cloud Dreaming Large Aboriginal Art Silk Scarf

Handcrafted pure silk chiffon scarf featuring an authentic Dreamtime design by traditional Warlpiri Aboriginal artist, Christine Nakamarra Curtis.

• 100% pure 8 momme silk chiffon
• Hand rolled hem
• Digitally printed to capture the hand painted look and feel of the original artwork
• 67.5cm wide by 180cm long or 26 inches wide by 70 inches long
• Gift boxed and presented with information about the provenance of the original artwork and the Aboriginal artist’s story
• Authentic Aboriginal design is ethically acquired and reproduced under licence in accordance with the Indigenous Art Code.
• Royalties are paid to the artist to directly benefit her, her family and her community.

The original artwork for this magnificent design was created by Christine Nakamarra Curtis, a traditional Warlpiri artist from Yuendumu, a small Aboriginal community about 300 kilometres from Alice Springs.

Christine’s original painting depicts the rain-laden storm clouds gathering over the desert. The colours are exquisite. Deep stormy blues, turquoise, and purple hues make this lightweight and lustrous pure silk scarf an absolute must-have for the sophisticated woman who loves to keep a versatile fashion piece on hand that will effortlessly transition from the office to a special evening occasion.

Ngapa Jukurrpa – Wapurtali

This Ngapa Jukurrpa (Water Dreaming) comes from Wapurtali (Mt. Singleton) west of Yuendumu.

The custodians of this Jukurrpa are women and men of the Nakamarra/Napurrula and Jakamarra/Jupurrurla subsection.

A 'marlu' (kangaroo) was cooked at a place called Jalkirri. The smoke from the fire formed 'milpirri' (cumulonimbus clouds) and it began to rain. A giant storm formed and travelled from the south over Mikanji where it rained so hard it created a hole in the ground which became a soakage. At Mirrawarri, a bird picked up the storm and carried it on its wings to the west until it became too heavy for it and it had to drop it on the ground.

In Warlpiri paintings traditional iconography is used to represent the Jukurrpa, particular sites and other elements. Short dashes are often used to represent Mungkurdu (cumulus & stratocumulus clouds), and longer, flowing lines represent 'ngawarra' (flooded waters). Small circles are used to depict 'mulju' (water soakages) and river beds.

Artist details

CHRISTINE NAKAMARRA CURTIS
Christine was born into a family of artists and spent most of her childhood at a very remote outstation community called Nyirripi located in the desert country of Central Australia. Christine is one of seven sisters. Nyirripi is located about 150km south west of the Aboriginal community of Yuendumu. Yuendumu is the home of the internationally acclaimed Warlukurlangu Aboriginal Artists Corporation. Yuendumu lies around 300 km northwest of Alice Springs in the vast Tanami Desert region and has a population of about 800. The community is located within the traditional homelands of the Warlpiri Aboriginal people and includes numerous outstations.

Christine began painting with the Warlukurlangu Artists in 2007. Warlukurlangu supports Warlpiri artists to preserve their cultural heritage and to earn income from their work. Christine paints her grandparent’s Dreaming on her mother’s side. The Dreaming stories depicted by Christine relate directly to her land, its features and the plants and animals that inhabit it. These sacred stories have been passed down through many generations of her ancestors over thousands of years.

“I like the patterns and all those colours, and the stories. Watching family painting, they show you the Dreaming.”