Ruth Nalmakarra facts for kids

Ruth Nalmakarra and Joe Dhamanydji at the opening of the exhibition Goyurr Manda Dja'nkawu and the Morning Star in Melbourne, January 2007

Ruth Nalmakarra (born in 1954) is an amazing Indigenous Australian artist. She is famous for her beautiful weaving, painting, and for being a strong leader in her community.

Who is Ruth Nalmakarra?

Ruth Nalmakarra was born in 1954 on Galiwin'ku (also called Elcho Island) in a special part of Australia called Arnhem Land. In the late 1960s, she moved to Milingimbi. Ruth is part of the Garrawurra Liyagauwumirr clan.

When Ruth's father, Madanggala Garrawurra, passed away, her uncle Nupurray Garrawurra helped raise her and her brothers and sisters. Two of her brothers are artists named Mickey Durrng Garrawurra and Tony Dhanyala.

Ruth's father, Madanggala Garrawurra, was a very well-known artist. He painted a special design called Dijirri-didi. This design is very important to their clan and is used in a ceremony called Ngarra. Before he passed, he made sure Ruth and her family knew how to continue this important art tradition.

Ruth's Family of Artists

Ruth's uncle Nupurray also had other children who became artists. These include Margaret Rarru, Lena Walunydjanalil, and Helen Ganalmirrawuy. This shows how art runs in Ruth's family!

Ruth's Journey as an Artist

Ruth Nalmakarra has had a long and exciting career as an artist. She has been weaving since she was a little girl. Her family later taught her how to paint.

Ruth also helped in her community in other ways. From 1988 to 1993, she was a teacher's assistant at Milingimbi Primary School. Later, from 2001 to 2003, she worked at the Elcho Island Knowledge Centre. There, she helped with office work and research.

Carrying on Important Art Traditions

Ruth's late brother, Mickey Durrng, and his brother, Tony Dhanyala, were the only ones allowed to paint the Dijirri-didi design. This is the Liyagauwumirr clan's special design. It is painted on bodies during the Ngarra cleansing ceremony. This ceremony is a way to remember the Dja'nkawu Sisters and celebrate new beginnings.

Before Mickey Durrng passed away in 2006, he made an important decision. He chose to pass the knowledge of the Dijirri-didi design to Ruth and her family. He believed Ruth was the best person to make sure these important stories would continue.

Working with Researchers

In 2009, Ruth worked with researchers to identify people and objects from Milingimbi. These items were photographed and collected during a big science trip in 1948. This helped connect old photos and objects with their stories and the people who made them.

Leadership in the Art World

Ruth was the assistant manager at the Milingimbi Art and Culture Centre from 2005 to 2009. She was also an artist and a member of the board there. In 2008, Ruth organized an art show called Yunumu: The Garrawarra artists of Milingimbi. It was held at Mossenson Galleries in Melbourne.

Today, Ruth is a special advisor to the board of Arnhem, Northern and Kimberley Artists (ANKA). ANKA helps and supports Aboriginal artists and art centers across Northern Australia. Ruth has been involved with ANKA since 2007.

In December 2018, Ruth took part in a special program at the University of Melbourne. This program helped Indigenous art workers from remote communities learn how to manage cultural collections.

Ruth's Art Style and Impact

Ruth Nalmakarra's art style was passed down from her brother, Mickey Durrng. He used a lot of body art painting in his work. Ruth took this style and made it her own.

Ruth's art is all about connecting the past with the present. She does this through her paintings and her actions to help her community. She learned a special way of weaving when she was young. She also learned to paint from the sacred Ŋarra ceremony, where clan body designs are made.

Ruth uses different geometric patterns and shapes in her weaving. These are inspired by the beautiful clan designs used in the sacred Ŋarra ceremony.

Respecting Elders and Stories

Ruth works hard to honor her elders. She shows great respect for their stories and teachings. These stories have deep meanings. She knows that elders have a big job to pass on knowledge to chosen people. This keeps the stories strong.

Ruth once said:

• Elders have a responsibility to choose who should take over the leadership to carry on the stories.
• This happens because people are passing every day, every month, every year.
• Before they pass, they have to call on those people that they can choose to keep the stories strong.
• They look for people with strong feelings and a strong voice.
• They appoint them to know and to carry on the story.

Ruth wants everyone to respect and learn about the deep meanings behind these stories.

Teaching Future Generations

Ruth is also involved in modern projects. For example, she works with the MEG's (Musée d'ethnographie de Genève) plan to "reconnect collections and source communities." This project teaches the community through hands-on workshops and exhibits.

Ruth teaches traditional weaving techniques in these workshops. She wants to pass this knowledge to younger generations. Her desire for young people to learn these techniques is very strong. She is always teaching future generations through her efforts.

Connecting Art to History

Ruth Nalmakarra has helped researchers link objects and photographs from the 1948 American-Australian Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Land. She helps connect these items with the people and stories behind them.

In 2008, she identified baskets from the Expedition. She could tell if they belonged to the Dhuwa or Yirritja groups based on their designs. Ruth and other elders from Milingimbi have also identified people in old photographs. This helps figure out who made specific objects collected in 1948.

Where to See Ruth's Art

Ruth Nalmakarra's art is in important collections and has been shown in many exhibitions.

Collections

• National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne

Exhibitions

• 2012: Sharing Our Spirit. Woolloongabba Art Gallery, Brisbane, Australia.
• 2017: Ochre. NOMAD Art Gallery, Darwin, Australia.
• 2020: long water. Museum of Modern Art Australia (MOMAA), Melbourne, Australia.