D.O.B: 1959 – 2019
LANGUAGE GROUP: Anmatyerre & Alyawarre
COMMUNITY: Utopia, NT
Katie Petyarre Morgan is an emerging Aboriginal artist living in Utopia. Her country is Karrajung and her language is Anmatyarre & Alyawarre. Katie has been painting on canvas since the 1980s and was involved in the batik projects of the 1970s. Her sister Janie Morgan is also an artist. Their father is Wallaby Kngwarreye Morgan & their mother was Lena Pwerle. They are close to
their aunt and stepmother, the artist Lizzie Pwerle and her family.
Katie’s Dreaming is the Bush Orange or Wild Orange. Katie paints intricate and varied dots across the canvas that represent the Bush Orange plant, its flowers and fruits, from an aerial perspective. These beautiful organic cosmic-like creations, demonstrate Katie’s spiritual connection with her culture and country. Katie also paints the Kangaroo Dreaming.
Bush Orange is also known in Alyawarre as Atwakee. Once abundant but now scarce due to over grazing, this species was a stable source of bush tucker for Aboriginals. The fragrant small fruit hangs on long stalks and is green when unripe turning yellow or reddish in maturity. The fruit has a tough outer skin allowing the fruit to remain unspoilt for lengthy periods of time.
The physical creation of this Dreaming is an important part of the bush tucker ceremonies conducted by the women of Utopia. Artworks such as Bush Orange Dreaming ensure the continuation of an ancient and rich cultural heritage while acknowledging the close bond still retained by the artist to her country.
