Women’s corroboree at Laramba

Kitty Pultara-Naparula is the mother of Mary Pultara who painted Women’s corroboree to celebrate the summer rain, and grandmother of Lisa Pultara who painted Women’s corroboree.

Born on Napperby Station, she started painting in 1986. At the time of this painting she was 65 years of age. Mrs Helen McBride noted in 1990 that Kitty had ceased to paint due to failing eyesight.

Kitty Pultara was a meticulous painter who perfected her dot work to a very high standard. As a woman, she was limited to simple everyday stories about food and water gathering. However, she is also able to paint Dreamings that belong to her parents’ country. These are the Butterfly Dreaming, the Storm Dreaming and the Kangaroo Dreaming.

All Napperby artists are members of the Anmatyere tribe. Traditionally they used natural material for their paintings (charcoal, red and yellow ochre, and white powder from the ghost gum) and drew them in the sand.

This work was gifted by Mr and Mrs Clancy, the parents of Mrs Helen McBride, who was Principal of College from 1985 to 1990. During Mrs McBride’s time as College Principal, one of the projects she commenced with particular enthusiasm was the development of a collection of works by tribal Australian Aboriginal women. The three works by Kitty, Mary and Lisa represent three generations of the one family.