Burnt Wire Bush Turkey by Marcia Alice Panangka

Aboriginal men and women in central Australia carve animals from dry wood they find or tree roots they have dug up. They often use the roots of river gum or mulga. They use the shape of the wood to make models of animals. Some sculptures are plain, while others have patterns and symbols relating to their Aboriginal culture.

The Aboriginal artists make the sculptures beside the camp fire. They put a piece of fencing wire into the fire. When it is hot, they burn designs on the wood.

Artist:Marcia Alice Panangka
Title:Burnt Wire Bush Turkey
ID:MAO912146
Medium:Mulga Wood
Size:23 cm
Region:Titjikala, Central Australia

Artist

Marcia Alice Panangka was born in 1960 and was born at Ltyentye Apurte (Santa Teresa Community) in Central Australia. Her mother was an Anmatyerre/Alyawarra woman whose traditional country is around Ross River. Her father is an Arrente man from Amoonguna Community. Marcia has three brothers and a sister and grew up around Ross River Station where both of her parents worked. Marcia moved to Titjikala (formerly known as Maryvale) when she married and raised two sons in the community. It was here in 1977 when she first took her hand to painting.

Marcia previously worked with Keringke Arts at Santa Teresa Community where she produced silks and paintings. Her style was characterised by fine dotting and circular designs consistent with the Keringke style. Her traditional Dreamings include Pigeon, Yeperenye and Snake. Her Arwenge (personal Dreaming) is the Pigeon from Mt. Ooraminna. These Dreamings have been passed to her from her mother and father respectively.

Marcia has produced a wide range of wooden artefacts and sculptures for Central Art; this has included snakes, goannas, bush turkeys, music sticks and coolamons. These wooden artefacts are crafted from the roots of particular trees found growing around Titjikala. The wood is cut with an axe and left to the women to carve and decorate. The decorations traditionally were done using hot wire which is heated in a camp fire until red hot and then placed on the wooden object to burn in the patterns and designs. Today that has now included the use of paints as well.

Marcia has participated in several group exhibitions over the years, particularly in the Desert Mob Art Show based in Alice Springs but also in Adelaide, Canberra and Melbourne. She has had a solo exhibition in 2006 with Helen Marshall Gallery based in Canberra. In 2008 her artwork was selected to be depicted on a National Back of Australia ATM.

Marcia is a talented sculpture and crafts woman and Central Art looks forward to continuing to work with her in the future and sharing her beautiful woodwork on our website.

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