INDIGENOUS DESIGN
ALPERSTEIN DESIGNS | Ruth Napaljarri Stewart Tea Towel
Regular price $21.95The purpose of the tea towel is not as it once was. Not just a gift for your great aunty overseas to sit in the third draw down, these amazing designs from esteemed Aboriginal artist such as Ruth Stewart deserve pride of place in our own lives, whether it's as wall art hanging as a focal centrepiece on your living room wall, used as a thoughtful and sustainable gift wrapping alternative, or to dry and shine up your delicate teacups or wine glasses.
Made in Australia
Dimensions: 45cm x 75cm (approx)
Ruth Napaljarri Stewart paints many different themes and stories that were passed down to her by her father. Ruth is the younger sister of the successful artist Paddy Japaljarri Stewart, a senior elder at Yuendumu. Her traditional country is in the Mount Allen region of the Northern Territory.
More about the artist:
Ruth has painted with Warlukurlangu Artists since the 1980's, an Aboriginal owned and governed art centre located in Yuendumu. Her native language is Warlpiri. Her work has been exhibited far and wide and hold a permanent spot on the wall as at the Musée du quai Branly, Paris, France
ALPERSTEIN DESIGNS | Betty Pula Morton Tea Towel
Regular price $21.95As the textiles renaissance takes place, the role of the tea towel begins to shift. Not just a gift for your great aunty overseas, these amazing designs from esteemed Aboriginal artist deserves pride of place in our own lives, whether wall art hanging as a focal centrepiece on your living room wall, used as a thoughtful and sustainable gift wrapping alternative, or to dry and shine up your delicate teacups or wine glasses.
Betty has been painting with Artists of Ampilatwatja since 2013. She draws her inspiration from the country where she goes hunting or looking for bush yams and bush bananas, “sometimes I just like to go out there to see country”.
Made in Australia
Dimensions: 45cm x 75cm (approx)
The Artists of Ampilatwatja community was established in 1999 near Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. The work produced by the artists is recognisably distinct from other Aboriginal artistic communities, due to the application of fine dots and the often bright, figurative depiction of the land.
ALPERSTEIN DESIGNS | Alana Ngwarraye Holmes Tea Towel
Regular price $21.95“This is my country. I paint because I enjoy painting. My Mother, Edie Holmes let us paint with her when we were young and now we paint all the time. We still paint and talk together in a family group with our kids.” – Alana Holmes
As the textiles renaissance takes place, the role of the tea towel begins to shift. Not just a gift for your great aunty overseas, these amazing designs from esteemed Aboriginal artist deserves pride of place in our own lives, whether it's hanging as a focal centrepiece on your living room wall, used as a thoughtful and sustainable gift wrapping alternative, or to dry and shine up your delicate teacups or wine glasses.
Made in Australia
Dimensions: 45cm x 75cm (approx)
The community of Ampilatwatja made a conscious decision not to paint altyerr dreaming stories. The artists paint their country where those stories sit.
Alana has painted her country after rain where the ground may seem dry but the flowers and trees are green and growing strong.
Alana's mother Edie Holmes is a well known artist of Ampilatwatja, who taught Alana how to paint when she was a young child.
Like many mums, Alana is extremely busy with four children to look after and though she loves to paint she does not get the time to paint like she used to.
Based on the artwork by Alana Holmes.
Includes information about the artist and artwork.
ALPERSTEIN DESIGNS | Judy Napangardi Watson Tea Towel
Regular price $21.95‘I listen and hear those words a hundred years away
That is my Grandmother’s Mother’s Country
it seeps down through blood and memory and soaks
into the ground’
Judy Watson
As the textiles renaissance takes place, the role of the tea towel begins to shift. Not just a gift for your great aunty overseas, these amazing designs from esteemed Aboriginal artist deserves pride of place in our own lives, whether it's hanging as a focal centrepiece on your living room wall, used as a sustainable gift wrapping alternative or to dry and shine up your delicate tea cups or wine glasses.
Judy Napangardi Watson was born at Yarungkanji, Mt. Doreen Station, at the time when many Warlpiri & other Central & Western Desert Peoples were living a traditional nomadic life. Judy was taught painting by her elder sister, Maggie Napangardi Watson. She painted alongside her at Warlukurlangu artists for a number of years, developing her own unique style.
Judy is at the forefront of a move towards more abstract rendering of Jukurrpa, or The Dreaming, by Warlpiri artists, however her work retains strong kurruwarri, the details which tell of the sacredness of place and song in her culture. Judy Napangardi Watson has been exhibiting artwork since 1990 throughout Australia & around the world. Her works are featured in several major collections.
Made in Australia
Dimensions: 45cm x 75cm (approx)
Established in 1985, Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation is a not-for-profit organisation that is 100% Aboriginal-owned by its artists from the remote desert communities of Yuendumu and Nyirripi in Central Australia.
Artwork/placement varies between tea towel. Each is unique and may differ slightly from image shown.
More about the artist:
It was this design that I saw hanging from a small gift store in the Northern New South Wales town of Brunswick Heads. It appealed to me so much and led me to Alperstein Designs and their collaboration with indigenous artists, something I had been searching for. Judy's work is eye-catching, the colours and shapes mesmerising,
Judy Watson has described her experiences of travelling to her great-grandmother’s country in north-west Queensland, as ‘learning from the ground up’. It is a philosophy she has transplanted on her several journeys and residencies abroad. A distinguished artist, Judy represented Australia at the 1997 Venice Biennale,
Watson’s matrilineal link to the country of her ancestors has always been central to her printmaking and painting. The hidden histories of Indigenous experience on the colonial frontier – particularly those of women – continue to inspire her. Watson seeks the indelible impressions of past presence on the landscape – rubbings, engravings and incisions – and subtly inscribes them upon her work.
Through her art, Watson repatriates the human artefacts and objects of collected cultures in museum storehouses, and reveals the ‘skeletons’ in colonial ‘closets’:
This magnificent artist interview by the Tate Gallery gives us an insight into Judy's work and inspiration. Along with her pieces, Judy's journey into understanding her grandmother's and great grandmother's stories, also helps us to confront Aboriginal history in this country. Watch out for Judy's mum Joyce. She's a national treasure!
ALPERSTEIN DESIGNS | Nora Davidson Tote Bag
Regular price $32.95Here at Fora, we celebrate nature and the myriad of colours it embues.
Nora Davidson's artwork is proudly colourful and bold. Using this lightweight and well-sixed tote bag will have you mesmerised by the shimmering planes of colour, rich hues, light effects and her delicate dotwork.
Nora's works are inspired by the stories of her country which were passed down to her by elders in her community. Most of Nora's body of work explores and reflects her love of the themes of her country, Illurrpa, her ancestor's way of life and her own traditional bush upbringing.
Through Nora's skill, technique and deep understanding of the medium she allows the us profound insight into her family's heritage as well as an education and knowledge of the land.
Nora Davidson was born in 1955 in Multju near the community of Jameson where her family are the custodians of the story for the area of Illurrpa. Nora was brought up in a traditional bush life and is a proud speaker of Ngaanyatjarra language.
She currently lives with her family in the Papulankutja Community (Blackstone), a remote Aboriginal Community, located at the foothills of the Blackstone Ranges in the Ngaanyatjarra Lands, Western Australia.
Papulankutja Artists evolved out of the Women’s Centre where painting has been encouraged as an activity since 2001. Once registered as an Aboriginal Corporation in 2004 the artists were now able to govern their art centre independently.
In 2009 Papulankutja Artists moved into a purpose built art centre with rooms for men and women to paint. As well as their paintings Papulankutja Artists are known for their innovative fibre work and carvings from local wood.
Cotton Tote Bag
All over Print.
Print placement will vary between bags and from image shown.
Made in Australia
Dimensions (Approx):
Bag: 40cm x 40cm.
Base Gusset: 16cm
Handles: 60cm
Based on artwork by Nora Davidson from Papulankutja Artists located at Blackstone, Western Australia.
Includes information about the artist and artwork.
ALPERSTEIN DESIGNS | Alana Ngwarraye Holmes Tote Bag
Regular price $32.95
“This is my country. I paint because I enjoy painting. My Mother, Edie Holmes let us paint with her when we were young and now we paint all the time. We still paint and talk together in a family group with our kids.” – Alana Holmes
Imagine carrying this beautiful tote bag and sparking inspiration and conversation everywhere you guy. You can't but love this design based on the amazing painting of Alana Holmes with its story and connection to country.
The community of Ampilatwatja made a conscious decision not to paint altyerr dreaming stories. The artists paint their country where those stories sit.
Alana has painted her country after rain where the ground may seem dry but the flowers and trees are green and growing strong.
Alana's mother Edie Holmes is a well known artist of Ampilatwatja, who taught Alana how to paint when she was a young child.
Like many mums, Alana is extremely busy with four children to look after and though she loves to paint she does not get the time to paint like she used to.
Cotton Tote Bag
All over Print.
Print placement will vary between bags and from image shown.
Made in Australia
Dimensions (Approx):
Bag: 40cm x 40cm.
Base Gusset: 16cm
Handles: 60cm
Based on the artwork by Alana Holmes.
Includes information about the artist and artwork.
ALPERSTEIN DESIGNS | Charlene Marshall Visor
Regular price $24.95In Australia, many of us need protection from glare and UV rays most of the year. Why not bring art into your everyday wearing your very own adjustable visor featuring incredible artwork by Charlene Marshall from Warlukurlangu Artists, reproduced under license.
Charlene Napanangka Marshall was born in Alice Springs and grew up in the remote community of Nyirripi.
Charlene grew up watching her aunt Eunice Napangardi, a well-known and very important artist, paint Yuparli (bush banana) dreamings.
Charlene has been inspired to paint and carry on the tradition within her family. “My kids like my paintings, they like the colours”. Charlene paints Wanakiji Jukurrpa (Bush Tomato Dreaming), Yuparli Dreaming (Bush Banana Dreaming), and Karnta Jukurrpa (Women’s Dreaming).
Royalties from this product directly benefit the artist and their community.
- Adjustable Snapback closure
- Pre Curved peak
- 100% Acrylic
Each visor is unique. This variation occurs because it depends on where the pattern has been cut on the fabric.
Established in 1985 Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation is a not-for-profit organisation that is 100% Aboriginal-owned by its artists from the remote desert communities of Yuendumu and Nyirripi in Central Australia.
ALPERSTEIN DESIGNS | Judy Watson Drawstring Bag
Regular price $25.95‘I listen and hear those words a hundred years away
That is my Grandmother’s Mother’s Country
it seeps down through blood and memory and soaks
into the ground’
Judy Watson
Established in 1985, Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation is a not-for-profit organisation that is 100% Aboriginal-owned by its artists from the remote desert communities of Yuendumu and Nyirripi in Central Australia.
Made in Australia, this 100% cotton drawsting bag features the incredible artwork by Judy Watson reproduced under license from Warlukurlangu Artists in the Northern Territory.
A lightweight bag for when you're walking the dog, doing a local bread and milk run up at the shops, or just because you love Judy's amazing colours and design.
Artwork/placement varies between bag so each design is unique and may vary from image shown.
More about the artist:
It was this design that I saw hanging from a small gift store in the Northern New South Wales town of Brunswick Heads. It appealed to me so much and led me to Alperstein Designs and their collaboration with indigenous artists, something I had been searching for. Judy's work is eye-catching, the colours and shapes mesmerising,
Judy Watson has described her experiences of travelling to her great-grandmother’s country in north-west Queensland, as ‘learning from the ground up’. It is a philosophy she has transplanted on her several journeys and residencies abroad. A distinguished artist, Judy represented Australia at the 1997 Venice Biennale,
Watson’s matrilineal link to the country of her ancestors has always been central to her printmaking and painting. The hidden histories of Indigenous experience on the colonial frontier – particularly those of women – continue to inspire her. Watson seeks the indelible impressions of past presence on the landscape – rubbings, engravings and incisions – and subtly inscribes them upon her work.
Through her art, Watson repatriates the human artefacts and objects of collected cultures in museum storehouses, and reveals the ‘skeletons’ in colonial ‘closets’:
This magnificent artist interview by the Tate Gallery gives us an insight into Judy's work and inspiration. Along with her pieces, Judy's journey into understanding her grandmother's and great grandmother's stories, also helps us to confront Aboriginal history in this country. Watch out for Judy's mum Joyce. She's a national treasure!
