Delia – Papulankutja – Dancing Woman

Fabric: Feature fabric is printed in Australia on cotton canvas. Complementary fabric is handwoven black cotton.

H: 27cm (12.6 inch)
W: 24cm (9.5 inch)
Base: 6cm (2.4 inch)

Features

• Fully lined
• Zip closure
• Adjustable strap
• Can be worn on the shoulder or cross body
• Two front, external zipper pockets
• Internal zip pocket
• Two internal pockets
• Quality notions
• Limited edition – made in small batches in a disability workshop
• Design story tag provided
• Fabric printed in Melbourne by Next State

Our Delia bags are made by Women for Women, our partner foundation based in Cambodia. Women for Women prides itself in providing opportunities and skills that empower Cambodian women and girls to be leaders in their community. Each Delia Bag is handmade with love and care by the women of Women for Women, so please note that every bag is unique, and the placement of the fabric design is different on each item.

Featured Fabric Title: Kungka Inma (Woman Dancing)

Janet has painted a woman or kunga dancing at her campsite. The kunga has customary women’s markings painted on her breasts for performing ceremonial dances.

The campsite is identified by the fireplace (star in the middle) and wiltja – a traditional shade shelter made of branches. She is accompanied by her beloved dogs.

Janet is an accomplished artist with a fine sense of colour and composition. Her artworks are often intricately layered. She is also a weaver.

About the artist: Janet Nyunmitji Forbes

Janet was born a bush baby in the Warburton area. Her father, Nyunma came from Tawulbalyana and was a famous traditional owner for the region around Papulankutja. Her mother, Yuminiya was from Waltjatjarra country on the other side (south) of the Blackstone Ranges. After attending school at the Warburton mission (c1974/75) Janet moved to Norseman to attend high school where she met and married Craig Morrison.They have three children. The Forbes family decided to return to their country in the 1980’s settling in the new Papulankutja (Blackstone) which was founded by her father Fred Forbes. She had three siblings, only her sister Delma and herself remain.

Janet was a co-founder of the original Papulankutja Women’s Centre and recalls going to a meeting at Hamilton Downs in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara, Yankunyjatjara (APY) Lands to talk to government about money for the centre. In the early days she made batik cloth, just like the women at centres in  the APY Lands where it had started.

Janet learnt to make baskets from her older sister, Ruby Reid and was taught how to make punu (wooden artifacts) by her mother. Janet also makes sculptural forms from tjanpi (grass) with Tjanpi Desert Weavers. Janet started painting in 2003 at the newly established Papulankutja Artists originally based at the Women’s Centre. Her paintings often depict the nganur (Bush Turkey) story, the Papulankutja story of the two goanna men or the Kungkarrangkalpa (Seven Sisters).

She still lives in Blackstone with her husband Craig and surrounded by family. She lives just behind the art centre so is always coming in to paint her beautiful way, making all the other artists laugh by sharing stories as she works.

Papulankutja Artists and Flying Fox Fabrics

This Nancy Bag features fabric from the collaboration between Papulankutja Artist and Flying Fox Fabrics. This collaboration has produced a vibrant range of digitally printed fabrics which feature original artworks from Papulankutja artists. The artist of each artwork is paid royalties for every metre printed.

Papulankutja Artists is a community-based, not-for-profit Aboriginal Corporation governed by a committee of elected members. Papulankutja (Blackstone) is a community located within the Ngaanyatjarraku Shire Council, Western Australia and is approximately 800 km south west of Alice Springs, NT. The art centre supports local artists and those living in neighbouring community Mantamaru (Jameson), 70 km to the west.

Flying Fox Fabrics is a social enterprise based in Darwin. Flying Fox Fabrics specialises in ethically value-adding to fabric which is designed by First Nations people by making accessories, clothing, and homewares. Flying Fox Fabrics products are made in partnership with fair trade organisations in Cambodia that train and employ disables artisans. Their work is highly skilled and showcases the First Nations fabrics with great respect.