Nyuju Stumpy Brown facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nyuju Stumpy Brown
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| Born | 1 July 1924 Canning Stock Route, Ngapawarlu, Western Australia
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| Died | 13 September 2011 (aged 87) Fitzroy Crossing, Western Australia
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| Other names | Kumanjayi Brown |
| Occupation | Painter |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives | Rover Thomas (brother) |
Nyuju Stumpy Brown (born July 1, 1924 – died September 13, 2011) was an important Indigenous Australian painter. She was from the Wangkatjungka Community in Western Australia. Nyuju was also a respected leader in the culture and traditions of Fitzroy Crossing.
Contents
Early Life and Growing Up
Nyuju Stumpy Brown was born on July 1, 1924. Her birthplace was along the Canning Stock Route in Ngapawarlu, Western Australia. She spent her childhood in the Great Sandy Desert. People also knew her as Kumanjayi Brown.
When Nyuju was young, her parents passed away. Her uncle, Jamali Wally Darlington, then raised her. He was a drover, someone who moves livestock. Nyuju's brother, Rover Thomas, also became a famous artist.
Her uncle took Nyuju to the Catholic Mission in Balgo by camel. There, she learned to speak English. Later, they moved to Fitzroy Crossing. Nyuju once shared that she did not see a white person until she was 15 years old.
Early in her life, Nyuju worked at Emmanuel Station in Fitzroy Crossing. She helped with household tasks. Instead of money, she received meat and tobacco for her work.
Her Work and Community Role
Nyuju Brown became a very important person in her community. She was a "law woman," which means she was a leader in the rules and traditions of Fitzroy Crossing. She helped organize the corroboree (Nyanpi) ceremonies for the children in town. These are traditional gatherings with dances and songs. Nyuju was also in charge of women's cultural laws from the Wangkatjungka Community to Balgo.
Her beautiful paintings are now in many famous places. These include the National Gallery of Australia and the National Gallery of Victoria. Her art was also shown in many group exhibitions.
Her Art Style
Nyuju Brown had a unique and lively painting style. She used strong, bright colors in her artworks. Many of her paintings included a circle. This circle could stand for different things. It might show a place, a waterhole, or even bush foods.
An art expert named Wally Caruana described her painting Pura (2003). He said her artworks had a "jewel-like quality." He meant they looked like sparkling jewels. He also noted that her paintings showed the spirit of the Great Sandy Desert.
Nyuju also worked with other artists on two very large paintings. These paintings were used in a special court case in 1996. This case was about native title, which means Indigenous people proving their connection to their traditional lands. The paintings acted like maps. People could stand on their part of the "map" to explain their connection to their land. The only Western map feature in these paintings was the Canning Stock Route. This helped people compare the paintings to regular maps.
Personal Life
Nyuju Brown spoke the Wangkatjunga dialect. She first married Pukulu, who was a church leader at the Fitzroy Mission. They had three daughters together. Later, in 1992, she married Hitler Pamba. He was also a lawman and an artist from the Wangkatjungka community. They lived in the Mindi Rardi area of Fitzroy.
Later Years and Awards
After having a stroke in 2007, Nyuju stopped painting. She passed away in September 2011.
In 2005, Nyuju Brown won the Kimberley Art Prize. This was a special award for her amazing artwork.
See also
