Maggie Bird Mpetyane / Women’s Ceremony (IW8831)

Artist: Maggie Bird Mpetyane
Born: 7th March 1973
Language:  Anmatyerre
Country: Mulga Bore Outstation, Utopia
Subjects: Bush foods, Awelye – Women’s Ceremony and Body Paint Designs

Maggie Bird is the eldest daughter of Paddy and Eileen Bird and granddaughter to well known artist Ada Bird Petyarre.

Maggie is a teacher’s assistant at Akaye School for 7-9 year olds. She likes reading, math’s and teaching the English language to the children. In her spare time she enjoys painting with her large extended family at Utopia, as well as hunting for sugar bags, honey ants, goanna and kangaroos.

Selected Exhibitions

2002
• Art and Soul Gallery, Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.A
• ‘The Cove Gallery’ Portland, Oregon, USA
• Urban Wine Works, Portland, Oregon USA
• Mary’s Woods, Portland, Oregon, USA
• New City Merchants, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA

2003
• ‘The Cove Gallery’ Portland, Oregon, USA
• Contemporary Aboriginal Art Event, Umpqua Bank, Portland, Oregon, USA
• ‘Mary’s Woods, Portland, Oregon, USA
• Art From The Dreamtime, Portland Art Museum, Portland, Oregon, USA

Aug-Sep 2004
• Mbantua Gallery USA exhibition; Portland, Nashville and Greenwich

Maggie’s painting depicts women’s ceremony associated with her country. The U shapes represent the women sitting around the waterholes during ceremony which can take many days to complete and so therefore must be held where water and food is available.