Mimili Maku Arts facts for kids

Mimili Maku Arts, also known as Mimili Maku, is an art centre run by Aboriginal people. It is located in the remote community of Mimili in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands in north-west South Australia.

The centre's name comes from the Maku (witchetty grub) Dreaming story. This is an important story for the area. It is a main theme in many paintings by senior Mimili Maku artists. However, the artists also create many different kinds of art. Their work shows a wide range of stories and styles.

Mimili Maku includes everyone from the Mimili community. It also involves people from four nearby homelands: Perentie Bore, Wanmara, Blue Hills, and Sandy Bore. Kunmanara (Mumu Mike) Williams, one of the centre's directors, once said: "At Mimili Maku Arts we work together: The old men and women side by side with their children and grandchildren. This is Anangu way."

Artists from the centre have shown their work in galleries all over Australia and in other countries. They have won many important art awards. Their art is very popular with collectors.

How Mimili Maku Arts Started

The Mimili community was created in the 1970s. This happened after the land was given back to its traditional owners. Before this, the land was part of a large farm called Everard Park Station. Many people who are now elders in the community used to work on the station. They herded cattle, drove animals, and trained horses. When the land was returned, they lost these jobs.

Over time, art became a very important activity. It helps individuals, families, and the community in many ways. It provides jobs for local people. It also helps keep their culture strong. Mimili Maku is one of the newer art centres in the region. It was started in 2010.

Mimili Maku is part of the APY Art Centre Collective. This group helps different art centres in the area work together.

The art gallery had to close during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia. During this time, the artists worked on a special project. It was with artist Robert Fielding and the South Australian Museum. This project focused on older and younger generations learning from each other. It helped keep their culture alive.

Kunmanara Mumu Mike Williams was one of the people who helped start the centre. He passed away in 2019. After he died, he received a special award. It was called a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM). He got this award on June 8, 2020, for his great work in Indigenous visual arts and for his community.

Talented Artists from Mimili Maku

Many amazing artists have worked at Mimili Maku Arts. Here are some of the well-known artists:

• Marina Pumani Brown
• Sammy Dodd (born 1948)
• Robert Fielding (artist)
• Tuppy Ngintja Goodwin (a finalist for a big art award, NATSIAA, in 2018)
• Linda Puna Kantji
• Betty Kuntiwa Pumani (won the NATSIAA in 2015 and 2016, and the Wynne Prize in 2017)
• Milatjari Pumani
• Ngupulya Pumani (a finalist for NATSIAA in 2015 and the Wynne Prize in 2017)
• Kunmanara (Mumu Mike) Williams (1952–2019)

Here are more artists who were listed in 2020: