Freda Price Petyarre / Country (FP114)

Freda’s artwork offers a finely detailed, topographical view of her family homelands in Utopia, Central Australia. The painting is both a visual and spiritual representation of Country, illustrating sand hills, dry riverbeds, and important ceremonial landmarks.

Certain plants — whether leaves, flowers, bark or seeds—are gathered when in season or as needed. This is often done in groups, allowing older women to pass on vital cultural knowledge to the younger ones. Ceremonial sites, frequently depicted in Freda’s work, are places where women come together for girls’ initiation and other important aspects of Women’s Law.

The women sit around waterholes — precious sources of life in the desert—and when the waterholes are full, there is usually an abundance of bush tucker. This sustains them during the long periods they camp out on Country for Women’s Business.